Practical Steps to Secure macOS Devices
Summary
A practical guide to securing Macs recommends keeping software updated, reviewing security settings and app permissions, enabling FileVault and the firewall, and gathering endpoint information if malware is suspected.
Key points
- Keep macOS and applications updated; Apple updates can include XProtect signatures and XProtect Remediator improvements.
- Review third-party security tools for tasks such as monitoring persistence, controlling network connections, and inspecting installer packages.
- Enable FileVault to encrypt stored data, and use the built-in firewall or a third-party alternative to restrict unauthorized incoming connections.
- Audit Transparency, Consent, and Control permissions, especially access to the microphone, camera, location, and Full Disk Access.
- Check Sharing settings and disable services such as Remote Login when they are not needed.
- If malware is suspected, the article recommends using Aftermath to gather endpoint information, including browser visits and downloaded, installed, or executed files.
Article Details
- Defense Focus
- Practical ways to secure macOS endpoints through software updates, layered security tools, periodic system audits, permission and sharing reviews, and incident-response evidence collection.
- Detection Methods
- Use KnockKnock to enumerate persistence on the device.
- Review macOS Privacy & Security permissions, including microphone, camera, Full Disk Access, location, and Photos access, and remove access for unfamiliar applications.
- Audit Sharing settings for unnecessary Screen Sharing, Remote Login, and Remote Management.
- Use Aftermath during incident response to collect endpoint information and review browser visits and subsequent downloads, installations, and executions.
- Inspect installer bundles with Suspicious Package, including signing and notarization status and pre- or post-install scripts.
- Data Sources
- macOS System Settings: Privacy & Security permissions and Sharing settings
- Endpoint persistence information
- Browser history and records of subsequent downloads, installations, and executions
- Installer bundle signing, notarization, and pre-/post-install script information
- Apple security tools, firmware, and security data files
- Platforms
- macOS
- Defensive Actions
- Keep the operating system and applications up to date so Apple security updates, XProtect signatures, and XProtect Remediator remain current.
- Enable FileVault and protect the recovery key.
- Enable the built-in firewall or consider a third-party firewall.
- Periodically review application permissions and revoke unnecessary access, particularly to microphones, cameras, and Full Disk Access.
- Disable or investigate sharing services, including Remote Login, when they are not needed.
- Use endpoint security tools and gather forensic information when malware is suspected.
- Provide security awareness training to end users.
People
Vendors
Applesimple—and in some ways, it is—but it is very common for users to not update their operating system. Apple continually pushes updates, whether security updates or general updates, to their endpoints that areHuntressHuntress on macOS: Available at the business level, Huntress on macOS is designed to protect end users from persistent threats. We're also looking to expand our Managed EDR capabilities for Macs in the near future. 👀MalwarebytesMalwarebytes for Mac: I've used Malwarebytes for Mac on my personal computer for years, as they offer personal use licenses. Since Malwarebytes acquired AdwareMedic, I had confidence in their product. They have robust
Products
Aftermathon a Mac endpoint, the best thing you can do first is try to gather more information. Tools such as Aftermath, which is free, can gather more information from the endpoint than when analyzed, and put relevantFileVaultIn short, Filevault encrypts the information on your machine so only the user with the authorized password can access it. Within the System Settings, under Privacy & Security, there is an option to turn on FileVault. AsGuardianyour device from unauthorized incoming connections. There are also third-party firewalls, like LuLu or Guardian, that can extend this capability.Huntress on macOSHuntress on macOS: Available at the business level, Huntress on macOS is designed to protect end users from persistent threats. We're also looking to expand our Managed EDR capabilities for Macs in the near future. 👀KnockKnockdesigned to protect users from malware. Whether it’s enumerating the persistence on your device with KnockKnock, a firewall called LuLu, or monitoring your microphone and camera for unauthorized use with Oversight,LuLufrom malware. Whether it’s enumerating the persistence on your device with KnockKnock, a firewall called LuLu, or monitoring your microphone and camera for unauthorized use with Oversight, these tools are a one-stopMalwarebytes for MacMalwarebytes for Mac: I've used Malwarebytes for Mac on my personal computer for years, as they offer personal use licenses. Since Malwarebytes acquired AdwareMedic, I had confidence in their product. They have robustOversightKnockKnock, a firewall called LuLu, or monitoring your microphone and camera for unauthorized use with Oversight, these tools are a one-stop shop for Mac protection.SilentKnightSilentKnight: A simple, straightforward tool by Howard Oakley at the Eclectic Light Co. that is designed to help assay the system. It will check different Apple security tools, fireware, and some data files to make sureSuspicious PackageSuspicious Package: Likely more aimed at security professionals, Suspicious Package is designed to look inside bundles to show you if it’s potentially malicious. It checks signing and notarization status, and it canXProtectare designed to provide further protection to end users. These updates will include updates to Apple’s XProtect signatures and to its XProtect Remediator tool, both of which are designed to block and remediateXProtect Remediatorto end users. These updates will include updates to Apple’s XProtect signatures and to its XProtect Remediator tool, both of which are designed to block and remediate malware.
Tools
Aftermathon a Mac endpoint, the best thing you can do first is try to gather more information. Tools such as Aftermath, which is free, can gather more information from the endpoint than when analyzed, and put relevantKnockKnockdesigned to protect users from malware. Whether it’s enumerating the persistence on your device with KnockKnock, a firewall called LuLu, or monitoring your microphone and camera for unauthorized use with Oversight,LuLu Firewallfrom malware. Whether it’s enumerating the persistence on your device with KnockKnock, a firewall called LuLu, or monitoring your microphone and camera for unauthorized use with Oversight, these tools are a one-stopOversightKnockKnock, a firewall called LuLu, or monitoring your microphone and camera for unauthorized use with Oversight, these tools are a one-stop shop for Mac protection.SilentKnightSilentKnight: A simple, straightforward tool by Howard Oakley at the Eclectic Light Co. that is designed to help assay the system. It will check different Apple security tools, fireware, and some data files to make sureSuspicious PackageSuspicious Package: Likely more aimed at security professionals, Suspicious Package is designed to look inside bundles to show you if it’s potentially malicious. It checks signing and notarization status, and it can