Ten Mac freeware apps for your new Apple baby

ClamXav

I very much begrudge paying for antivirus protection on a platform that is so minimally targeted by malicious code. While a Mac user may not be at such great risk as their Windows-using brethren, it is important to avoid becoming a carrier, especially if you exchange files with Windows users on a regular basis.

Don’t let the lack of fancy features like real-time protection put you off; installing ClamXav and setting up a regularly scheduled scan will help to keep you clear of any nasty things that do find their way on to your machine, no matter if they actually threaten you or not.

CloudApp

With DropBox and its veritable menagerie of cloud-storage brethren running rampant in an effort to take your data storage needs out of your own hands, it’s nice to come across an unpretentious cloud service that aims to enhance desktop productivity, rather than wrench the user out of familiar territory. CloudApp is all about sharing and sharing only what you need to, with those who need to see it.

This little unobtrusive inhabitant of the Menu Bar allows quick and easy sharing of images, audio, video and text files, including formatted code. Integration with Finder, Photoshop & Tweetbot comes as standard, but files can also be shared by sending a “cl.ly” link which is automatically generated. It’s straightforward to use and your files can be accessed away from home simply by logging into htpp://my.cl.ly. Free accounts are obviously limited, but for sharing the odd tidbit here and there, it’s more than enough.