Summarize this article:

Running outdated programs on your Mac can be a security risk. While updating third-party programs must be done from within the programs' Help or Settings menus, you can update your Mac's App Store programs by doing the following:  Click the Apple menu {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/f\/ff\/Macapple1.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/ff\/Macapple1.png\/29px-Macapple1.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":476,"bigWidth":"29","bigHeight":"30","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>I edited this screenshot of a Mac icon.\n<\/p><p>License: <a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a><br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}. Click App Store... in the drop-down menu. Click the Updates tab. Click UPDATE ALL at the top of the page. Contrary to Windows computers, your Mac's Safari browser is the fastest option available to you. This doesn't mean you can't use other browsers like Chrome or Firefox, but if you're looking for the fastest browser available, Safari is your best bet. Each running program takes up a certain amount of memory (known as RAM) and processing power, so make sure you're closing the ones you don't want to use. You can close programs from the Dock by clicking and holding an app and then clicking Quit in the pop-up menu, and you can force stubborn or unresponsive programs to close by doing the following:  Click Spotlight {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/e\/ea\/Macspotlight.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/ea\/Macspotlight.png\/30px-Macspotlight.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":460,"bigWidth":"30","bigHeight":"30","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>I edited this screenshot of a Mac icon.\n<\/p><p>License: <a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a><br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}. Type in activity monitor. Double-click Activity Monitor. Select a program you want to quit, then click the X icon in the top-left corner of the window. Click Force Quit when prompted. Uninstalling apps on a Mac is relatively simple: drag the app's icon from the Applications folder into the Trash, then enter your Mac's password if prompted. This will help clear up hard drive space, which is especially important given that many Macs don't have huge hard drives. . Your Mac's operating system will occasionally receive a free update that includes new features, protection against new threats, and error fixes. It's incredibly important to update your Mac when these fixes become available. . Unlike Windows computers, your Mac doesn't come equipped with a built-in, dedicated antivirus program. You can use the free Malwarebytes program to protect your Mac from viruses, malware, and other malicious software. . While startup programs may not impact your Mac's startup time to the same extent that they impact a PC, you can still shave a few seconds off of your Mac's startup time and prevent unnecessary strain on your computer's components by preventing programs from starting when you turn on your Mac. Manually deleting files, photos, videos, and other items that you no longer need is essential if you want to maintain your hard drive. You can delete a file by clicking it to select it, clicking File, and clicking Move to Trash. Your Mac's Trash doesn't empty by itself, so any files you've deleted will technically remain on your hard drive until you clear out the Trash. You can do this by clicking and holding the Trash icon in your Mac's Dock and then clicking Empty Trash in the pop-up window.

Summary:
Keep your computer's programs up to date. Use Safari to browse. Close programs you aren't using. Remove unwanted programs. Update macOS whenever possible Protect your Mac with an antivirus program Turn off as many startup programs as possible Clear out old files. Empty the Trash.