Even Macs Need Antivirus Protection

• Best Antivirus For Mac 2018
• Best Antivirus For Apple Products
• Free Antivirus For Mac
• Best Antivirus For Macbook Pro
• Best Antivirus For Macbook Pro Retina 15

If you move from a condo with a street-level door to a posh apartment building with a doorman and a keyed elevator, you've certainly upgraded your personal security. Even so, you still lock the door to your personal domicile. By the same token, even though macOS is inherently more secure than Windows and Android, you shouldn't leave your Macs wide open to malware attack. Better to install an antivirus and not need it than to skip the opportunity and lose your data to ransomware. If you're not sure which antivirus to use, don't worry. Our reviews will help you choose.

Our Mac evaluations were conducted on a late-2013 MacBook Pro running OS X El Capitan 10.11. The Mac had a 2.6-GHz Intel Core i7 CPU, 8GB of RAM and 23GB of data on a 512GB SSD. The best defense agains virus for your MB Pro is OS X Lion. If however, you want peace of mind, download ClamX AV and do a scan once a week if it would make you feel better. Another way for you not to get any malware or trojans of any kind is to follow the safe browsing rules. Best Mac Antivirus Software. You need an antivirus program on your Mac. That statement may cause some Apple users to argue or walk away, but 2017 has so far seen more Mac malware and adware than.

As with Windows antivirus tools, the most common price is just under $40 per year for a single license. ProtectWorks is unusual in that a single $29.95 payment lets you protect all the Macs in your household, with no subscription needed. McAfee goes beyond that, with a $59.99 per year subscription that protects all your Macs, PCs, Android, and iOS devices. With Sophos Home Premium, $60 per year lets you install and remotely manage protection on 10 Macs or PCs. At the high end, you pay $99.99 per year for a three-license subscription to Intego Mac Internet Security X9.

You may have heard that macOS Mojave, the latest macOS, advances the platform's privacy and security. Safari on Mojave automatically blocks ads and social media trackers. The built-in password manager does more than ever. And when AppleScript apps try to access internal macOS features, Mojave makes them wait until you give permission. But nothing we've seen suggests that upgrading to Mojave will obviate the need for an antivirus utility.

Free Mac Antivirus Protection

#Bestantivirus #Mac #Free Hey guys! In the above video i have shown you the three best free antivirus for mac operating system. Like and Subscribe!:). Top 10 Best Mac Antivirus Protection 2018 Antivirus protection for a Mac isn’t a myth, Apple Mac computers can get viruses and malware exactly like a PC. They are also prone to adware and spyware which could be destroying your user experience. Well, I have believed the legendary story that Mac does not need anti-virus software. I saw this on web and also was told by Apple Genius. I also was told by Apple Genius that if I do need anti-virus software, go to download 'Malwarebytes', which would work just fine. I downloaded and tried, it did get rid of some ads malware from Mac. For those looking for the best free antivirus for Mac, this is the best option. The free version offers antivirus protection, scheduled scans, home network scan and protection of web, mail and files. As for the paid version (49.99 per year), it has a Wi-Fi inspector and ransomware shield together with the features the free Avast version has.

There's another angle to the variation in Mac antivirus pricing. How about paying nothing at all? Avast Security (for Mac), AVG AntiVirus for Mac, Avira Free Antivirus for Mac, and Sophos Home Free (for Mac) are totally free for personal use, although Sophos technically limits you to three devices, macOS or Windows. AVG also offers free antivirus for Mac, but until its phishing protection improves we can't recommend it. The best commercial products offer more protection but if you can't afford the best, at least install a free antivirus.

What's Not Here

Every macOS antivirus that earned 3.5 stars or better appears in the chart above. Another half-dozen managed a decent three-star rating, but there isn't room for another six products. I chose to favor three products that originated on the Mac platform, ClamXAV, Intego Mac Internet Security, and ProtectWorks AntiVirus. Everything else being equal, there's surely some virtue in loyalty to macOS.

Avast Security Pro (for Mac), ESET Cyber Security (for Mac), and Malwarebytes for Mac Premium also earned three stars. However, ESET and Malwarebytes don't have any lab results at present, and with Avast, you might as well use the free edition, because you don't get a lot more by paying. These three didn't quite make it into the chart. The names Avast, ESET, and Malwarebytes are well known in Windows circles. If you're using a Windows security product from one of these companies, it makes sense to do the same on your Macs.

Malware Protection Lab Certifications

When you go to select a new washer, refrigerator, or other appliance, chances are good you research it first. User reviews can be helpful, as long as you discard the very best and very worst of them. But actual test results performed by an independent lab give you more reliable information. Two large labs include macOS antivirus products in their testing, but the slate of products for testing is variable. When we first rounded up Mac antivirus products, all those in the chart above had at least one certification, but at present, many of them don't appear in either lab's test results.

The researchers at AV-Test Institute evaluate Mac antivirus products on three criteria: protection, performance, and usability. A product can earn up to six points for each. Protection against malware protection is essential, of course, as is a low impact on performance. A high usability score reflects a small number of false positives, legitimate programs and websites identified as dangerous. Several products achieved a perfect 18 points, all six points for all three criteria.

In the macOS malware test by AV-Comparatives, most charted products scored 100 percent. This lab, too, included a test using malware aimed at Windows. Yes, these samples can't affect a computer running macOS, but they could conceivably escape to Windows machines on the network. Scores in the Windows malware test ranged from zero to 100 percent, which is quite a span.

