Very Important Question: How To Keep High Sierra Secure???

[MarkC426]

Thank you for your reply Mark!

The time of 2 months makes a HUGE difference to me because it means I'll be able to keep using my Mac Mini mid2011 for an extra 2 months if High Sierra will continue to receive security updates until November 2020.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but there probably won’t be another SU for HS (never say never).
So your Mac will be no different now or in 2 or 6 months time.
I really don’t know what your so worried about though.
You can keep using it, with common sense browsing.

 

[MarkC426]

Thank you for your reply Ian!

My Mac Mini mid2011 HDD's died a long time ago so I really miss using macOSX so the 2 months will make a big difference for me as I do not have access to another Mac... ? ? ?

If your hdd died and your not using MacOS, why are you bothered at all..... ?

 

[camelia]

i think we will receive 3 more security updates more and that's all, HS will die

Came

 

[MarkC426]

It won’t die, there will just be no updates.
You can continue to use it indefinitely.

 

[camelia]

It won’t die, there will just be no updates.
You can continue to use it indefinitely.

Yes that is correct, It won’t die
But my guess is 3 more security updates and no more

Usually in previous macOS we had received 6 security updates (SecUpd2020-006"macOS Version")

And 1 more because usually Apple makes a mess with the last one ?

Came

 

[avz]

i think we will receive 3 more security updates more and that's all, HS will die

Came

Stay positive, I still used Leopard for the Internet Banking in May 2018, my bank officially dropped support for the Safari 6 only on 15 May 2020.
This is what I like the most about the Mac, you always have time for a cup of coffee(or a 100 000 cups of coffee) before you really need to start thinking about upgrading your Mac OS.

 

[BeautifulWoman_1984]

If your hdd died and your not using MacOS, why are you bothered at all..... ?

MarkC, I don't have access to another Mac so I don't have access to MacOSX.

I'm bothered because I really do miss using MacOSX

I'm just getting worried because by the time I install the new HDD in my Mac Mini mid2011 I may only be able to use MacOSX on my Mac Mini for a couple weeks...???

 

[MarkC426]

AGAIN.....there is no reason why you can’t use it.... ?
I am sorry, but I really don’t get why your panicking so much.
It is not the end of road for your mini.

 

[DeltaMac]

Apple doesn't suddenly shut off everything.
I think you are also forgetting that Apple will still provide updates to the security "parts" of your system, such as Xprotect, gatekeeper, MRT (malware removal tool), probably even SIP. Those continue to be updated on previous systems, as they are part of the daily system protection provided by the Mac system.
No ongoing "Security updates", but the automatic (hidden) updates would continue.
I agree with the above post, no reason to panic.

 

[camelia]

Apple doesn't suddenly shut off everything.
I think you are also forgetting that Apple will still provide updates to the security "parts" of your system, such as Xprotect, gatekeeper, MRT (malware removal tool), probably even SIP. Those continue to be updated on previous systems, as they are part of the daily system protection provided by the Mac system.
No ongoing "Security updates", but the automatic (hidden) updates would continue.
I agree with the above post, no reason to panic.

What is SIP?

Thanks
Camelia

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

What is SIP?

Thanks
Camelia

https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT204899
You may want to beef up on your knowledge here if you're trying to manually install XProtect.

 

[camelia]

https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT204899
You may want to beef up on your knowledge here if you're trying to manually install XProtect.

Thank you, I know how to manually install XProtect and MRT

Came

 

[chrfr]

Thank you, I know how to manually install XProtect and MRT

Came

It's not necessary to manually install these. Why bother?

 

[camelia]

It's not necessary to manually install these. Why bother?

I wanted to learn, knowledge is the Power, that is why I know how to

Came

 

[BeautifulWoman_1984]

AGAIN.....there is no reason why you can’t use it.... ?
I am sorry, but I really don’t get why your panicking so much.
It is not the end of road for your mini.

Thank you for your reply MarkC.

I know I'm being overly cautious, but I just want to make sure my Mac Mini mid2011 running High Sierra will be secure as I do a lot of my work on it... ? ? ?

 

[MarkC426]

Your options are:
1. Carry on as normal.
2. Upgrade and feel more secure.....

Like I have said earlier, the best way to stay safe is sensible browsing.
Never click links in e-mails, only download from trusted sources.

And without being rude, the likelyhood of someone targeting you with your ‘state of the art mini’ is extremely unlikely......

