How to Protect your Mac from Spyware, Adware and Viruses

The Macintosh computer is notoriously impervious to most viruses, spyware and adware that affects Windows-based computers. This is due to the stability and security that the Mac Operating System provides. If by any chance viruses and other malware pop up on the internet, Apple will quickly address these problems with a Software Update.



Instructions

1 Browse Safe. Since Internet Explorer is no longer supported for the Mac OS, Safari, Firefox and Opera are three good and relatively secure browsers.

2 Don't download anything from untrusted sources. Many adware and spyware programs come in the form of an ".exe" executable. Since the Mac OS cannot natively run ".exe" executables, you're safe from malware embedded in these. Still, do not download from unsafe sites.

3 Make sure your email is secure. Don't download any attachments unless you're expecting them, and disable images. Most email clients for Mac like Mail.app and Thunderbird have built-in spam filtering.

4 Boost your privacy settings on your Instant Messaging Programs. All IM programs have privacy settings that allow you to filter who can contact you. Strange IM's from strange people may open your Mac computer to malicious software, adware and perhaps viruses. Don't download anything unless you're absolutely sure it's safe. That includes images.

5 Disable Macros if you're using Microsoft Office and you're opening a document that originated elsewhere. Office documents are one of the only ways viruses can infect both Mac and a Windows Operating

Tips & Warnings

Apple issues updates every so often. Make sure you update your software whenever the "Software Update" window pops up to keep your Mac computer secure.

Norton and McAfee have AntiVirus programs for Mac. Purchase this software at your discretion knowing that there is a lack of viruses for the Mac OS and Apple usually responds to threats quickly by issuing a Security Update.