Basic Mac Security, Maintenance, and Usage
Bennett Roesch
6-7-16
This presentation covers:
And I'm All Out Of Gum
Pronunciation: /go͝od 'pas,wərds/
ADJECTIVE NOUN
Definition: The use of the maximum length and randomization allowed.
See the Good Passwords blog entry for details.
Most importantly, use a password manager
(Keychain/LastPass/1Password)
to generate and store your passwords.
If you forget the password to your password manager, all of your passwords are lost forever. (That's a good thing.) All you have to do is reset them.
Which brings me to my next point. All of your passwords are only as strong as your email password. Make a strong password for your email.
For creating passwords that are both strong and easy to remember, use this strategy:
XKCD Password Strength
Once you have one draw a picture of it and put it somewhere to help you remember it.
When using Keychain, create new keychains with a password different from your login password for extra security.
When sharing passwords with other people have them sign up for LastPass (It's Free!).
A great deal of the time updates ship with security patches. Keep your computer up to date.
Update Java and Flash through System Preferences - do not click on links in your browser which prompt you to do so.
Contrary to popular opinion, Mac computers are not invulnerable. The common term you will hear is "virus" but usually this is actually referring to "malware".
Definitions:
Never type in your administrator password unless you are intentionally going out of your way to install new or update software.
To weed out the small fry install Malwarebytes.
There are two types of people:
Time Machine is easy and awesome. Turn on Time Machine, hook up an external drive, and your computer will prompt you to convert it to a Time Machine drive.
It is worth it to take the time to add directories you do not want backed up such as Downloads and Applications.
What if your house burns down and both your backup and original are destroyed at the same time? All of your data is gone forever.
Enter Cloud Backup with SOS.
System Preferences > User Accounts > Your User > Login Items
Select the items which should not be booting with your computer then click the Minus button to remove them.
Whoa
Key Repeat Rate
System Preferences > Keyboard
Move the Repeat Rate & Repeat Delay sliders all the way to the right
TextEdit Autocompletion
TextEdit > Preferences > Turn off all "helpful" autocompletion
Firefox
Settings > Add-ons > Plugins > Check Your Plugins
Function Key +
I Just Went There O_O
Open a new Finder window.
Create a directory called:
delete-me-after-[one month from now]
For example: delete-me-after-7-6-16. Create two directories in here named "root" and "user".
Open another Finder window.
Finder > Go > Go To Folder (Command Shift G)
We are looking for directories called LaunchAgents, LaunchDaemons and StartupItems. They are located in:
Locate them one by one and copy each into the corresponding delete-me directory.
Those directories again: LaunchAgents, LaunchDaemons and StartupItems in ~/Library/ and /Library/.
Now visit each one and delete everything in them which does not have the word "License" in the file name. Especially make sure to delete all Adobe files - they are memory and cpu hogs.