mac osx security
This will be especially useful if you are a PowerBook or an iBook owner; if you are new to Macs or don't have a detailed knowledge of how Unix systems work, and who better to dish out that advice than the NSA?
Their guide is quite detailed, but to sum it up in short, Mac OS X comes with many powerful security features built in and enabled. But if you really are going to remember a few important points, they are:
1. Password protect your screensaver: Its bad enough someone walking off with you Power/iBook but don't make it easy to access your system as well!
2. Disable root: Unless you live in the world of bash or Terminal, then it is unnecessary for most Mac users to have this account activated. The first administrator you create is more than sufficient for installing and removing programs.
3. Enable FileVault: Again, this is much more relevant for mobile users, or those who often use open networks; FileVault is a means of transparently encrypting and decrypting your home directory files. This is protect by AES 128bit level encryption, so peace of mind can once again reign!
Their guide is quite detailed, but to sum it up in short, Mac OS X comes with many powerful security features built in and enabled. But if you really are going to remember a few important points, they are:
1. Password protect your screensaver: Its bad enough someone walking off with you Power/iBook but don't make it easy to access your system as well!
2. Disable root: Unless you live in the world of bash or Terminal, then it is unnecessary for most Mac users to have this account activated. The first administrator you create is more than sufficient for installing and removing programs.
3. Enable FileVault: Again, this is much more relevant for mobile users, or those who often use open networks; FileVault is a means of transparently encrypting and decrypting your home directory files. This is protect by AES 128bit level encryption, so peace of mind can once again reign!
This entry was posted
on Monday, April 25, 2005 at 4:46 pm.