 

[avz]

Thank you for your reply MarkC.

I know I'm being overly cautious, but I just want to make sure my Mac Mini mid2011 running High Sierra will be secure as I do a lot of my work on it... ? ? ?

Technically speaking you are 100% correct. At the same time you are refusing to play by the rules of the system and buy a new hardware. It seems that you are stuck in a perpetual "cautiously rebellious" state. In order to get out of this state you must make a leap of faith(patcher, whatever other options there is). There is no way around it.

 

[Xray50]

Stay positive, I still used Leopard for the Internet Banking in May 2018, my bank officially dropped support for the Safari 6 only on 15 May 2020.
This is what I like the most about the Mac, you always have time for a cup of coffee(or a 100 000 cups of coffee) before you really need to start thinking about upgrading your Mac OS.

Are u sure is still secure Internet Banking with macOS High Sierra and Safari Version 13.1.2 (13609.3.5.1.5)?

 

[camelia]

Are u sure is still secure Internet Banking with macOS High Sierra and Safari Version 13.1.2 (13609.3.5.1.5)?

View attachment 948147

For me nop

Camelia

 

[Wowfunhappy]

The time of 2 months makes a HUGE difference to me because it means I'll be able to keep using my Mac Mini mid2011 for an extra 2 months if High Sierra will continue to receive security updates until November 2020.

I promise you, if you use High Sierra for a few months after it stops receiving security updates, you will be fine. Just switch to a browser like Firefox (as opposed to Safari) that will still be updated on High Sierra.

The exception is if you personally are a major target for hackers. For instance, if you're a journalist, or you work on a political campaign, or you're a high-level executive at a major company, it is absolutely essential that you stay completely up-to-date at all times. Other than that you're fine.

And High Sierra is the best of the recent OS releases anyway.

 

[avz]

Are u sure is still secure Internet Banking with macOS High Sierra and Safari Version 13.1.2 (13609.3.5.1.5)?

View attachment 948147

I am not sure I understood your question. There is no guarantees even with the latest and greatest hardware/OS.
There are other simple procesess that you can implement to increase your security online that have already been mentioned many times before. If you don't have any "game plan", you are vulnerable, period.

 

[Xray50]

I am not sure I understood your question. There is no guarantees even with the latest and greatest hardware/OS.
There are other simple procesess that you can implement to increase your security online that have already been mentioned many times before. If you don't have any "game plan", you are vulnerable, period.

I know, common sense is the best antivirus, I only use Safari to check my Email (Google and Hotmail) and for Internet Banking.

I don't download anything, all my Apps are from the Apple Store, so I am only have to update.

I have 3 MBP's and the one with High Sierra is exclusive for Internet Banking, if not more secure updates for HS should I stop using this MBP for Internet Banking?

Tc

 

[BeautifulWoman_1984]

Thanks so much for all the replies!

I'm trying to choose what I should do to maintain security, but wow, I'm really struggling to choose... ? ? ?

This is weird: I just checked the Wikipedia page for High Sierra and once again the support date has been extended for High Sierra from September/November 2020 and it now says support will continue for High Sierra until the end of 2020...?????

Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacOS_High_Sierra

 

[MarkC426]

That doesn’t necessarily mean there will be any updates though.
You seem to be spending an awful lot of time reading/researching the end date, by which time it will actually be November. Enjoy it now while it’s supported, with updates as required.

Ignorance is bliss, I was on Snow Leopard for ever before I joined these forums and was oblivious to all ‘scare mongering’ and had zero issues.

It is only when you start reading all these things you then get over paranoid.

 

[avz]

I know, common sense is the best antivirus, I only use Safari to check my Email (Google and Hotmail) and for Internet Banking.

I don't download anything, all my Apps are from the Apple Store, so I am only have to update.

I have 3 MBP's and the one with High Sierra is exclusive for Internet Banking, if not more secure updates for HS should I stop using this MBP for Internet Banking?

Tc

Yes, looks like you are on a right path.

I also used Leopard exclusively just for the Internet Banking and nothing else. On top of that I only spent around 5-10 min a week doing Internet Banking. It is actually possible to create a separate user account just for the IB, but I don't mind booting to a dedicated partition.

I personally would have no issues doing Internet Banking on Mavericks, let alone High Sierra. I have MacBooks with Mavericks that are connected to the internet pretty much 24/7 without any issues. Ultimately it is your decision as for all I know you might be a high profile person.