Does a Mac need a firewall?

[accipiter]

Do I really need one? How essential are they, really?

[KitchenWitch]

1. the short answer is yes

here is a link

http://aroundcny.com/technofile/texts/mac032603.html

[ContraBass Black]

2. Every internet connected computer needs one.

[accipiter]

3. Why? Is it possible my power book came with one?

Wouldn't they build them right into the computer????

What if I only use dial up?

[KitchenWitch]

4. you really should suppliment anything built into your hardware

with a software firewall that is able to be periodically updated. Macs, in general are less insecure than Windows machines, but they still are vulnerable.

[bpcmxr]

5. If you are using OS X a basic firewall is already built into your system.

Go to System Preferences->Sharing->Firewall to turn it on if it's not already.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

6. Yes, and you should select Software Update as well, since that

will automatically get security updates (and other updates) for you and ask you if you want them installed. Go to System Preferences->System->Software Update.