Posted: 9/6/2014 4:35:24 PM EDT
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After 18 years using a PC, I've jumped feet first into a Mac, a Mac Mini, which I just set up last night. So far it's ok, I'm still fumbling around trying to figure things out, but what I'm uncertain about are security software and should I be using them?
Should I use a virus scanner? Malware scanner? I'm hopefully connected via an ethernet cable coming from my router, but I'm not certain if I'm connected via the cable or am I actually connected via wifi. Any way to check? If anyone could offer up advice, I'd certainly appreciate it. |
| There are more viruses being written for Mac's all the time. And just because they don't get infected, doesn't mean that they won't pass them on to pc's that your computer interacts with. I'm currently using an Intego product for my Mac. It seems to run pretty unobtrusively compared to some of the other software that I had on my PC based machines. |
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Coming out thread My initial start up was a bit awkward...I'm using a trackpad and the first thing I had to do was click to select the trackpad. Well, I had the trackpad sitting on the arm of my recliner and I thought I just tap the pad to click....nope.....tap the pad to click....nada....TAP THE PAD TO CLICK TAP THE PAD TO CLICK!!!!......break out the PC to search online how to click on the trackpad. 
Turns out, it needs to be on a hard surface rather than a cushy recliner arm, because the default setting is a literal click of the buttons located at the corners. |
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The wifi fan thingie in the top right hand corner, click that, hit "turn wifi off" if it matters.
Or if you really want to know, hit the apple in the upper left hand corner, then system preferences, then network. You'll see a list of your available network devices and their connection status. Under that you'll see plus, minus, and gear buttons. Hit the gear, and then "set service order". You can drag them into whatever order you prefer, and then the system will default to them in that order as they are available. I'm pretty sure ethernet comes before wifi by default, but I've probably played with mine at one point or another so I'm not totally sure just by looking at mine.
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Turns out I was connected via wifi. |
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My initial start up was a bit awkward...I'm using a trackpad and the first thing I had to do was click to select the trackpad. Well, I had the trackpad sitting on the arm of my recliner and I thought I just tap the pad to click....nope.....tap the pad to click....nada....TAP THE PAD TO CLICK TAP THE PAD TO CLICK!!!!......break out the PC to search online how to click on the trackpad.
Turns out, it needs to be on a hard surface rather than a cushy recliner arm, because the default setting is a literal click of the buttons located at the corners. Quoted:
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Coming out thread My initial start up was a bit awkward...I'm using a trackpad and the first thing I had to do was click to select the trackpad. Well, I had the trackpad sitting on the arm of my recliner and I thought I just tap the pad to click....nope.....tap the pad to click....nada....TAP THE PAD TO CLICK TAP THE PAD TO CLICK!!!!......break out the PC to search online how to click on the trackpad.
Turns out, it needs to be on a hard surface rather than a cushy recliner arm, because the default setting is a literal click of the buttons located at the corners. Apple menu -> System Prefs -> Trackpad Set tap to click there. |
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Turns out I was connected via wifi. Quoted:
Turns out I was connected via wifi. Connected doesn't mean it's your active network connection. The active network connection is the top one in the system prefs networks box with a green dot next to it. You'll pull an IP on it though. |
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I too have a Mini, but I a use Logitech wireless mouse.
I have an external drive to use for Time Machine backups. The drive is from an old network-only drive that I put into a USB housing. If you have a bad computer with a good drive, get a housing to put the drive in and use it for Time Machine. I keep it turned off except when I run a weekly backup every Sunday. |
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After 18 years using a PC, I've jumped feet first into a Mac, a Mac Mini, which I just set up last night. So far it's ok, I'm still fumbling around trying to figure things out, but what I'm uncertain about are security software and should I be using them? Should I use a virus scanner? Malware scanner? I'm hopefully connected via an ethernet cable coming from my router, but I'm not certain if I'm connected via the cable or am I actually connected via wifi. Any way to check? If anyone could offer up advice, I'd certainly appreciate it. I have ben using Macs for over 15 years. Have had them online the whole time-never a virus, malware, adware or spyware. Most Mac users agree that the currently available anti-virus software for Macs is and has been- a virus! Stay away from it. BTW-the online forums at apple.com are your friend. Lots and lots of good info there that is pretty easy to find. IMHO PM me if you need any more help. |
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I've been on Macs since 2006 with multiple machines and never ran anti-virus. Never had any issues with viruses, malware, etc.
That being said, just be careful where you go and what you download, but that should be said regardless of the machine you're on. Please post of any other questions/issues. Be happy to help. |
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Depending on what you're doing you probably won't need an antivirus, but it's a good idea just incase. I use ESET.
Some programs you should download are: VLC Plex AppCleaner Flip4Mac Divx HandBrake Stuffit Wine I use Chrome instead of Safari. '08 Mac Pro ETA If you have a large DVD collection you'd like to backup (full disk images or just the movies) I would recommend a program called RipIt. |
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You don't need anti-virus software on a Mac. It's a waste of money. Just don't ever type your admin password to install anything but stuff you know and trust. People keep saying "they're starting to make more viruses for the Mac," but short of one incident a year or so ago where a software package was tricking people to install it by pretending to be something else, it's not happened. The suggestion to use a standard user account (not administrator) is a good one, but I don't even bother with that and have never had a problem.
