Are your devices secure?
How your Apple kit protects your data
Apple is known for the security of its devices, but as the proliferation of digital technology has accelerated, Apple devices have become more appetizing targets for the ne’er-do-wells of the world. That means it’s more important than ever to understand how to make your devices as secure as they can possibly be.
Despite its reputation for watertight security, Apple has suffered embarrassing security slips in the recent past — from text messages crashing iPhones because of dodgy glyphs; to the discovery that the all-powerful root user on the Mac could be accessed without a password. And then there's Meltdown and Spectre – vulnerabilities which affect a huge range of modern processors, including those found on the Mac, iPhone and iPad.
These stories illustrate the need to keep your Apple devices up to date, and ensure you don’t miss out on essential patches, but installing updates isn't the only way you can keep your devices safe.
Apple has been careful to stop threats in their tracks, with features like Gatekeeper, FileVault and the Secure Enclave (see below). The recent scares were exceptions that proved the rule. As an Apple user you are more resistant to hacks, exploits and other nasties than if you used Android or Windows.
Sandbox safety
One reason for that security is the way Macs handle and install apps. Each app is ‘sandboxed’, meaning its privileges are limited, making it harder for malicious code to put your computer at risk.
It’s also very easy to see what apps are able to access on your computer. For example, go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Location Services to see which apps can find out about your location. On your iPhone, you can get the same information in Settings > Privacy > Location Services.
Still, there are plenty of things you can do to strengthen the security of your devices – and we're going to show you how over the next few pages.