There’s more than way to go about it, but I prefer using the open source ClamAV and a script that runs to scan each email as it comes in.

Setup ClamAV

1. Install ClamAV.  I used MacPorts to install it: sudo port install clamav
2. Make sure all the ClamAV binaries are in your PATH.  Chances are if you’re using MacPorts, you’ve already taken care of that.
3. Configure freshclam and clamd.  Since I used MacPorts to install ClamAV, this consisted of…
4. rename the example conf files in /opt/local/etc: mv example-freshclam.conf freshclam.conf; mv example-clamd.conf clamd.conf
5. read the conf files and edit them as appropriate, then add the line NotifyClamd /opt/local/etc/clamd.conf (substituting the full path to your clamd.conf file) to the end of freshclam.conf so that clamd knows about it when freshclam has updated the virus definitions
6. run freshclam to see if it works
7. notice that it doesn’t work because it needs permissions to certain directories; sudo chown -R <clamav user> <directory>…the directory you need to update will be clear based on the error message, the user that freshclam and clamd run under is configured in the conf files. In the MacPorts case its ‘clamav’.
8. rinse and repeat until freshclam works
9. run clamd to see if it works
10. fix its permissions too
11. run clamdscan to check that it can scan some files using clamdscan
12. Create launchd items for freshclam and clamd.  Freshclam should run every 168 hours or so.  Clamd should run all the time.  I recommend using Lingon to configure your launchd items.
13. Reboot.  Check to see that clamd is running.  Fix it if its not.

Setup Growl

1. Install Growl.
2. Install GrowlNotify.  It’s in the Extras folder of the Growl installer.
3. Make sure GrowlNotify is in your PATH.

Setup Mpack

1. Install Mpack.  With MacPorts its: sudo port install mpack
2. Make sure Mpack is in your PATH.

Setup the antivirus script

1. Download the antivirus script I updated (fixed it to work with Snow Leopard, added Growl support, removed Stuffit support).  A big thank you to the original authors!
2. Move the script to your ~/Library/Scripts directory.
3. Edit the script, updating the configuration options at the top of the file.
4. Create a local mail folder called ‘Infected’ in Apple Mail.
5. Create a rule in Apple Mail that runs the script on all email messages.
6. Try emailing yourself a test virus and verify that your antivirus script sends a Growl alert and moves the message to the infected folder.

In the ’80s all the cool executive-type people carried around small tape recorders for capturing ideas any time they had them. Today we can record notes in ’00s style and have them sent straight to our email. Turns out its pretty handy to be able to quickly taking notes anytime, anywhere. You know…until you can afford a personal assistant like the really cool ’80s execs.

Directions leading to note recording bliss:

1. buy Note2Self ($2)
2. sync your iPhone
3. launch Note2Self
4. click in the middle of the screen to bring up the settings button
5. click the settings button (upper left)
6. set both “From Address” and “Default To 1″ to your email address
7. set the “Audio Fromat” to “Smaller File (IMA4)”
8. set “Auto Record” to “Bring To Your Ear”
9. set “After Recording” to “Email Default 1″
10. click on “Done” (upper right)

Now each time you launch Note2Self, all you need to do is bring the phone to your ear and once you feel it vibrate, start talking. Bring the phone down away from your ear when you’re done recording…it will vibrate again to indicate that it’s done and then it will make a <em>wooshing</em> sound once it has successfully emailed your recording to you.  Pop open your email and listen to your note.  Cool huh?