Back your stuff up, though. |
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One other thing that makes the user exp a little better
Click the apple in the upper left Click system preferences Click Apperance Toggle on doubleclick windows to minimize Now when you double click anyplace at the top of any window you can minimize it to the dock (the "taskbar") 
It will take a little while to get used to the corner buttons not working the same as a windows machine. Clicking the red button does not Quit the application, just the window. You quit apps by either holding a cick on the icon in the dock OR under File click Quit |
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It will take a little while to get used to the corner buttons not working the same as a windows machine. Clicking the red button does not Quit the application, just the window. You quit apps by either holding a cick on the icon in the dock OR under File click Quit Cmd + Q |
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I have been using a mac for nearly 15 years, and never have I ever seen a virus. I've been working on them in a school setting for 12 or 13 now. I've seen MS Word macro viruses that would spread but do nothing else and not in years, and I've seen one user fall for a fake antivirus style malware program. Neither required antivirus to clean up, but it did make the macro virus cleanups faster. I have Sophos running on mine in case I need to clean something off someone else's machine, but it's never found anything. |
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TimeCapsule + TimeMachine rocks. Quoted:
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Two things: 1) Learn what backups are and how to do them. 2) Do them. TimeCapsule + TimeMachine rocks. This. 2 TB and a bad ass wifi router. Hard to go back. Still have to VPN into my XP machine at work, the MS Remote Desktop for Mac works well though. |
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Cmd + Q Quoted:
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It will take a little while to get used to the corner buttons not working the same as a windows machine. Clicking the red button does not Quit the application, just the window. You quit apps by either holding a cick on the icon in the dock OR under File click Quit Cmd + Q I worked Production in Graphics for years and I am a big key command user. It's tough to start newbies out with key commands sometimes |
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Ah, gotcha. Didn't consider that  Quoted:
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I worked Production in Graphics for years and I am a big key command user. It's tough to start newbies out with key commands sometimes Ah, gotcha. Didn't consider that Keys trump the mouse most any day. Cmd + W to close the window, not the app. Cmd + spacebar to launch spotlight. I use this all the time to start apps (check out Alfred also) I'll share some apps I've found handy since moving from Windows: Moom - resizing windows AText - text expander so you can be lazy Glui - screenshots Growl - notifications Transmit - FTP Tunnelblick - VPN |
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^ I'm a huge fan of keyboard shortcuts.
Command + Q - Quit App Command + Tab - Switch between Apps Command + Tilde? - Switch between windows within an App Command + Control + Eject - Puts Mac to sleep Obviously there are more but those are my most used. I'm using a Logitech Solar charging wireless keybaord and MX Anywhere mouse. |
Thanks very much for the help guys, lots of good info provided and I appreciate your time to help me out. It's getting easier to use the more I mess around with it. I'm sure it'll take a little bit of time to become "second nature", but I already see that it's easier to use than a PC.
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If you are using Safari, two shortcuts I use all the time are
cmmd+L = highlights the address bar so you can start typing in a web page (it will give you previous history and bookmarks based on what you enter). cmmd+ (number 1-9) will take you to a book mark counting from the left side of the bookmark bar. Forex, if Arfcom is the first bookmark in the bar, cmmd+1 will take you to it. Others cmmd+b will hide or restore the bookmarks cmmd+shift+\ will hide or restore the address bar I have my logitech's tilt scroll wheel set up so left tilt is back, right tilt is next tab |
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Mac Basics
To click and drag, just click and slide your finger. You can right click by clicking with a 2nd finger touching the trackpad. (I think that's default, but not 100% sure. Can be turned on in System Preferences, Trackpad if not. Check out the other gestures available while in there.) |
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If you are using Safari, two shortcuts I use all the time are cmmd+L = highlights the address bar so you can start typing in a web page (it will give you previous history and bookmarks based on what you enter). cmmd+ (number 1-9) will take you to a book mark counting from the left side of the bookmark bar. Big Damn List of OS X keyboard shortcuts. |
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I have PCs right now but gave Apple a try. Decided it wasn't for me. After having done research there were White papers that quietly suggested that the disks should be defragmented and another the suggested an antivirus due to the increase in popularity of the OS.
The PC is more to my liking but neither OS is infallible. It will always depend on your needs, how you've learned and what you actually like. I really like Linux but couldn't write a line of proper code of you put a gun to my head.  My 2 cents.
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Quoted: If you are using Safari, two shortcuts I use all the time are cmmd+L = highlights the address bar so you can start typing in a web page (it will give you previous history and bookmarks based on what you enter). ... CMD + L also works in Chrome and Firefox on a Mac. CTRL + L does the same thing in Windows or Linux. I use this shortcut probably a couple hundred times a day.
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