Chapter 7. Protecting Your Mac mini

Although the Mac OS is much more secure than Windows, that doesn't mean you can stop paying attention. You should take a couple of sensible steps to protect your Mac and your wireless network, if you have one, from data loss and prying eyes.

As you read this chapter, you will learn:

• The importance of backing up your important files, and how to do it.

• How to stop viruses, hackers, and other threats.

• How to protect your Mac mini.

• How to protect your network, whether wired or wireless.

• Why Macs are more secure than Windows machines.

My friend Charlie Wolfthe securities analyst who estimated that 225,000 Mac minis were sold in the model's first three months on the marketnoticed something interesting during his research. When he asked people why they were buying a Mac mini, he heard one answer over and over: security.

Word has gotten out that Mac OS X is tremendously more secure than Windows, and Windows users appear to have gotten the message.

So if you're here because you are sick and tired of being drawn into Microsoft's security battles, welcome! While no computer is completely secure, Mac OS X is a much more secure operating system than any-thing Microsoft publishes. It may not always be that way, but for now that's a big win for Mac users.

While researching this book, I spoke with the Mac product manager of an antivirus and security software company whose name most PC users would recognize. He told me that his companywhich usually knows all things about all threatsis aware of no viruses or malware that specifically target Mac OS X.

note

This chapter talks only about threats to the Mac mini and other Macintosh computers. It does not offer any advice about keeping your Windows computers safe.

Not long ago, I noticed that I'd been running an iMac for two years with the virus protection turned off. Okay, I didn't run the iMac all the time, but often enough. Had the computer been a PC instead of a Mac, I am sure I'd have been in deep trouble.

When I noticed my error, I immediately installed new antivirus software and ran a full scan of the hard drive. No viruses were found.

Does that mean I've decided to run my Macs without antivirus software? Not on your life. There's a difference between getting away with something and pressing your luck. Running any computer without virus protection is definitely a case of the latter.

I don't believe the "no viruses/no malware" situation can last forever. On the other hand, I am not going to worry about my Mac mini as much as I do about my Windows machines.

In this chapter, I outline my personal security strategy and offer suggestions for what you should do to protect your Mac mini as well as the wireless network I hope you've installed. Of the two, I consider the network to be much more at risk.