Can my mac be a carrier of PC viruses?

Is it possible for a mac to be a "carrier" of PC viruses, and infect PC's with said viruses if files are shared via flashdrive, etc. between the computers? If so, are there any antivirus scans I can do that will search my mac for these viruses?

Certainly, if you downloaded a file infected with a PC virus, and then gave that file (intact) to someone, it would still have the virus code in it.  Mail is the same way - your Mac is not infected by a Windows-executable mail virus, but if you forward the mail to someone with a Windows machine, they may become infected.  That is one reason why some corporate environments insist that all their staff, whether using Windows or OS X, install and use the corporate AV software, to limit the spread of infected files.  Although, more often these days, a better corporate solution is to have scanning on dedicated email and firewall hardware - stop the crud from ever reaching the end users machines if possible.
You can use one of several free anti-virus scanners for OS X
Sophos, ClamXav and Avast are the only ones I know, and I have never actually used any of them.  ClamXav seems to receive good comments here, but you should search the forums here to see what others recommend.
You want to avoid the commercial tools like Symantec if for no other reason then they include a lot of other useless tools that will do nothing for you but slow down your system and waste resources.

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    < to be be removed later.
    This is a Update to an Existing FAQ <a class="jive-link-external-small" href="http://">http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=121851
    The expectation is that it will be editted into that item, less the header >
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    This is a link to the drivers already installed in the Mac OS. The download is not required. *See note below
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    This is the 3rd version of this tip. It was submitted on 5/1/08 by Ralph Johns (UK).
    10:09 PM Saturday; January 5, 2008

    < to be be removed later.
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    The expectation is that it will be editted into that item, less the header >
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  • So Can My Mac Be Made To Work With iChatAV ? (Replacement)

    Original http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=121851
    So Can My Mac Be Made To Work With iChatAV ?
    This question is asked by many who find their computer is below the G3/600Mghz Specs limit set for iChat
    See here in the box to the top right for current specs.
    Please note there are different Specs for Audio and Video chat.
    It should be noted that the specs also list OS 10.3.x (Panther)
    It is presumed that you are going to want to take as much advantage of iChat as you can. So I will talk about Video chatting.
    For Jaguar (10.2.5 - 10.2.8)
    Prior to the beginning of Oct 2004 there was a Jaguar version of iChat AV on sale at the Apple Store as a download. If you are at 10.2.5 - 10.2.8 and downloaded the $29.95 Version 2.0 of iChat for Jaguar, in preperation of using iChat, before this date, you may find some of this information useful.
    If you did not buy it, your only option is to upgrade to Panther.
    For Panther (10.3.x) and Jaguar (10.2.5 -10.2.8)
    IF you fall below the G3/600 mark then you will need this utility from Ecamm.com This will enable iSight to work at lower spec machines. The current reported lower limit is around the G3/350Mhz mark.
    It is also will enable USB cameras for use with iChatAV, but there is little in the way of substantive information about Sub G3/600 computers achieving this.
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    It should be noted that computers of this age tend to lack Multi-Tasking and will find that iChat will take up most of their processor time.
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    This former List of Firewire cameras contains a plain text mention of http://www.ioxperts.com/devices/webcam.html that work with the drivers already in the Mac OS. The download is not required. *See note below
    This former List of DV camcorders that work with the drivers already in the Mac OS and now list just links to the manufactures.. *See note below. With the proviso of the note below this is a list to point out what cameras will work with iChat with the current OS (and some of the preceeding ones). The purpose of linking it here is for those comtemplating purchasing a camera.
    Essentially any Firewire camera will work with the OS. Some MiniDV formats can not be seen by iChat though
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    As can be seen from the Specs linked earlier you need a Mac over a certain Spec (G4/1Ghz Dual) to be able to Host Video chats. (plus Internet Speed).
    Ecamm come to people rescue again with PowerBoost
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    G4/1GhzDual MDD MacBookPro 2gig NETGEAR DG834GUK Hollywood Dazzle DV Mac OS X (10.4.9) Have you read the iChat FAQs ?? ^See link at top of the Topic List ^

    Original http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=121851
    So Can My Mac Be Made To Work With iChatAV ?
    This question is asked by many who find their computer is below the G3/600Mghz Specs limit set for iChat
    See here in the box to the top right for current specs.
    Please note there are different Specs for Audio and Video chat.
    It should be noted that the specs also list OS 10.3.x (Panther)
    It is presumed that you are going to want to take as much advantage of iChat as you can. So I will talk about Video chatting.
    For Jaguar (10.2.5 - 10.2.8)
    Prior to the beginning of Oct 2004 there was a Jaguar version of iChat AV on sale at the Apple Store as a download. If you are at 10.2.5 - 10.2.8 and downloaded the $29.95 Version 2.0 of iChat for Jaguar, in preperation of using iChat, before this date, you may find some of this information useful.
    If you did not buy it, your only option is to upgrade to Panther.
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    IF you fall below the G3/600 mark then you will need this utility from Ecamm.com This will enable iSight to work at lower spec machines. The current reported lower limit is around the G3/350Mhz mark.
    It is also will enable USB cameras for use with iChatAV, but there is little in the way of substantive information about Sub G3/600 computers achieving this.
    There have been about a dozen posts to say that it will use a USB cam on a G3 as low as 400Mgz
    It should be noted that computers of this age tend to lack Multi-Tasking and will find that iChat will take up most of their processor time.
    iChat AV FAQ folder
    iSight FAQ Search
    This former List of Firewire cameras contains a plain text mention of http://www.ioxperts.com/devices/webcam.htmlhttp://www.ioxperts.com/devices/webcam.html that work with the drivers already in the Mac OS. The download is not required. *See note below
    This former List of DV camcorders that work with the drivers already in the Mac OS and now list just links to the manufactures.. *See note below. With the proviso of the note below this is a list to point out what cameras will work with iChat with the current OS (and some of the preceeding ones). The purpose of linking it here is for those comtemplating purchasing a camera.
    Essentially any Firewire camera will work with the OS. Some MiniDV formats can not be seen by iChat though
    *Note: Both these last two list were updated Jan 2004 or before. The purpose of pointing this out to highlight the fact that new cameras have come on the market since. They may work with these drivers or have their own Mac Firewire drivers on their accompanying install CDs.
    The Current list for Firewire Webcams is now here as linked above.
    10.4.9 now adds a driver for USB Video Class (UCV) web cams that will work with the OS and iChat. Not all USB video cams are of this type and iChatUSBCam is still needed.
    Mulit-Video Chatting
    As can be seen from the Specs linked earlier you need a Mac over a certain Spec (G4/1Ghz Dual) to be able to Host Video chats. (plus Internet Speed).
    Ecamm come to people rescue again with PowerBoost
    3:09 PM Saturday; April 7, 2007

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