When it comes to security, few agencies spend more time preparing against cyber attacks than the National Security Agency. It turns out that when the agency isn't prepping for cyberterrorism with programs like Perfect Citizen, it's publishing some guides for securing your personal desktop.
While there's documentation to be prowled regardless of your platform—from Windows to Linux to Sun Solaris—the NSA has "Hardening Tips" specifically for Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, which could come in handy amidst reports of a rogue antimalware Trojan currently spreading on Mac systems. Here are 10 NSA-sanctioned tips for putting a collar on your cat, without getting scratched.
1. System Preferences/Accounts: Create a non-admin account for everyday activities.
2. System Preferences/Accounts: Disable Automatic Login and User List through "Login Options." Set "Automatic login" to "Off." Set "Display login window as" to "Name and password."
3. System Preferences/Accounts: Disable guest account and sharing. Select the Guest Account and disable it by un-checking "Allow Guest to log in to this computer." Uncheck "Allow guests to connect to shared folders."
4. System Preferences/Security: Require password "5 seconds" after sleep or screen saver begins.
5. System Preferences/Security: Use secure virtual memory.
6. System Preferences/Security: Disable Location Services.
7. System Preferences/Security: Disable remote control infrared receiver.
8. System Preferences/Network: For every network interface listed click "Advanced" then the "TCP/IP" tab. "Configure IPv6:" to "Off" if not needed.
9. Utilities/Terminal: To keep users and guests from snooping around home folders, run this command: sudo chmod go-rx /Users/username.
10. Utilities/Terminal: Disable unnecessary services by using the chart to the right with this command: sudo launchctl unload -w /System/Library/ and LaunchDaemons/com.apple.blued.plist.
Consider these 10 "Hardening Tips" teasers: check out the full document for many, many more, including how to parlez "Au Revoir, Bonjour." And for Mac users running older versions of the OS, NSA also has tips for OS X 10.5 Leopard tamers.