Buying a new iMac - What do YOU do first?

[cynics]

This is not a sure thing to do since plenty of legitimate web site get hacked now and even those that don't get hacked may still use non kosher way to moneytize their services.

Then lets say for example a company you use online bill payment has been compromised on their end like you mentioned.

How is what you are doing any safer/better then what I'm doing?

 

[Nosferax]

Then lets say for example a company you use online bill payment has been compromised on their end like you mentioned.

How is what you are doing any safer/better then what I'm doing?

I was commenting of this part:

And I don't use my Mac at all to look at unsavory webpages.

That statement isn't a sure thing since even legit website can and do install tracking cookies or other ****. Even this forum does it with its targetting Amazon advert that just happens to display the latest product I did a search on Google for.

 

[cynics]

I was commenting of this part:







That statement isn't a sure thing since even legit website can and do install tracking cookies or other ****. Even this forum does it with its targetting Amazon advert that just happens to display the latest product I did a search on Google for.

Gotcha. I understand that but that's a chance you'll need to take while web browsing. Yes you can take some precautions but for the most part everything is on by default that still leaves a satisfactory browsing experience.

I mentioned avoiding unsavory web pages because then you are really putting yourself at risk. So that should be avoided, if you can't/won't then further measures should be taken.

 

[Nosferax]

We're cool...

 

[MkVsTheWorld]

I bought a 2011 refurbished iMac and the first thing I did was max out the memory at 32 GB. Then I made the mistake of upgrading my MBP HDD to an SSD.....

I saw the performance improvement in my MBP and then felt compelled to replace my iMac's factory HDD with an SSD and add another SSD behind the DVD drive. This way, I can run OS X and Windows 8 on separate SSDs without needing a HDD for operation. I just use HDDs for backups now.

 

[xraydoc]

My safety routine:

I use AdBlock on all my browsers... not just for the legit ads but for the malicious ones, even on some legit websites. ClickToFlash is also installed to stop any Flash elements from automatically starting.

Third party cookies are disabled.

Google Chrome data is encrypted with a passphrase that's different from my Gmail password.

Two-factor authentication is turned on for anything that supports it (DropBox, Google, iCloud, Facebook, Microsoft/Outlook, etc.)

I turn on the firewall and set it to stealth mode even though I'm behind a NAT with no port-forwarding and no DMZ.

I allow only signed software to be installed unless I manually start the installer.

I do have Flash installed, but I make sure it's kept up to date. Same for Java (it's required for an application I need for work).

And I keep two independent Time Machine backups.

 

[Traverse]

For the new computer:
My four essentials

1. Turn on the Firewall
2. Forbid Safari from autofilling any forms
3. Turn off third party cookies in Safari
4. Move my Keychain over - renaming to avoid confusion so that previous passwords and certificates are available if needed

HTH

You forgot to turn off "Open Safe Files after downloading" in Safari.

Also enable File Vault.

 

[shaunp]

The first thing I do is unbox it, followed by plugging it in and turning it on...