You do not need an anti virus unless you have an admin some where
telling you you MUST as is the case at my local University.

spam assassin is part of the default install or you can use the
filtering in the various email programs. I have installed Claws mail
and rarely see spam these days

>
> 2)How do you download things to my pc? (It goes to this download
> file, and It doesn't load the program?

very few things are auto run in linux. its a plus.

>
> 3)Is there another IM that I can use besides Pidgin or Meebo?? it is
> on my laptop..but..use mostly yahoo or msn?
>

I used to like kopete but now pidgin is back on top.