Safe Computing

Macs are relatively safe from malicious software, but they are not immune. Just like senders of spam, the people who write viruses, worms, trojans and the like are counting on the user to be either trustful or ignorant. The good news is that a few precautions are all that's needed to keep yourself safe.

1) Vigilance. If an application wants to run an update, and especially if it requires your password to do so, make certain you know where the update is coming from. Never update any Apple software through any channel other than the Software Update utility, or from Apple's website.

2) File Sharing. I love something for nothing, but the cost/benefit ratio of downloading software from the internet using BitTorrent or LimeWire falls well on the other side of "not worth it." Clever pranksters can hide malicious code in an application written for OS X very easily, and you'll never know it's there. It may not even present itself when you launch the infected program, but lay dormant or affect a different area of your system. Seriously, don't share files.

3) Surfing. Not as mich of an issue for we Macs, but some web sites try to install programs on your computer. Firefox and Safari will warn you if it thinks a website is problematic.

4) Email. Never open an email attachment from someone you don't know. Ever. Never follow a link from the email of someone you don't know. Ever.

A healthy does of suspicion and common sense will keep your Mac malware free for years.