The more actively promoted the product, the more likely it is to be garbage. Don't install crapware, such as “themes,” 'haxies,' “add-ons,” “toolbars,” “enhancers,' “optimizers,” “accelerators,” “extenders,” “cleaners,” “defragmenters,” “firewalls,” “guardians,” “defenders,” “protectors,” most “plugins,” commercial 'virus scanners,” or 'utilities.' With very few exceptions, this kind of material is useless, or worse than useless. Otherwise you have to check yourself on a regular basis.ģ. Some third-party applications have a similar feature, if you don’t mind letting them phone home. Software Update can be set to notify you automatically of updates to the Mac OS. Don’t rely completely on any single backup method, such as Time Machine.Ģ. Don’t back up your backups make them independent of each other. Make redundant backups, keeping at least one off site at all times.