click on system preferences, (tool bar bottom) in the internet panel click on sharing, then click on the firewall tab. Read carefully. Ensure "NO" boxes are checked and the firewall is in the "ON" state. that should keep it quiet. I still spend time mousing around the system to learn the gui stuff. Luckily (for me anyway) the terminal is just a click away so Im off in CLI land to my hearts content.
thanx,
bill