Security Settings?

[marc55]

In the security settings, there are two settings I'm not sure about:

Firewall and FileVault, and both are currently turned off.

Can you guys give me some insight as to what they should be set to?

Thank you

EDIT: My MBP is used on a home wifi network protected with WPA2.

 

[redheeler]

FileVault is disk encryption. If you enable it the contents of your hard drive will be encrypted and inaccessible without the password, handy if your computer ever falls into the wrong hands.

 

[Rigby]

The firewall can block incoming TCP and UDP connections, thus preventing other computers on the network from connecting to open ports on your computer (and potentially trying to exploit a buggy or malicious application to hack you). This can be configured on an app-by-app basis, or for (almost) all ports.

I'd recommend to activate it and only allow trusted applications that actually need to respond to incoming connections (note that it does not affect outgoing connections initiated by you). On untrustworthy networks (such as public Wifi or hotel networks) it's a good idea to activate the option to block all incoming connections.

 

[yjchua95]

In the security settings, there are two settings I'm not sure about:

Firewall and FileVault, and both are currently turned off.

Can you guys give me some insight as to what they should be set to?

Thank you

Switch on both.

 

[Agent-P]

I would say enable the Firewall just as a general security enhancement.

As for FileVault, that's up to you. Do you store sensitive files on your computer? If so, then enable it. If not, then you don't need to.

 

[marc55]

Thanks guys!