Macs can't be hacked — can they? This is not an unreasonable assumption since the number of attacks and effort put into creating Mac-specific threats pales compared to those directed at PCs. Yet, assuming that your Mac is hackproof and letting your guard down can get you into hot water.
In this article, we examine the six most common ways in which hackers gain access to and abuse Mac computers. Some rely on tricking users, while others slip through the cracks in Apple's formidable security nets. Find out more about them and how to protect your Mac below.
Social engineering
Since Apple takes great care to offer a safe user experience, the easiest way of compromising a Mac is to bypass hardware and software altogether and go for the easiest target — you. The right kind of social engineering – be that a carefully crafted email or an Instagram message offering an opportunity you shouldn’t miss – is all it takes for unsuspecting victims to either give away login credentials to their various accounts or install malware onto their devices.
You should familiarize yourself with the most common forms of social engineering and learn how to recognize a phishing email. Such emails are becoming harder to spot due to AI's involvement in their composition. Still, you can protect yourself by checking whether the genuine sender ever uses such emails and contacting them separately without clicking on any links embedded into the email.
Malware
Macs are far less vulnerable to malware than PCs. However, this is only partially due to better protections. Hackers generally pursue activities with the biggest payout, so focusing on malware affecting the environment with the lion's share of users makes more sense. That doesn’t mean malware specifically made for Macs that can bypass built-in protections doesn’t exist.
Malware that affects Macs is as diverse as harmful code that affects PCs. Adware, spyware, Trojans, ransomware, and a host of other threats can cause your Mac to slow down, leak sensitive information, or even become part of a botnet that overwhelms websites with rogue traffic.
Protect yourself by ensuring Gatekeeper is always up to date and installing trustworthy anti-malware for extra security. Never click on links on shady sites, especially if you landed on such a site “thanks to” a phishing email.
Poor password practices
Another way of easily circumventing Mac's sophisticated defenses is by pursuing people's passwords. Many of us still don’t bother setting up complicated and unique passwords for each account, relying on similar and easy-to-guess ones instead. Brute-force cracking has grown by leaps and bounds once AI got involved. Moreover, hackers with access to compromised credentials obtained in data breaches can easily let themselves in if you still use the same credentials elsewhere.
Take stock of your passwords and get rid of any similar or short ones. It's easiest to get a password manager for Mac, which can automate the creation, storage, and secure password entry for you. Password managers let you securely share credentials with others and store other important information, like PIN codes, inside encrypted storage. Moreover, they let you set up two-factor authentication to keep hackers who may know your credentials from actually accessing a compromised account.
Vulnerability exploits
Apple runs a tight ship, but that doesn’t mean macOS is impenetrable. Like any sophisticated software, it can harbor vulnerabilities the developers aren’t aware of, yet hackers use it to their advantage. Several such cases have been reported in the past, some severe enough for user devices to be at risk of complete takeover if they don’t update.
And that’s the best thing you can do – ensure that macOS itself, all drivers, and all third-party software you use are current. You'll also want to keep track of software that developers abandoned and delete it since every day without updates makes it more likely that hackers will find and abuse vulnerabilities in the code.
Unsafe networks
Then there's relying on users' trusting nature and gaining access by abusing unsafe networks, mainly public Wi-Fi. Such networks have minimal protection and are easy to both monitor and fake. A hacker can create a Wi-Fi hotspot that looks like any other free network offered by airports, libraries, etc., and log your online activity. This includes any passwords or sensitive information you enter while connected.
Avoid public Wi-Fi if you can. If that’s impossible or too inconvenient, never log into important accounts or conduct financial transactions. You’ll also want to take the precaution of installing a trustworthy VPN. Its encrypted tunnel will protect the connection from anyone hoping to steal your information or track your online whereabouts, keeping your safety and privacy intact.
Physical tampering
While they’re the least likely, you shouldn’t discount attacks based on physical tampering. These involve infected devices, usually USB drives but also USB cables, which trigger malicious code once connected to your Mac. This can overwhelm your device, cause memory leaks, or even create backdoor access for hackers to use at a later time.
Don’t leave your Mac unattended, and use your own cables when charging or transferring files. If you’re using a MacBook, charge it before traveling and bring a topped-up powerbank for recharging, just in case.