What Will You do for National Cybersecurity Awareness Month?
It’s often easy to overlook the importance of online security, but when you consider the cost of cybercrime is estimated between $24 billion and $120 billion each year in the US alone, it really puts things into perspective.
The National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM) is an event backed by the Department of Homeland Security and is recognized every October. The cyber threats out there are very real, which is why NCSAM is now in its 10th consecutive year.
In the spirit of this initiative, here are 5 easy-to-implement tips to ensure your Mac is more secure than ever:
5 Tips for a More Secure Mac
1. Get PrivacyScan with an 80%-off NCSAM discount
The PrivacyScan team wanted to do our bit, so here it is: For the month of October, you can buy this award-winning security software for just $2.99 in the Mac App Store, discounted from the usual $14.99 price.
PrivacyScan is like your very own digital Private eye, identifying and removing hidden threats not only from hackers and other cyber troublemakers, but also from digital advertisers and other people you’d rather left you alone. This might just be the best 3 dollars you’ve ever spent.
2. Install OS X Yosemite
It’s fun when Apple releases its latest operating system update, but it’s not just about extra software gizmos and a prettier interface. The latest OS ensures you’re protected against the latest threats and have the latest security features, too.
Remember, once an OS is no longer supported, security patches are no longer released for it. Right now, 10.7 (OS X Lion) is the oldest supported version, so if you have 10.6 (OS X Snow Leopard), you’re vulnerable to attack.
By installing Yosemite, you not only get all the cool stuff – you also protect yourself. See the official upgrade guide for a list of compatible Mac hardware and other important information.
3. Enable Private Browsing in your Macs
Private Browsing is a privacy feature included in all Mac devices whether they’re desktop or mobile. It hampers a website’s ability to sneak tracking cookies onto your machine and boosts both your privacy and security.
Yosemite makes Private Browsing sessions easier to start for browsing sensitive sites, such as your online banking. You can now open Private Browsing in a new window even if you’ve already started a regular browsing session. Make sure you take advantage.
4. Get Security updates for third-party apps (like Java)
Because your OS works so seamlessly, it’s often easy to overlook the fact that many of the software interactions that take place are not governed by Apple.
Java is one great example, and it’s important to keep third-party software like this up-to-date for the latest security features. Cybercriminals know that people often forget to update third-party apps and they take advantage by seeking vulnerabilities in them.
5. Use FileVault for full-disk encryption
Apple’s latest iOS ships with encryption enabled for mobile devices and Yosemite gives you the option to use full-disk encryption during the install process. After the recent iCloud privacy breach involving a number of top celebrities, Apple is taking an especially firm stance on security. Take advantage of the feature so you can protect access to your personal photos and other data.
Remember, the issue here is not just online privacy threats. The super slick design of the average Mac product makes them highly desirable and more likely to get stolen. With the information stored on your hard disk encrypted, no one can pull data from it either online or offline.
Join in with National Cybersecurity Awareness Month
Take the extra measures to protect your Mac today.
Most of the steps in this guide are free and you have the biggest discount in the history of PrivacyScan for this month only. With a just few bucks and a little time, you can make your Mac safer than ever.
