Fun Hidden Hacks — How To
1. Quick Look slideshow
Select multiple images in Finder → press Space → press Space again → use arrow keys to flip through.
2. Screenshot to clipboard
Press ⌘+Shift+Control+4 → drag to select area → release. Nothing saves to disk; paste directly into Mail, Messages, etc.
3. Character viewer
Press Control+⌘+Space anywhere you’re typing → browse emoji, symbols, even accented letters → double-click to insert.
4. Dock recent apps toggle
Right-click the vertical divider line in the Dock (between apps and Downloads/Trash) → choose “Show Recent Applications in Dock.”
5. Dictionary/link preview via trackpad
System Settings → Trackpad → Point & Click → enable “Force Click and haptic feedback.” Then deep-press any word for a definition, or deep-press a URL in Safari/Mail for a preview.
6. Universal Control
Both devices signed into same Apple ID, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth on, near each other. System Settings → Displays → Universal Control → enable “Allow your cursor and keyboard to move between any nearby Mac or iPad.” Drag cursor to the edge of one screen toward the other device.
7. Terminal Star Wars
Open Terminal → type nc towel.blinkenlights.nl 23 → Enter. (Needs internet; press Control+C to quit.)
8. App switcher reverse
Hold ⌘, tap Tab to cycle forward, tap ~ (tilde) to go backward without letting go of ⌘.
9. Shake to find cursor
Automatic — just shake the mouse/trackpad rapidly and the pointer balloons up temporarily. No setting needed on modern macOS.
Security Hardening — Step by Step
1. FileVault (full-disk encryption)
System Settings → Privacy & Security → FileVault → Turn On. Choose to store the recovery key with Apple ID (easy recovery) or save it yourself (more private, but if lost, data is unrecoverable).
2. Firmware/Recovery lock
Restart holding ⌘+R to enter Recovery Mode. Utilities menu → Startup Security Utility → set a firmware password. Blocks booting from external drives or reinstalling macOS without the password. (Apple Silicon Macs handle this slightly differently — check via Startup Security Utility labeling.)
3. Strong login
System Settings → Touch ID & Password → set a password that isn’t just numeric; enable Touch ID for unlock and Apple Pay/sudo.
4. Fast auto-lock
System Settings → Lock Screen → “Require password after screen saver begins or display is turned off” → set to immediately or a few seconds.
5. Firewall + stealth mode
System Settings → Network → Firewall → turn on. Click Options → enable “Enable stealth mode” (ignores unsolicited probe requests, making your Mac harder to detect on networks).
6. macOS updates
System Settings → General → Software Update → enable automatic updates, or check manually monthly.
7. Standard account for daily use
Create a second admin account if you don’t have one; convert your daily account to Standard (Users & Groups) so malware/scripts can’t silently gain admin rights.
8. Permission audits
System Settings → Privacy & Security → review Camera, Microphone, Location Services, Screen Recording — revoke access from apps that don’t need it.
9. Password manager + 2FA
Use iCloud Keychain or 1Password to generate/store unique passwords. Enable two-factor authentication on your Apple ID (Settings → [your name] → Sign-In & Security).
10. Find My Mac
Settings → [your name] → Find My → enable Find My Mac and “Send Last Location” for remote lock/erase via iCloud.com if stolen.
11. Gatekeeper / app sourcing
Keep Gatekeeper enabled (System Settings → Privacy & Security → Security → “App Store and identified developers”). Avoid overriding it for random downloaded apps unless you trust the source.