How to Protect Your Mac From Keyloggers
Protecting your computer from viruses and spam is essential to keep your personal information safe. Your credit or debit card information is easy to steal once keyloggers get a hold of your computer. Because PCs have a broader audience, they are generally more vulnerable to hacking, but that doesn't mean that Macintosh computers are not susceptible as well. A few ways exist to prevent keyloggers from accessing your valuable information, regardless of the type of operating system you own.
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Instructions
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Keep your Mac software up-to-date by running Software Update at least a few times a month. Access Software Update by visiting macupdate.com, or through your Hard Drive icon. Open the "System" file and then click the "Library" folder. Open the SoftwarePanes (this may be listed as PreferencePanes) folder and scroll down to find the Software Update icon. Once you open Software Update, you can adjust your system to check for updates automatically daily, weekly or monthly. Once you are connected to the Internet, click "Check Now" and the program searches for updates for your software. Keyloggers try to access the most vulnerable systems, so Macintosh is constantly trying to stay a step ahead of hackers by creating new preventative software. Keep your anti-virus software up-to-date regardless of your operating system.
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Prevent other users from having contact with your computer. Always know who has access to your Mac at home or at work, and never allow anyone to use your computer without being sure they don't have intentions of accessing your personal information. Keyloggers can use a USB to extract information directly from your computer.
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Run SpyWare detection tools to prevent Trojan viruses from opening personal files and copying your information. Detect keyloggers by running programs such as TripWire or SpectorSoft. This software will allow you to review all programs that are running on your machine at a particular time. If there are any unusual programs running on your system that you are not familiar with, it may be software that an external user or keylogger has installed. Once you detect ill-intended programs on your operating system, uninstall them from your computer as soon as possible.
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Use an automatic form-filler so that you do not have to constantly enter in personal information such as credit card numbers, passwords or PIN numbers. Once keyloggers hack into your computer through spyware or viruses, they can record your typed messages and information---including your credit card number and bank account information. This is especially dangerous if you shop or pay bills online. Mac users can use a program called 1Password that manages passwords and enter personal information automatically, thus reducing the amount of times you will actually have to type your information in. LastPass is another program that keeps track of your passwords and enters them automatically to the sites you visit regularly.
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Use a reverse firewall or network monitor to detect when requests are made for a program to connect through the Internet. Keyloggers need access to your computer directly or through the Internet to seek your information, so knowing exactly which programs are being run through your system will help to determine which ones are recognizable, and which may belong to an unwanted source.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not download from unknown sites, as this may be a popular source for keyloggers to hack into your computer.
Do not accept files from unknown senders.
Delete spam from your inbox before you open it.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit computers image by Olga Chernetskaya from Fotolia.com
