Using your MacBook in a public setting is risky. So, rely on these privacy tips to stay safe while you work.
Leaving home or your regular workplace and working somewhere public, like a coffee shop, could be a great way to improve your productivity. Sometimes, it might even be necessary if your regular workspace is unavailable.
However, working in public places can open you up to several privacy risks. You’re working where people you don’t know could find ways to view information on your MacBook. You can’t afford to take the same risks you would take if you were working in a more private environment.
1.Have a Password, and Don’t Use Password Hints
Some people don’t think they need passwords on their devices, which might be founded if it’s permanently in a safe location. But, if you take your MacBook out into a public place, we strongly advise you to add a password.
You can add a password in System Settings > Touch ID & Password. Select Set from the Password section, and enter a new hard-to-guess password. Resist the temptation to add password hints because that could give someone that knows information about you clues as to your password.
2.Automatically Lock Your Mac When Inactive
Because most public places you’d be working in might be places where you could also easily get food, drinks, or beverages, you may have to leave your MacBook to use the bathroom. That means you’ll likely leave your Mac unattended for a little while.
Whether it’s the bathroom or a little errand, you should set your MacBook to lock once you leave it unattended. Here’s how to set it up:
•Click the Apple menu in the menu bar and choose System Settings from the dropdown.
•Select Lock Screen on the sidebar.
•Set the options Start Screen Saver when inactive and Turn display off on battery when inactive to 1 minute.
•Set the option Require password after screen saver begins or display is turned off to Immediately.
3.Work With a Dim Screen or a Privacy Screen
If you’re doing something sensitive on your Mac, and you’d rather someone beside or behind you can’t see it, you should lower its brightness as low as you can manage. Or, you could buy a privacy screen protector.
You can lower the brightness on your MacBook by pressing F1 on your keyboard or using the slider on the Touch Bar. And if you think that it’s not dim enough at its lowest, you can use an app to lower your Mac’s brightness even more.
4.Use FileVault Encryption
One of the advantages of using a password on your Mac is that you can add FileVault on top of it. FileVault is Apple’s encryption technology for macOS that encrypts all the data on your hard drive once you lock your Mac, and it decrypts everything on the fly only after you unlock it.
5.Download and Install a Good VPN and Antivirus
Add another layer of security while out on those public networks with a VPN and antivirus. A VPN will mask your IP address by encrypting your internet traffic, while an antivirus will proactively stop malware.
You don’t even have to spend money getting these types of software. Check out our guide on the best free VPN for macOS, and choose from our list of the best truly free antivirus software for your Mac.
6.Backup Your Data and Update macOS Regularly
Other people, who don’t use public networks, have the luxury of delayed updates. But you, who uses public networks, don’t. That’s because Apple constantly rolls out security patches for macOS, and public network hackers could exploit old macOS security gaps.
Turn Automatic Updates on by going to System Settings > General > Software Update. Click the Info (i) icon next to Automatic updates and toggle everything on.
7.Disable Automatic Wi-Fi Connections
Your Mac automatically connects to available Wi-Fi networks when there are no known Wi-Fi networks in range. This could open you up to joining risky public networks because they require no passwords.
Go to System Settings > Wi-Fi and toggle on Ask to join networks. This will prompt you with a notification alert when your computer wishes to join an unknown network, and you can either decline or accept.
8.Turn Off Bluetooth Unless You Absolutely Need It
Bluetooth could be a big security risk, especially if your MacBook is discoverable. You can read more about the threats Bluetooth poses to your device’s security in our dedicated guide on that topic.
In any case, macOS is designed to keep Bluetooth on for functions like AirDrop and AirPods. However, you should consciously head to the Control Center (the switch icons in the top-right corner of the menu bar), click Bluetooth, and toggle it off before you head out. You should only turn it on when you really need it and avoid connecting to devices you’re not sure about.