Secure Your Linux Mac: The Essential Post-Install Checklist

So, you’ve installed Linux on your Intel Mac.
Congrats—you’ve escaped the Apple ecosystem.
Now what?

Well, unless you want your sleek little machine turned into a Bitcoin miner by some guy in Belarus, it’s time to secure it.

Linux isn’t bulletproof out of the box.
Here’s a no-nonsense, post-install checklist to harden your Mac-powered Linux setup in under 30 minutes.

🔒 1. Update Everything Immediately

Before anything else:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Or if you’re using Fedora:

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Security patches, firmware updates, kernel fixes—you want them all.

🔑 2. Change Default Hostname

Don’t be that person with a machine called ubuntu-macbook.

Edit the hostname:

sudo hostnamectl set-hostname your-cool-name

Then update /etc/hosts to match.

🔍 3. Install a Firewall

UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall) is your best friend.

sudo apt install ufw
sudo ufw enable
sudo ufw default deny incoming
sudo ufw default allow outgoing

Want something fancier? Look into Firewalld or GUFW for a graphical interface.

🔐 4. Encrypt Your Home Folder (If You Forgot)

If you didn’t enable full disk encryption during install, you can still encrypt your home directory with ecryptfs.

Just… back up everything first. Seriously.

🧠 5. Enable Automatic Security Updates

For Debian/Ubuntu:

sudo apt install unattended-upgrades
sudo dpkg-reconfigure --priority=low unattended-upgrades

Or schedule your own with cron.

👁️ 6. Remove What You Don’t Need

Check for open ports:

sudo netstat -tulpn

Or better:

sudo lsof -i -P -n

Uninstall junk:

sudo apt remove thunderbird rhythmbox cheese

(Why are those still installed?)

⚙️ 7. Set Up System Backups

Install Timeshift. Do it.

sudo apt install timeshift

Create a snapshot before you go wild with customizations.

🔐 8. Use a Password Manager

Your browser is not a vault.

Install Bitwarden, KeepassXC, or use command-line tools like pass.

🧩 9. Disable SSH if You Don’t Use It

sudo systemctl disable ssh
sudo systemctl stop ssh

If you do use it:

Change the default port
Use SSH keys
Disable root login

🧱 10. Bonus Paranoia Moves

Enable AppArmor or SELinux
Use 2FA for GitHub/GitLab
Don’t run random scripts from Reddit
Check logs regularly: journalctl -xe

Why It Matters

Just because you’re not running Windows doesn’t mean you’re invisible.
Linux security starts with you—your habits, your hygiene, and your setup.

And when your Mac runs 100x smoother and safer than it did on macOS, you’ll know you did it right.

Secure, lean, under control.
That’s how your Linux Mac should run.

Mactel Linux