We design Mac hardware and software with advanced technologies that work together to run apps more securely, protect your data, and help keep you safe on the web. And with macOS Catalina available as a free upgrade, it’s easy to get the most secure version of macOS for your Mac.*

With FileVault 2, your data is safe and secure — even if your Mac falls into the wrong hands. FileVault 2 encrypts the entire drive on your Mac, protecting your data with XTS-AES 128 encryption. And on Mac systems with an Apple T2 Security Chip, FileVault 2 keys are created and protected by the Secure Enclave for even more security. Open System Preferences, select Accounts, then Login Items. Select the name of the app you removed in the steps above ex. MacDefender, MacSecurity, MacProtector. Click the minus button. Use the steps in the “How to avoid installing this malware” section above to remove the installer from the download location. On top of great protection, Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac includes a vulnerability scanner and a VPN. It also both blocks and removes adware, which reduces how often you'll see targeted ads. There are a few missing tools, though. Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac doesn't come with either a personal firewall or a password manager.

Apple T2 chip.
The next generation of security.

The Apple T2 Security Chip — included with many newer Mac models — keeps your Mac safer than ever. The Secure Enclave coprocessor in the Apple T2 chip provides the foundation for Touch ID, secure boot, and encrypted storage capabilities. Touch ID gives you a seamless way to use your fingerprint to unlock your Mac, fill passwords in Safari, and make purchases with Apple Pay. Secure boot helps ensure that you are running trusted operating system software from Apple, while the Apple T2 chip automatically encrypts the data on your Mac. So you can be confident knowing that security has been designed right into the architecture of your Mac, from the ground up.

Apple helps you keep your Mac secure with software updates.

Pro

The best way to keep your Mac secure is to run the latest software. When new updates are available, macOS sends you a notification — or you can opt in to have updates installed automatically when your Mac is not in use. macOS checks for new updates every day, so it’s easy to always have the latest and safest version.

Protection starts at the core.

The technically sophisticated runtime protections in macOS work at the very core of your Mac to keep your system safe from malware. This starts with state-of-the-art antivirus software built in to block and remove malware. Technologies like XD (execute disable), ASLR (address space layout randomization), and SIP (system integrity protection) make it difficult for malware to do harm, and they ensure that processes with root permission cannot change critical system files.

Download apps safely from the Mac App Store. And the internet.

Now apps from both the App Store and the internet can be installed worry-free. App Review makes sure each app in the App Store is reviewed before it’s accepted. Gatekeeper on your Mac ensures that all apps from the internet have already been checked by Apple for known malicious code — before you run them the first time. If there’s ever a problem with an app, Apple can quickly stop new installations and even block the app from launching again.

Stay in control of what data apps can access.

Apps need your permission to access files in your Documents, Downloads, and Desktop folders as well as in iCloud Drive and external volumes. And you’ll be prompted before any app can access the camera or mic, capture keyboard activity, or take a photo or video of your screen.

FileVault 2 encrypts your data.

With FileVault 2, your data is safe and secure — even if your Mac falls into the wrong hands. FileVault 2 encrypts the entire drive on your Mac, protecting your data with XTS-AES 128 encryption. And on Mac systems with an Apple T2 Security Chip, FileVault 2 keys are created and protected by the Secure Enclave for even more security.

Designed to protect your privacy.

The most secure browser for your Mac is the one that comes with your Mac. Built-in privacy features in Safari, like Intelligent Tracking Prevention, help keep your browsing your business. Automatic strong passwords make it easy to create and use unique passwords for all the sites you visit. And iCloud Keychain syncs those passwords securely across all your devices, so you don’t have to remember them. You can also easily find and upgrade any weak passwords you’ve previously used (and reused and reused and reused).

Automatic protections from harmful sites.

Safari also helps safeguard you against fraudulent websites and those that harbor malware — before you visit them. If a website seems suspicious, Safari prevents it from loading and notifies you. And when connecting to unencrypted sites, Safari will warn you. So everything you need to browse without worry is right at your fingertips.

Find your missing Mac with Find My.

The Find My app combines Find My iPhone and Find My Friends into a single, easy-to-use app on Mac, iPad, and iPhone. Find My can help you locate a missing Mac — even if it’s offline or sleeping — by sending out Bluetooth signals that can be detected by nearby Apple devices. These devices then relay the detected location of your Mac to iCloud so you can locate it in the Find My app. It’s all anonymous and encrypted end-to-end so no one — including Apple — knows the identity of any reporting device or the location of your Mac. And it all happens silently using tiny bits of data that piggyback on existing network traffic. So there’s no need to worry about your battery life, your data usage, or your privacy being compromised.

Keep your Mac safe.
Even if it’s in the wrong hands.

All Mac models with the Apple T2 Security Chip support Activation Lock — just like your iPhone or iPad. So if your Mac is ever misplaced or lost, the only person who can erase and reactivate it is you.

Free Macbook Pro Virus Protection

macOS Security

The MacBook Pro is a rather secure laptop, and MacOS is designed with some of today’s most advanced technologies. With that said, it isn’t entirely secure to modern attempts to breach system security. For this reason, MacBook Pro users frequently adopt tools, software, and upgrades to fortify the platform.

