Thank you so much for your detailed reply ElitistWhiner!
Many MacRumors users have suggested I install the "DosDudePatcher", but I don't want to risk installing a MacOS which is not officially made by Apple. I'd be much more comfortable installing Windows 10 instead of using the "DosDudePatcher".
What's a good firewall you can recommend?
Like I said here earlier:
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...o-with-mac-mini-mid2011.2228216/post-28355153
The reason I'm so concerned about security is I just keep thinking of the Windows XP 2003/2004 where just connecting to the Internet put your Windows XP PC at risk if you didn't have the latest Windows XP update...
I've been reading this thread from the beginning, even gave a comment
HERE, but now after all the wise and valid advise you've been given from many, think it's time to be honest with you.
I've been a long believer of the saying, "A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing!" (I was just about to add, "especially for women"), which is particularly true of my wife, who worries about the least little thing, and even when times are quiet and calm, I believe she still worries - because she has nothing to worry about!
So you'll understand me when I say that with her late 2012 Mac Mini (imho the last of the great, total bargain/cost-effective/user repairable Mini's) she loves it, rarely worries about it, simply because she hasn't a clue whether it's running OS 9, Tiger, Leopard, Sierra, Alpine or Mount Everest......
Honestly, for all
practical purposes (forget the theoretical ones, as they cause you unecessary worry) it doesn't matter a fig which OS you use
if you have a good updated internet web browser, (and tweek that for added security
if one is particularly paranoid). Plus use DuckDuckGo as a search engine, I always do over Safari - have't used that for many years and certainly don't plan to.
To give a practical example. As an avid collector of Macs, I've used many of my PowerPC's, and early Intel desktop and laptop Macs (circa 2001 onwards) with a wide range of OS X systems, and still continue to use them in 2020 on the internet and have
never had a virus or malware related attack affecting either the software of hardware. As a footnote to that comment, all those early machines and their OS's were declared obsolete probably even before Fred Flintstone was in diapers (slight exaggeration), but hopefully you get my point.
Recently I was running OS Leopard on a mid 2007 Mac Mini and although using an up-to-date web browser was not totally happy with it. So upgraded to OS X Lion 10.7 which I installed on an SSD, downloaded FireFoxLegacy 68.12 which is a modern, secure (O8/2020) web browser, and together with DuckDuckGo I couldn't feel happier or safer.
So to
@BeautifulWoman_1984 I'll just add:
i) Stay with your current High Sierra, ditch Safari and/or Google, and install the latest FireFox together with the search engine already mentioned. You'll be perfectly safe - and won't need a crucifix or sprig of garlic for added security.
ii) Unless you are very keen diy, find a friend who could install an SSD with Mojave via dosdude1 patch. Not sure where you're located but I'd do it free-of charge if you lived nearby - as I have done for several family members and friends of friends etc.
iii) Don't listen to any of us, but just spend serious money on a later Mac Mini, which imho in the real world would not give you total peace of mind, as once a soldered-on memory module or other fixed component fails, you will have serious worries due to the potential cost of replacement........
Please let us know which of the above suggestions you go for.
