[tether]

i've never connected my mac to the web, but i'm probly gonna in the near future, what do i need in terms of virus software or other stuff like that - any particular package you'd recommend or anything?
cheers.

[Big Mac]

(For future reference, a question about software should be put in the Software forum.) You've never been on the Internet with your Mac before, tether? I hope you have not delayed your entry into the online world all of these years because of virus fears. Fear not, for there are no true viruses for Mac OS X, even years after its initial release. You need absolutely nothing to protect your Mac - it's protected right out of the box. You can turn on the built-in Firewall that is found in the Sharing pane of System Preferences, which gives you even more protection. You can rest assured that the Mac is the safest and most secure consumer computer around.

Edit: From a search of your posts it appears that you're still on Mac OS 9. OS 9 is also very secure from attack because Internet services are not well integrated into it. And while crackers may target OS X in the future, there is likely no interest among any cracker in trying to exploit OS 9, because the OS is officially dead. There were some viruses for OS 9 and below, but most of them were created in the early 1990s (if not in the '80s) and pose very little threat. The worst virus the Mac ever saw was the Autostart CD worms from 1998. You can protect yourself from that minor threat by turning off Enable CD-ROM Autoplay in the Quicktime Settings control panel. I have never encountered a Mac virus in fourteen years of use.

[tether]

thanks big mac. i was being a bit hesitant about connecting the mac up for virus reasons, but twas no big deal because i had connection elsewhere. thanks for info. i'm half on mac osx now anyway - i probably sound like an old granny here with that, and well.. maybe i am.

[tether]

just to clarify: (osX) - the only firewall thing i can find to tick in sharing is under 'Proxies', then 'SOCKS Firewall' - there are two boxes to enter data in but ive left them empty - would that be the right place to tick?

[Big Mac]

No, that's not where the Personal Firewall setting is located. Go to System Preferences, then click on "Sharing," then click on the Firewall button (under the Computer Name field). You'll then be able to click the Start button to turn the firewall on. (For future reference, the types of questions you're asking about are not web developer questions. These questions belong in the Mac OS forum instead.)