Consumers can upgrade the MacBook’s settings, download protective software like Surfshark VPN for MacOS or manage their wireless settings to beef up their computer’s security. Likewise, they can focus on frequent data backups to assure ongoing information safety. Whether you’re concerned about your laptop’s digital integrity or simply want some added protection—these five Macbook Pro data security tips can help.

Tip One: Enhancing System Preferences

Your MacBook Pro is delivered with a variety of settings which are designed to protect your information. These settings, by default, are pretty secure. This said, they can be even better. To access your MacBook Pro’s security preferences, simply select the Apple icon on your MacBook Pro’s desktop. Select “System Preferences” and navigate through the various options, as each offers different levels of protection based upon your daily usage.

Depending on your preferred computer use, you can set up your MacBook Pro to require a password upon login—or even when waking up from its sleep mode. It’s also possible to dictate when the computer is turned on, as well as when you can log into a user account. These added security measures enhance your computer’s core protection—assuring it’s logged out when it’s inactive. In general, being logged out of your MacBook Pro keeps it safer—so it’s a good idea to make sure it’s logged out when you’re not using it.

Tip Two: Enable File Encryption

If your MacBook is stolen, your data won’t be safe when protected by an account password, alone. Modern data thieves and hackers can remove a MacBook Pro’s hard drive—connecting it to another computer via an IDE/SATA to USB cable. Then, they can read your computer’s hard drive as if it were a plugged in USB or DVD drive. They technically don’t even need an account password to see your data—as they’ve already bypassed the MacBook OS X’s file security.

Fortunately, you can prevent a file breach altogether. By activating your MacBook Pro’s built-in FileVault tool, you can encrypt—and later decrypt—your computer’s files associated with its profiles. Simple set up a password, encrypt the files and you’re good to go. The encryption happens in the background, so you won’t be bogged down by meddlesome processes. If your computer is stolen, the thief won’t be able to read its data unless they have the matching password.

Tip Three: Install a VPN

Next, you should protect your computer from online threats. A VPN, or virtual private network, is a great place to start. It establishes a digital point-to-point Internet connection via dedicated circuits, or even via tunneling protocols, to keep your computer protected over existing networks.

Virus Protection On Macbook Pro

Great options like Surfshark VPN for MacOS are widely available, each with their own wealth of security benefits to keep you safe online. A VPN hides your computer’s IP, and thus your location and important information. It also encrypts and protects your information—keeping your computer’s valuable data safe as you browse. Often outfitted with software which wipes out temporary browsing data, a good VPN program keeps each Internet session individualized—so you needn’t worry about temporary Internet data becoming accessible during long-term Internet use.

Tip Four: Install Anti-Virus Software

Approximately 15 to 25 percent of MacBook Pro users use anti-virus software—meaning that 75 to 85 percent of MacBook Pro users leave their systems at risk. Anti-virus software assures a computer’s comprehensive protection when browsing. Much like a VPN, it fortifies your system from Internet use on a daily, monthly and yearly basis. Different from a VPN, however, is an anti-virus program’s ability to deflect spyware, malware and other malicious programs from your computer.

There are several great anti-virus software options available, including McAffee, Norton, Kaspersky and Bitdefender. Each offers comprehensive anti-virus protection, and each is compatible with Mac systems. These programs offer robust feature sets, too, so you can customize your computer’s protection from the get-go.

It’s important to keep your anti-virus software up-to-date, however, running it regularly to install its latest, greatest defense features. Set your anti-virus program up to automatically download, and install, updates. Similarly, set it up to scan your computer at a pre-specified time per day. Don’t worry too much about performance issues, either, as a lot of anti-virus programs give users the option to schedule nonintrusive scans which keep the virtual workload at a bare minimum.

Tip Five: Use Password Protection

In terms of protection, sometimes a password-locked MacBook Pro isn’t enough. The complexity of your passwords matter, as more complex passwords are frequently tougher to crack. For this reason, it’s a good idea to change your password frequently—and each password you use should contain both uppercase and lowercase numbers. Each password should also utilize numbers and special characters to diversify its makeup.

Best Macbook Pro Virus Protection

More important, however, is the installation of Password Assistant: a valuable Apple tool which is available on OS X. Password Assistant can help you make strong passwords, making it more difficult for malicious users to steal your computer’s data. In a few simple steps, you can dictate how difficult your passwords are—based upon quality and length alike.

Accessing Password Assistant is easy—simply open your computer’s Users & Groups menu, then selecting the Change Password option. Once you’ve accessed the Password Assistant window, you can choose between alphanumeric, numeric, FIPS-181 or random passwords.

At the end of the day, your MacBook Pro’s security is in your hands. If you’re downloading a VPN or anti-virus software, it’s a good idea to check for future updates online – even if your program offers automatic updates, itself. It’ll give you a good idea about what to expect, in the near future, in terms of your computer’s digital security. Coupled with frequent Apple news checkups, protective software education is invaluable to your system’s health, protection and long-term capabilities.