Awaiting Email Confirmation
Join Date: Aug 2006
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I am switching from PC to Mac now and have a question. I know in the Mac field there are far fewer virus issues but I assume that still some type of virus program is needed as well as a firewall. Is this true and if so which one is best? With the PC I use Norton for viruses, zonealarm for firewall.
As well, I am always careful about hard drive backups. I do them to DVD-R. On the PC I have used PC Backup but mostly use Acronis. What is a good backup program for the Mac or is this built in? Thanks in advance for any help. |
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Less than Stellar Member
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Welcome to the Mac!
Stay away from anti-virus programs. They cause more trouble than they solve. There's a built-in firewall that's sufficient for most people. You activate it in System Preferences, under "Sharing". Backup programs? As long as I've been using a Mac, you'd think I'd have a good recommendation. I don't. I'll let someone else chime in on that one. |
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Veteran Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Unknown
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This brings up a point I've intended to make but haven't yet. Would it be a good idea for one of the mods to create a sticky somewhere with advice for new Mac users?
Put a small FAQ section with questions just like the above, as well as recommendations on reading materials, suggested settings, general practices, etc.. And of course, the other highly qualified, non-mods would be encouraged to add their input as well. (makes it easier on the mods, and adds value) Obviously not everyone will notice it, and there will still be new threads that ask the same questions, but it would then be easy to point them to it. And I know I would certainly find it helpful. Do you know where children get all of their energy? - They suck it right out of their parents! |
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Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2004
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As said, firewall is built-in, and for the love of god, run far away from any Mac product that is branded 'Norton'. Really. They bring down the machine more often than the problems they're supposed to protect you from. They're like a seat belt made of barbed wire and razor blades.
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Veteran Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Arizona
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No need for any virus software, it will run fine and have no issues with just the apple firewall
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Selfish Heathen
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Zone of Pain
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Thunderbolt, fuck yeah!
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Denmark
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For back-up I'd recommend using an external firewire HD and the application SuperDuper! to mirror your entire drive to the back-up. This allows you to either revert the entire drive, or just pick that file you lost.
I use it myself as a weekly back-up procedure. And back when my iBook G4 died, I managed to use the external HD to transfer my files and settings to my new MacBook Pro. Just as easy as that. |
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On Pacific time
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Moderator's Pub
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Mr. Vieira
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Tennessee
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Thunderbolt, fuck yeah!
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Denmark
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A thing to consider is, that since you have a 12" PB you might want something that you can bring along with you. If that's the case I'd suggest you look at some 2.5" drives and enclosures, they also have the advantage of being powered via the firewire cable, so no AC adapter is necessary. You can also get these pre-assembled, but they rarely have their own back-up software bundled with them. So you would definitely need SuperDuper! there. Personally I have a 2.5" firewire 400 drive at the same size as my MBP's HD. However, 2.5" drives don't offer the same amount of storage for your money as 3.5" drives. EDIT: I can see that Costco doesn't feature the kind of drives I'm referring to. Last edited by Mugge : 2006-08-23 at 15:12. |
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Veteran Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Unknown
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Veteran Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: State of Flux
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Have fun. |
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Veteran Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Arizona
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Awaiting Email Confirmation
Join Date: Aug 2006
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I appreciate all the responses.
I always thought that the reason Macs have fewer viruses is there are fewer macs so less virus makers have them and why make a virus for a computer that is less common, in otherwords you get less bang with a mac virus but I was recently told OS X is more secure so far harder to write viruses for, is that true? As for the external hard drives, I see many use both USB 2.0 and firewire. The macs tend to have more usb ports than firewire ports. Is it okay to use the USB connection or should I stay with firewire? |
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Thunderbolt, fuck yeah!
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Denmark
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Firewire is faster and allows you to boot from your external HD, provided the back-up is boot-able like the ones SuperDuper! generates.
On a practical note, you may have more USB ports but you probably also have a lot more USB devices. So your firewire port is easily going to be the least cluttered. |
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Selfish Heathen
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Zone of Pain
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