Sacha,
Look at www.majorgeeks.com
See if any Mac versions of the following utilities are available
ccleaner
spybot search and destroy
Adaware ( from this site your safe but some have downloaded adware by
mistake)
Zone alarm free version( plenty goodenough)
download, update then run. will need to check for new updates weekly.
Not familiar with Mac machines but the above will assist in keeping malware
and spyware from computers
regards
Cineman


"Sacha" wrote in message
...
On 17/12/06 01:15, in article
,
"chris French" wrote:

In message , Sacha
writes
You say a 'simple firewall' but which, how do I find and instal it? I'm
a
computer user of the switch on the engine and drive variety.

Pass on Mac firewalls.

However, if you are on broadband behind router (using something called
NAT) - which consumer routers do by default) then I wouldn't worry about
it, this and the other protection built into them are good enough. I've
been running our PC's without software firewalls in such manner for a
few years now with no problems (without it I had an infection within 10
minutes once).

I'm on Broadband, Chris, using Speedtouch and freeserve or what is now
Orange but that's about all I can tell you!

They do have a small benefit in also monitoring outgoing communications.
But unless you expect to be picking up lots of Trojans or viruses trying
to email themselves out etc. then really isn't worth it IMO

As for Mac viruses, yeah there a few - though AIUI no really actively
attacking OS X, but really it doesn't seem worth worrying about if you
are reasonably careful user.

I'm very careful. On my old pc I once opened a file sent by a friend of
mine that I hadn't heard from in years and promptly infected everyone else
in my address book. He used no anti virus protection at all and whatever
I
had at the time wasn't proof against this worm. Now, I am extremely
cautious.

If I was a Mac user I'd probably use ClamXav which is free:

http://www.clamxav.com/

Though I don't agree on the rationale they have for scanning incoming
and outgoing emails - it's not something I do here and we use Windows -

I'll have a look at that, thank you. How's the gorgeous one? ;-)

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/