Your Mac May Not Be As Secure As You Think

You’ve probably heard the old myth that Macs don’t get viruses. Sure, macOS has fewer malware threats than Windows, but you’re sorely mistaken if you think your Mac is 100% free of security holes, pitfalls, and vulnerabilities. Apple works hard to protect our Macs from malware and other attacks by implementing safeguards for software installations, but users should still take regular steps to keep their Macs as safe as possible. Here are some common security issues you should be aware of and how to make sure they don’t cause any problems.

Old defects and new chips

Intel-based Macs released between 2018 and 2020 used the T2 Security Chip. This chip handles encryption and decryption for things like encrypted storage and secure boot capabilities and contains the secure enclave for Touch ID.

Unfortunately, the T2 chip in these Macs has a security flaw that has never been patched. Researchers have discovered a vulnerability that could allow someone with physical access to the computer to potentially bypass these security features. In other words, if someone gets their hands on your Mac, they could be able to bypass all of your security measures and read your files, install malware, or do other things that compromise your privacy and security. Check out our complete list of Mac viruses, malware, and Trojans.

IDG

IDG

IDG

To reduce the impact of this risk, you should perform regular backups and ensure that FileVault is enabled to encrypt your data. The T2 vulnerability can potentially bypass FileVault, but it is an additional layer of protection that the attacker must overcome. If you lose data due to hardware failure or compromise of your Mac, it is essential to have a solid backup for recovery.

Newer Macs aren’t immune to vulnerabilities either. While Apple Silicon Macs don’t suffer from the T2 vulnerability, they’re not infallible. The so-called “Augury” and “GoFetch” flaws in the M-series chips are hardware issues that can’t be patched without severely impacting performance. The problem here is that when the chips’ Data Memory Prefect (DMP) is idle, it can sometimes leak data, including encryption keys. As of this writing, no one has actively exploited the vulnerability, but it’s still worth being aware of.

The key thing to remember is that an attacker must have physical access to your Mac. You can protect yourself by making sure to physically secure your Mac. Don’t leave your Mac unattended in public places, and make sure it’s physically secured at your home or office.

For our recommendations of Mac antivirus software that we have tested, see: Best Antivirus for Mac 2024: Top Security Software Compared.

Stop the theft

People sometimes think about their online security, but they don’t always pay attention to the physical security of their Macs. I’ve seen MacBooks abandoned on couches in libraries, coffee shops, and even busy airport waiting rooms. These computers are just waiting to be stolen and taken away so that the hacker can break in.

Even at home or in the office, physical security is a must. If someone breaks in and steals your Mac, they could take advantage of the chip vulnerabilities mentioned earlier and gain access to your data. Even if your Mac isn’t at risk, hackers have ways to guess your login password.

Maclocks

Maclocks

Maclocks

Unfortunately, Apple doesn’t include a Kensington lock on the new MacBook models. You can, however, use the MacBook M1 Smart Lock, which installs in minutes and provides the physical security your MacBook lacks.

This physical security also applies to your Time Machine backups, if they aren’t encrypted. By default, Time Machine backups are typically unencrypted, meaning anyone who physically accesses your backup drive can access all of your files. Be sure to enable encryption when you set up Time Machine. If you forget, you’ll have to remove the drive from Time Machine and set it up again, this time making sure to choose to encrypt the backup.

Update always and often

Some macOS apps (especially third-party apps) don’t follow security best practices. They might use weak encryption, store passwords insecurely, or expose sensitive data to other apps. This can create vulnerabilities within the operating system itself.

For example, researchers recently identified security vulnerabilities in Microsoft Office that could compromise the security of your Mac. Microsoft has indicated that it will not patch this vulnerability, calling it “low risk.”

However, it is important to install updates for all your apps regularly. Developers fix security issues through updates when they consider them important enough. If you learn that a third-party app you are using has security issues that the developers are not fixing, you should decide whether you want to continue using that app.

The Mac App Store generally does a good job of automatically updating apps, but we still recommend checking at least once a month to see if any updates have been installed. To check, go to the Updates in the left column of the App Store. You’ll see the latest app updates that have been installed, as well as any apps that still need to be updated.

Foundry

Foundry

Foundry

For apps you downloaded outside of the App Store, you’ll usually find an option to check for updates in that app’s menu bar. Open the app, click the app name in the menu bar, and look for an option similar to Check for updates.

The same goes for installing macOS updates. When Apple discovers a security vulnerability, a software update is the only way to fix it. These vulnerabilities can be in system extensions, launcher daemons, agents, or other components of the operating system.

Apple also regularly patches security holes that threaten to bypass File Quarantine or Gatekeeper. There are also vulnerabilities in the sandbox implementation that macOS uses to prevent apps from doing things they shouldn’t. Apple is constantly playing a cat-and-mouse game to fix these issues, but it’s up to you to make sure those patches are installed. If you don’t install macOS updates, attackers can exploit these holes to bypass your Mac’s security and steal your data.

System Integrity Protection

Let’s talk about System Integrity Protection (SIP). This is a feature first introduced in OS X 10.11 El Capitan that prevents any user from modifying certain directories and files in the operating system. It even prevents the administrator user from modifying these files, and some applications simply cannot install or run if this feature is enabled.

There may be times when you need to disable SIP, so Apple has come up with a recovery mode. However, since we all forget things sometimes, you may forget that you disabled SIP. This can expose your Mac to a lot of problems, so make sure to re-enable SIP after the software installation is complete.

Your Mac is only as secure as you make it

I don’t want to scare you with these security issues, but it’s important to be aware of them. Apple does its best to protect us from malware, but it’s up to us to install updates when the tech giant patches a flaw. The same goes for making sure we’re not running apps that bypass the built-in protection offered by macOS.

For more Mac security tips, read: