Don't install crapware, such as “themes,” 'haxies,' “add-ons,” “toolbars,” “enhancers,' “optimizers,” “accelerators,” 'boosters,' “extenders,” “cleaners,” 'doctors,' 'tune-ups,' “defragmenters,” “firewalls,” 'barriers,' “guardians,” “defenders,” “protectors,” most “plugins,” commercial 'virus scanners,” 'disk tools,' or 'utilities.' With very few exceptions, this stuff is useless, or worse than useless. Before installing any Apple update, you must check that all such modifications that you use are compatible.ģ. This is especially important for complex software that modifies the operating system, such as device drivers. Otherwise you have to check yourself on a regular basis. Some third-party applications from other sources have a similar feature, if you don’t mind letting them phone home. In the Software Update preference pane, you can configure automatic notifications of updates to OS X and other Mac App Store products. If you get an indication that a backup has failed, don't ignore it.Ģ. Don’t rely completely on any single backup method, such as Time Machine. Don’t back up your backups make them independent of each other. Make redundant backups, keeping at least one off site at all times.

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