Ask Different Stack Exchange
Ask Different Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [security]

If your question pertains to a specific protocol, e.g., ssh or ssl (https), please use that tag instead. This is for general security of hardware, information, software topics where another tag isn’t presumed. iPhone security should use iPhone or iOS tag.

2021 questions
12
votes
1 answer

Clipboard survives a reboot. Is it secure?

I noticed that things in my clipboard survive a reboot - love it, very convenient. But I'd guess that's written to disk, and if I had physical access to your machine, I could reboot it and access the file the has the clipboard contents in it. It's…
Michael Wilde
  • 121
10
votes
2 answers

If my stolen iPod touch gets reset, will I receive a notification from iCloud?

My iPod touch was stolen. If the person type the wrong password 10 times, it will erase all my data. And, if that happens, will I receive the notification ("find my iPod") I requested in iCloud when it goes online?
The Student
  • 1,366
8
votes
1 answer

Has my MacBook been hacked?

The logo on the back of my MacBook was glowing when it was in sleep mode. This happened a couple of times when I was out of my room for about 15 mins, the apple logo which wasn’t glowing initially started to glow.It stopped glowing by the door…
user167540
  • 113
7
votes
1 answer

Password-prompt diologue box

Sometimes, when one is installing a programme, a dialogue box will appear asking for an administrator password to allow the installer to ‘make changes’. That seems fine, but wouldn’t it be easy for an installer to fake this and send the password…
Toothrot
  • 811
6
votes
2 answers

How to scan a Mac for rootkits and other stealthy security hazards

I'm looking at buying a second-hand Mac, probably one that does not include an OS installation disk. How can I scan it to make sure that it has not had security threats installed on it? Is there a CD or DVD image I can boot it up with to perform…
intuited
  • 1,022
5
votes
1 answer

Why does my Mac keeping connecting to Apple?

netstat -na | grep tcp shows two connections to 17.249.28.29.5223 The IP address 17.249.28.29 happens to be to Apple. The modem blinks rapidly every time I go online. Other than it being annoying, it also takes up bandwidth. Is there a way to…
assistech
  • 53
5
votes
2 answers

Can forced shut down damage OS security?

Few times I've had to forcibly shut Mac down by holding power button. I heard it causes file system damage. Could any of such corruption to file system weaken Mac's overall security, damage files OS uses for security purposes? For example…
Rodercik
  • 75
  • 5
4
votes
2 answers

Guest Account as Thief Trap in case of losing MacBook

One week ago my MBPro has been stolen, and unfortunately no "Where's My Mac" like's helped. My idea for securing my next MacBook is to create Password-free/guest-like account in case of another bad luck. When thief will open the lid, he will log in,…
Drwalcore
  • 93
4
votes
4 answers

Is there a security tools package for Mac OS X?

I mean a package of tools like those in the Kali Linux distribution.
eccstartup
  • 313
3
votes
0 answers

Suspicious looking item Google LLC under Allow in Background on Mac OS Ventura

I am using Mac OS Ventura. Just now I got a popup that Google LLC has been added to list of applications running in the background. When I opened the list, I saw this: I disabled Google LLC in above. It was enabled when I opened the list. This item…
morpheus
  • 377
2
votes
1 answer

secure erasing empty space without destroying the disk

I know I can use Disk Utility to secure erase a disk. My question is: I have a disk half empty. I would like to know if there's a way to secure erase the empty part of the disk. I mean, an app/command that can identify those empty sectors of the…
Duck
  • 2,474
2
votes
1 answer

Which Apps on my Mac need security updates?

I have a lot of software installed from sources other than the Apple Store. Is there a service to check which app have security updates ready to be downloaded? Opening each one on Fridays for a routine check sounds inefficient. For MacPorts, there…
Robottinosino
  • 2,119
2
votes
1 answer

How do I subvert this locked uber-secure OSX boot process to do a clean install?

I have inherited a 2017 Macbook Pro running OSX Catalina, previously managed by a major corporation. Now want to clean install and start from scratch. How do I do that? With a bootable USB drive in the slot and the Option held down, I get a lock…
Sasgorilla
  • 123
2
votes
1 answer

System Preferences - 'Allow the apps below to control your computer'. What is the extent of 'control'?

Question MacOS Catalina - System Preferences -> Security & Privacy -> Privacy -> Accessibility What does granting 'control (of) your computer' include? The following question from 2013 provides some very broad information: What does Security &…
We'll See
  • 73
2
votes
1 answer

Do Apple's application crash/hang reports contain confidential info.?

When an application hangs, and I force-quit it, my system typically generates a long report, and invites me to send that report to Apple. My question is this: Does this report contain any confidential information, especially information that…
theorist
  • 805
1
2 3