Intego: The Mac Security Specialist Has Been Keeping Online Daters Safe From the Dangers of the Web for Two Decades

The Short Version: For two decades, Intego has been working to dispel the myths that Macs and Apple devices are immune to malware and other dangers on the web. Founded in 1997, Intego is the world’s only web security company zeroing in on Apple products. This is good news for online daters who are surfing the net on their Macs. Intego provides comprehensive protection through its security suite that features antispyware, antiphishing, and antivirus software to keep personal information and money safe from those with malicious intent. The company offers a layered approach to security that helps online daters lock down their data so they can focus on finding their perfect match.

Online dating can be tough work. The profiles seem endless, and when you find someone you might like, you then have to navigate through the first conversations. Protecting your heart during this process is usually top of mind, and the last thing you want to worry about is safeguarding your computer, phone, and personal data.

But, for those in the online dating game, the criminals who employ malware and phishing scams to steal your information and money are a real threat. According to Security Intelligence, the online journal for IT security industry professionals, the risks associated with online dating fall into two categories: people and systems.

Singles looking for love on the web sometimes drop their guard in an effort to get to know someone. This leaves them open to social engineering and phishing scams where criminals try to solicit chunks of personal data to get at their money. Malware is also a concern on sites that haven’t fully protected their registration systems against attacks, which means personal information can then be acquired by nefarious software.

To protect against these threats, what’s needed is a robust web security solution that shields personal informaion from malware and those who are trying to gain unauthorized access to it. For 20 years, Intego has been providing security for online daters using Macs and Apple devices.

Intego offers Apple users a turnkey web security suite to protect them from potential hazards online.

“There are definitely risks to online dating that our software can help protect against,” said Derek Erwin, Intego’s Content Marketing Manager. “We can offer peace of mind to users who are concerned about being misled by malicious sites and apps that spread malware.”

Intego is the world’s only web security company that focuses exclusively on Macs and other Apple products. The company offers a comprehensive security suite that bundles antivirus, antiphishing, and antispyware in a single solution. And, according to Derek, by including a two-way firewall in this package, Intego is able to offer a multilayered approach to security that combats inbound threats while simultaneously preventing data from leaking out.

Many have bought into the common myths that Macs aren’t susceptible to malware, but, unfortunately, they are. One of Intego’s goals is to educate people on this fact so they aren’t lulled into a false sense of safety.

While it’s true Windows-specific viruses don’t infect Macs, other malware can. One of the most common ways Macs are impacted is through drive-by downloads and malicious advertisements.

It’s commonly thought that Macs aren’t susceptible to malware, and Intego intends to dispel this myth.

“The reality is all machines are vulnerable, and devious cyber-criminals use a variety of malware that threatens Macintosh computers,” Derek said. “Worse yet, they’re not just targeting Macs — they’re after your sensitive personal information and your money.”

Derek told us Intego’s award-winning software, VirusBarrier, is one of the best solutions on the market to protect your Mac and data.

Intego’s security products are designed so every level of user, from expert to novice, can use them to protect their Apple devices. Always innovating and updating products, Intego ensures its users are secure online.

Online dating comes with many hazards, but we often don’t think of those that aren’t attached to our hearts. When looking to connect on the web, your Mac is vulnerable to a host of threats, including viruses, Trojan horses, worms, spyware, adware, hacking tools, and phishing scams, among other dangers.

To protect against these perils, Derek suggests deploying Intego’s all-inclusive security suites Mac Internet Security X9 and Mac Premium Bundle X9. These packages include protection against threats as they occur.

Intego’s Mac Premium Bundle offers comprehensive web security housed in a single solution.

“Intego’s solutions offer both on-demand malware scans, scheduled scans, as well as real-time protection,” Derek said. “This watches all file activity and makes sure users are always safe.”

Netbarrier X9, another product included in both bundles, provides location-aware firewall protection no matter where you are. It identifies and blocks untrusted devices, so you don’t unintentionally share a file or other information with outside users. You can also block specific domains without limiting functionality.

According to Derek, it’s important to take a multi-layered approach to security by putting inbound and outbound firewall protections in place. In terms of protecting your information, Derek told us more is better, and ContentBarrier provides a solution.

“This blocks out objectionable categories of internet sites,” he said. “You can also set up a specific list of websites that get the parental thumbs up so your kids can access them without accidentally running into a filter.”

Intego’s ContentBarrier blocks categories of websites deemed inappropriate by the administrator.

In addition, ContentBarrier includes an anti-predator chat monitor to block inappropriate chats and limits online time for kids with personalized settings.

While safety is a primary consideration, no one wants a slow-moving, clunky computing experience. To free up space and optimize your operating system, Intego’s Mac Cleaner can optimize, organize, and speed up your Mac.

“It’s a solution that enhances performance by reclaiming space on your startup drive,” Derek said. “Mac Cleaner seeks out and removes duplicates and other unneeded files, frees up hard disk space to speed up the operating system, organizes the Dock and Desktop, and lets you create Smart Folders for quick access to frequently-used files.”

This way, you have everything you need, organized smartly, while anything you don’t need gets the heave-ho.

The people and systems targeting online daters are not going away anytime soon, and Derek told us it’s imperative to employ a robust security solution, like Intego’s, to protect dating site users from malicious intent.

One of Intego’s recent initiatives is to educate the public on industry best practices for how to effectively lock down data. While Mac security settings can be challenging, Derek told us Intego is using its 20 years of experience to offer support through a guide to protecting privacy.

“We’ve put together a comprehensive list of actions people can take to lock down access to their Mac and their data,” he said. “We encourage all Mac users to have a look at our guide.”

The guide’s tips include creating complex passwords, running a two-way firewall, and having a separate administrator account from your daily use account (to prevent accidental deletions and downloads).

Securing your computer is imperative when dating online, and Intego’s software and best practices on safe computing can provide peace of mind so you can focus on your love life.