Firefox disappeared from computer

Mac OS X: The Missing Manual by David Pogue 😉
http://www.apple.com/macosx/resources

If you drag the application icon to the Dock, that creates a shortcut and will stay there.

If it is already running, it will show in/on the dock, and you can control click and from the pop up list, "keep in Dock." so it will always be there.

I drag the application folder to the far right past "|" bar, so I have a popup menu of everything in /Applications.

There is no "send to Desktop" but you can control click on an icon and "create alias" and then drag that anywhere. I tend to not put alias on Desktop in OS X though.

You can also have Dock on the side instead of the bottom (wide monitor and want to have more height for web windows and office documents).

Firefox and most downloads will be in a "disk image" format that you have to "mount" and then drag the application where you want it (unless it uses an installer application, of course).

No restore point or system restore. you'll want to clone your system and have those handy (and you can have multiple boot drives).

I think the above book will work wonders. along with forums and such (and Google). There are also some wonderful news, tips, troubleshooting web sites to avail of like
http://www.macintouch.com or http://www.macfixit.com

For "shortcuts", drag the icon from the Applications folder to the dock (taskbar), not the desktop. It will stay, even after you quit the application. If you hold the mouse button while over a dock icon you will see an option to keep or remove it from the dock. Dock items are just aliases. The application is still in its original place. Dragging to the desktop actually moves the file. Adobe will not stand for this, and does its best to restore order to the universe. Unfortunately, its best is not always good enough. If you really want the shortcut on the desktop, not the dock, hold down Command and Option while dragging it. This will generate an alias, and leave the original file unmoved.

I wanted to go online and could not find the Firefox icon, after searching the computer the only thing I found was the downloaded install file?

When you downloaded Firefox, it was in a .dmg (disk image) file. You must have been running it from there. Double-click the .dmg file to mount it, then drag Firefox from the .dmg file into the Applications folder, and from there to the dock. You can then dismount (eject) the disk image file and delete it.

You should set up a non-administrator account for normal use, and reserve your administrator account for software installation and system maintenance. This gives the system some protection from malware, and from you. For example, if you drag an application to the desktop, thinking you are making a shortcut, then later, delete the supposed shortcut; the application is gone. If you were running as non-administrator, it would not let you drag from the Applications folder. You could still drag to the dock, or Command-Option drag aliases.

My experience is people really get a lot out of "Missing Manual" but not so much from "Switching" but might be worth having (I tend to like O'Reilly Series books too).

I use a lot of firewall and network intrusion software and hardware (multiple routers) and because I run Vista, invested in Intego suite for AV etc but only use their NetBarrier (NIDS). there are always people trying to find open ssh and remote logins, ARD, Windows sharing services, etc. (Sharing -> Services -> Firewall logging and stealth mode). The routers are there in case of software problems, hard coded rules.

Most malware that I worry about is javascript, Quicktime, flash-based, etc. along with email phishing and trojans (so I don't forward something) and to be on guard the first time there is something out there. More about the web than the OS, and reason I use Firefox and InScript along with McAfee SiteAdvisor.

A post was removed? usually if it 'wanders off' the "terms of use" and someone reported it as such...

Learning how and getting into the habit of backups should help. getting people to never update or install updates without first making sure to have a current backup, AND doing some repairs and maintenance in the hardest part of Mac OS.

I never use automatic software updates. Manual download and installs. And wait 3-5 days at least before applying (wait for feedback reports). My brother needed a book and I sent him a full book size pdf on the subject of maintenance and troubleshooting. I find Vista to actually be easier to deal with in that regard.

I didn't know that Mac's could be infected with malware ect, am I going to need antivirus/firewall software?

You don't have to worry about virus, email, etc. infections. I was thinking more of a web-page encouraging you to download and run an application. Running from a non-administrator account limits the damage that can be done. You should, of course, always have backups.