SIrDice speaks words of wisdom , http://sddi.net/FBSDSecCheckList.html is a good simple checklist for security too, it is aimed at servers but it is still very useful for desk top . http://people.freebsd.org/~jkb/howto.html is the security bit from the main source . Personally i would just down load the mini iso/or 1st disc , install, take only cvsup and a gui if it makes ya more at ease , cvsup your source and ports tree , buildworld, customize kernel and add sound, install whatever you want using the ports tree (+9000 proggys now) and everything is up to date..
I have found that searching http://www.bsdforums.org is extremely helpful and has solved most every bump in the road i have ever found. With googlegroups you can search the comp.unix.bsd.misc newsgroup too.