Tag Archive for: Mac’

8 best practices for securing your Mac from hackers in 2023

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Best practices for securing your Mac against potential hacks and security vulnerabilities include enabling the firewall, using strong passwords and encryption, and enabling Lockdown Mode.

Laptop and smartphone with locked and unlocked padlock
Image: Daniel Beckemeier/Adobe Stock

As the popularity of Macs grows so does the interest of hackers who look for vulnerabilities to exploit. Fortunately, there are best practices you can follow to secure your Mac and protect yourself against hack attempts.

SEE: Here’s how to secure your Mac’s data via the Full Disk Access settings.

In this article, we’ll cover some of the ways to protect yourself and show you how to make your Mac as secure as possible against hackers and those who would try to collect your data.

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1. Keep your software updated

One of the most important steps you can take to secure your Mac is to keep your software updated (Figure A). Apple releases security updates regularly to patch vulnerabilities hackers can exploit. Keeping your software updated ensures you have the latest security patches and protections against emerging threats.

Figure A

Keeping your Mac up to date is your first line of defense against hackers.
Keeping your Mac up to date is your first line of defense against hackers.

Updating your Mac is as easy as doing the following:

  1. Click the Apple menu in the top left corner of the screen.
  2. Select System Settings.
  3. Select General | Software Update, and follow the prompts to update any software.

Software is also distributed through the Mac App Store. To update software that has been purchased or downloaded from the App Store:

  1. Click the Apple menu in the top left corner of the screen.
  2. Select App Store.
  3. Select Updates, then Update All.

2. Enable the firewall

The Firewall is a built-in security feature of macOS that blocks unauthorized incoming network traffic, and it is a great tool to enable if your Mac is regularly on Wi-Fi or Ethernet networks you don’t personally control. It helps protect your Mac from hackers trying to access your computer remotely or on the same local area network.

To enable the Firewall, go to System Settings | Network | Firewall, and turn it on. This will cause certain services and ports to become unavailable when it’s turned on and further protect from unwanted…

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How to Remove Search Marquis from Mac

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How to remove Search Marquis


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Does your search engine keep redirecting you to Search Marquis? Has your browser been slower and buggier than usual? If yes, then your Mac may have been infected with a browser hijacker.

The Search Marquis tends to flood your browser with intrusive ads and steal your personal information by rerouting all of your Google searches through its own website. It can also negatively impact the performance of your Mac computer, which is why its removal is necessary.

In this article, we’ll teach you how to remove Search Marquis from Mac using multiple methods. The most effective solution is to use an antivirus software such as TotalAV to scan your computer and delete all viruses it finds.

What is Search Marquis on Mac?

Search Marquis is a browser hijacker that exists in the form of a search engine just like Google or Bing. If your Mac gets infected with this malware, you’ll continuously get redirected to searchmarquis.com no matter which search engine you use.

It can target browsers like Google Chrome, Firefox, and even Safari. Most people don’t even notice their computer has been infected until their browser gets filled with unwanted ads and suspicious links.

Search Marquis site on Chrome

Search Marquis site on Chrome.

Phishing attacks are common on Search Marquis which is why it’s best to avoid clicking on any ads or links you see on the site.

Just like the Bing redirect hijacker malware, Search Marquis usually infiltrates your computer through a potentially unwanted application (PUA) or a browser extension.

Some signs you need to look out for if you think your computer might have been infected:

  • Google keeps redirecting you to Search Marquis.
  • You have browser extensions or apps you don’t remember downloading.
  • Your browser’s performance has been slower than usual.
  • Your Mac has been acting up.
  • You’re seeing too many ads and suspicious links whenever you search for something.

Search Marquis can be difficult to remove because it’s often hidden in folders where you wouldn’t bother to look.

Here’s a quick summary of what sort of malware Search Marquis is:

Name

Search Marquis

Type

Browser…

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Russian ransomware attack software targets Apple Mac and MacBook

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One of the most well-known ransomware attack tools has now begun attacking Mac computers.  This alarming news came from a tweet posted by MalwareHunterTeam warning Mac users. Let’s dive into what this ransomware does and how you can protect yourself.

LockBit, a type of ransomware, is one of the first known instances of this malware targeting Mac computers. It is also one of the most widely-used ransomware known today, and its creators are offering cybercriminals this ransomware as a service, which allows various hacking groups to use it for a price.

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As of now, the cybercriminals with LockBit are mostly attacking big businesses by infiltrating their systems and encrypting their sensitive files. Most recently, they have gone after SpaceX by breaching one of their suppliers and stealing data. They have also recently gone after SickKids, a hospital in Canada for sick children. LockBit is believed to be an organization run by Russians, however, it is likely being run in the U.S. or China.

Although LockBit has been around for a few years, it has not advanced much when it comes to attacking Macs. Most of its attacks happen on Windows systems. The Mac version, which has been labeled “locker_Apple_M1_64”, still seems to be a work in progress because it typically crashes as soon as it’s launched, and it relies on an invalid signature.

MORE: RANSOMWARE GROUPS ARE ON THE PROWL: COULD YOU BE THEIR NEXT TARGET?

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Plus, Apple still has its Gatekeeper protections, which can still prevent LockBit from being run even if it’s downloaded and launched on a device.

Although LockBit has been around for a few years, it has not advanced much when it comes to attacking Macs.

Although LockBit has been around for a few years, it has not advanced much when it comes to attacking Macs.

For now, all you Mac users can cautiously take a breath of relief as LockBit doesn’t seem to have much figured out yet when it comes to attacking personal Mac computers. However, it can never hurt to take the extra step to protect yourself.

Here are some of my suggestions for guarding yourself against ransomware.

MORE: NEWLY UNEARTHED IPHONE SPYWARE TOOL SOLD TO GOVERNMENTS…

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Apple releases emergency security updates to patch iPhone, iPad and Mac zero-day flaws

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Apple has once again released emergency security updates to fix zero-day vulnerabilities that are being used to attack compromised iPhones, iPads and Macs in the wild.

In a security advisory (opens in new tab) released on Friday (April 7), the Cupertino-based company revealed that it “is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited”. Unlike with other recently discovered zero-day flaws, the ones Apple has patched have already been exploited by hackers in their attacks.

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