[pks1850]

I recently purchased a G4 12' IBook, and I'm just starting down the road of adding on 3rd party software.

Coming from a Windows and broadband environment, I've always had antivirus and personal firewall software installed on my PCs (i.e. Norton Antivirus and Zone Alarm).

Coming to a MAC, I'm confused as to what I should be installing on my IBook, if anything. I've searched the forums... but the information wasn't exactly clear. There was the camp that said no need for antivirus and firewalls, cause no one writes viruses for the MAC platform. Other folks say get it anyways.

Can anyone provide a definitive answer? And if I do need antivirus and firewall protection, which software you would recommend?

FYI... at home I connect via my Airport Extreme card to my Linksys router. So I've already got a hardware firewall. I've just always been paranoid -- thinking the more protection, the better

[JKT]

Currently there are no viruses at all for MacOS X (about 50 or so total for MacOS 9 and earlier but these are not a concern for you as I doubt you use the Classic environment as a switcher). The question is, how many files do you share or intend to share with Windows users? Get AV software if you are going to be doing this a lot and if you wish to help out your Windows using friends by ensuring you aren't an unwitting passer on of Windows viruses (although they can have no effect on the Mac, you can still pass them on via e-mail that you send). Also, if you use MS Office at all, you can unwittingly act as a carrier for Macro viruses.

MacOS X already has built-in Firewall software under the "Sharing" system preference in 10.3 (forget where in 10.2... probably the same place or under Network). You don't need to get more, especially if your router already offers such protection.

[-Q-]

Congrats on the purchase! And it's Mac, not MAC. People get funny about that one.

As for firewalls, you have one built-in, so you won't have to buy anything. In Panther, it's located under the Sharing Preference Pane in System Preferences. Simply turn it on and you're good to go. And you definitely should turn it on.

Virus software is a bit of bigger question. Some people never use it, others have it just in case someone does want to be the first to write one for the platform. I have Virex as a part of my .Mac subscription but I've never had to use it so far (knock wood). My recommendation would be to pick up one just in case.

[pks1850]

Thanks for the info. I'll make sure to turn on the firewall already installed in Panther when I get home.

I don't plan on sharing many files with my Windows compadres, although I will probably end up getting Office for the Mac. But since I'm paranoid, I'll probably end up picking up some sort of anti-virus software just to be safe.

If only my Windows box felt so secure. ;-)

[Thinine]

Frankly, I think AV software and OS X's firewall are more of a hassle than they're worth. Especially the firewall, since you have a hardware one anyway. Just be sure you've encrypted your wireless connection and that's about as secure as you can get. Activating the software firewall gains you nothing and will be a hassle when you're trying to figure out why an application can't connect to the internet.

[typoon]

Originally posted by pks1850:
Thanks for the info. I'll make sure to turn on the firewall already installed in Panther when I get home.

I don't plan on sharing many files with my Windows compadres, although I will probably end up getting Office for the Mac. But since I'm paranoid, I'll probably end up picking up some sort of anti-virus software just to be safe.

If only my Windows box felt so secure. ;-)

If you want something a little more customizable for firewall you could get either a shareware program call brickhouse or you could purchase Netbarrier by Intego. Both are good. If you want you can get Norton Antivirus or if you get the whole suite you can get Intego INternet security. It comes with Virus barrier, Netbarrier and Content barrier. Or if you have .Mac you could use the Mcaffee virus software.