OS X now includes a built-in Firewall. The Firewall will help keep your system safe from hackers, especially on unknown networks. This video tutorial shows you how to enable the OS X application firewall and configure it for proper use.

It’s important to keep the software on your Mac up to date. Apple releases security updates and software improvements from time to time. Some of these are critical updates that Apple recommends that you install. This process is easy if you use the Software Update application built into OSX.

When you install OSX the Software Update application is set to run weekly. The application works by going out onto the internet to Apple servers and downloading any software updates. Then, if updates are available you are presented with a dialog box requesting you to install the updates. Some of these updates may require you to reboot the computer.

To manually check for updates, click the Apple menu in the menu bar and select Software Updates. This will open the update dialog presenting you with a list of updates that are ready to install.

Software Update is configured through the System Preferences application. Select System Preferences and Software Update to configure the application settings. Through this settings dialog you can configure the frequency of updates and look at a list of installed updates in your system.

Keep your Mac healthy by running Software Update and you will have years of happy computing.

The Dock is the application launcher provided by the Finder.

The Finder generally sits at the bottom of the screen. However, it doesn’t have to remain there. The Dock can be configured to display on the left or right sides of the screen. It can also be animated to provide feedback when something happens.

This can happen easily by using the System Preferences application. The following video demonstrates how to make the Dock behave the way you want it to.

User management is a great feature in OSX. The System Preferences allows you to easily add and remove users. In an earlier post, we discuss how to add users. This follow-up video shows you how to easily delete a user from the system.

One of the things that I like about OSX is the multi-user feature. Windows XP supports multiple users however in order to ensure that everything runs ok, each users is typically set to Administrator. This is a very dangerous thing to do.

OSX on the other hand allows you to specify limited accounts for daily users. These Standard Users can do everything one would expect to do with a PC except damage!

Adding new users is accomplished through the System Preferences. This video will show you how to do it.

Make sure that you create separate accounts for each system user. This will give them their own environment to work in without fear that they will do damage to other users files. Your users will be happy and you will be happy not having to worry that you’ll be called in to fix system problems.