Security Issues

Passwords

These could usually be stronger and certainly not ‘password’. For general advice on setting passwords see here.

To check your password, go to System preferences > Security and Privacy then Click padlock to make any changes.  Click the General tab first:

Filevault  – can be used to encrypt all your data

Firewall – on or off – various options

Privacy – Apps and how they connect to your data

Folder/File encryption

The Mac does not have apps to encrypt individual files, but can encrypt folders. Go to Spotlight Search for the Disk Utility.app. You’ll also find it in Finder > Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility.app.

Now click New Image to make a disk image of a folder. The window below shows how this is set up – choose 128-bit AES encryption and click New Folder (bottom left).

After Create, you’ll be asked for for a password, but don’t set Remember password in my keychain after entering a password. This will then mount a disk image (dmg file) of the folder which will be encrypted – try opening it – you will need the password you used to set it up.

A recommended password saving program is 1Password, but it costs $49. See video.

Find my Mac/iPad/iPhone

Requires access to iCloud, and can be used with Microsoft Windows too.
On Mac, open System Preferences > iCloud > Tick Find my Mac at the bottom of the list.

On iPhone and iPad its Settings > iCloud > tick Find my Phone

If you cannot find your phone, go to iCloud on Mac or iPad and login to iCloud.
You may be able to see it on a map or get it to play a sound.  You can also disable or wipe the contents of the device.

Similar actions are also possible on Android phones, e g Samsung using Android Device Manager.