When you download an application from the internet and try to open it for the first time macOS / OS X / Mac OS X will warn you that it was downloaded and you must confirm whether you want to open it.Consider what you are double clicking - if you are double clicking what is supposed to be a 'picture' and it is asking for your user name and password then clearly something is wrong - cancel and delete the file.Turn on the file extension display - click on the desktop / go to Finder menu > Preferences > Advanced tab > tick 'Show all filename extensions'.If you run Mac OS X 10.6.6 or later consider buying software only from the Mac App Store.Think before you install and pay attention to what is happening on screen.BitTorrent, Vuze, Azereus, Transmission) or Limewire/Gnutella (e.g.

Don't download software using peer-to-peer (P2P) networks e.g.

Don't install (pirated) software from the internet/torrent sites - apart from it being illegal it usually has malware included in the installer!.

Get important software (security) updates by using the official developer's company web/support site.

Do not use download aggregation sites like CNET,, MacUpdate, etc as they often bundle adware/malware as an unofficial installer! Only use reputable web sites that link to official company web sites like us (MacStrategy).

Be aware of what you are installing - always try to get software installers from the official developer's company web/support site.

Read stuff that appears on screen, don't ever blindly click 'OK', 'Install' or 'I Accept', etc.

Be aware of why your computer is asking for an administrator's user name and password - if you're not sure click 'Cancel'.

Take heed of all MacStrategy's security recommendations.

So what can you do to secure software installations? Here is a handy list of tips: However, software/files can easily be installed into your user area (home directory) e.g. However, with macOS / OS X / Mac OS X it is very difficult for any software to be installed into the 'system' without the need for an administrator's user name and password. The important thing to know is that any of these can happen without you invoking the action.

Silently, in the background with no visual indication.

Software can be installed in three different ways on a Mac computer: It is number two in a series of MacStrategy security articles. Software security recommendations for your Mac computer Security - Software Mac Security Article #2 - Software Article ID = 82Īrticle Title = Mac Security Article #2 - Software

Norton 360 macos big sur