Results in macOS-specific tests have a much smaller point spread than in tests of Windows antivirus utilities. It's good that many products in the chart received at least one certification for Mac protection, and even better that some received two certifications.

Hands-On Phishing Protection Testing

When we test malware protection on Windows, we use live malware inside an isolated virtual machine. We've coded a number of analysis tools over the years to help with this testing. Little of that testing regimen carries over to the Mac.

Phishing, however, isn't platform-specific, and neither is our antiphishing test. Phishing websites imitate secure sites, everything from banks and finance sites to gaming and dating sites. If you enter your credentials at the fake login page, you've given the phisher access to your account. And it doesn't matter if you are browsing on a PC, a Mac, or an internet-aware sewing machine.

Almost all of the products in chart above include protection against malicious and fraudulent sites. With ClamXAV and Intego, this just isn't an included feature. Malwarebytes and ProtectWorks also lack an antiphishing component.

The wily malefactors who create phishing sites are in the business of deception, and they constantly change and update their techniques, hoping to evade detection. If one fraudulent site gets blacklisted or shut down by the authorities, they simply pop up with a new one. That being the case, we try to use the very newest phishing URLs for testing, scraping them from phishing-focused websites.

We launch each URL simultaneously in four browsers. One is Safari on the Mac, protected by the Mac antivirus that's under test. The other three use the protection built into Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer. Discarding any that don't fit the phishing profile, and any that don't load correctly in all four browsers, we report the product's success as the average of the difference between its detection rate and that of the other four test systems.

Most of the products in this roundup beat the combined average of the three browsers. Bitdefender and Webroot in particular scored hugely higher against some browsers; perhaps the browsers were having a bad day. It's worth noting that, while phishing is platform-independent, phishing defense may not be. For example, in last year's testing Norton on Windows scored significantly better than Norton for the Mac. Tested at the same time, McAfee on Windows and on macOS both scored 100 percent.

Ransomware Protection

The scourge of ransomware is on the rise. While ransomware attacks are more common on Windows devices, Macs have suffered as well. Of course, any antivirus utility should handle ransomware just as it handles spyware, Trojans, viruses, and other malware types. But since the consequences of missing a ransomware attack are so great, some security products add components with the sole purpose of preventing ransomware attacks.

We've observed a wide variety of ransomware protection techniques on Windows. These include blocking unauthorized access to user documents, detecting ransomware based on its activity, and recovering encrypted files from backup. Of the products listed here, Bitdefender and Trend Micro offer a ransomware component that blocks unauthorized modification of protected documents.

As with Bitdefender's Windows edition, the Safe Files feature prevents all unauthorized access to your documents. On a Mac, it also protects your Time Machine backups. Trend Micro offers multiple layers of Windows ransomware protection. Folder Shield, which, like Safe Files, prevents unauthorized document access, is the only layer that made its way to the macOS edition.

Sophos Home Premium includes the same CryptoGuard behavior-based ransomware protection found in its Windows equivalent. Our Windows test sytsems are virtual machines, so we feel free to release real-world ransomware for testing. We just roll back the virtual machine to a clean snapshot after testing. We don't have the option to do that on the physical Mac testbed, so we just have to figure that since it worked on Windows, it probably works on macOS.

Spyware Protection

Any kind of malware problem is unpleasant, but spyware may be the most unnerving. Imagine some creeper secretly peeking at you through your Mac's webcam! Other types of spying include logging keystrokes to capture your passwords, sending Trojans to steal your personal data, and watching your online activities to build a profile. As with ransomware protection, we've observed more features specifically devoted to spyware protection on Windows-based security products than on the Mac, but a few products in this collection do pay special attention to spyware.

Under Windows, Kaspersky's Safe Money feature opens sensitive sites in a secure browser that's hardened against outside interference. The Safe Money feature on the Mac doesn't do that, but it does check URLs to make sure you're on a legitimate secure site. Kaspersky offers an onscreen keyboard, so you can enter passwords with no chance of capture by a keylogger. Its webcam protection isn't as configurable as it is on Windows, but you can use it to disable your Mac's webcam whenever you're not using it. It even includes the ability to block advertisers and others from tracking your online activities. If spyware is your bugaboo, you'll like Kaspersky.

Sophos Home Premium offers protection for the webcam and microphone that's more substantial than Kaspersky's. You get a notification any time an untrusted program attempts to access either; you can allow access or stop the program. There's also an option to whitelist a program, so you don't get a popup every time you use your off-brand video chat tool.

Bonus Features

Many antivirus tools on Windows pack in a ton of bonus features, packing in everything from tune-up utilities to VPNs. That behavior seems less common on the macOS side, though Norton now includes a VPN with no bandwidth limits. Even so, some vendors don't have a standalone Mac antivirus, opting instead to offer a full security suite as the baseline level of protection, and a few others include suite-like bonus features in the basic antivirus.

A typical personal firewall component blocks attacks coming in from the internet and also manages network permissions for programs installed on your Mac. Intego, McAfee, and Norton each include a firewall component, while Kaspersky's Network Protection comes close.

Parental control is another common suite component. With Sophos (free or premium) and Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac, a content filter can block access to websites matching unwanted categories. Kaspersky goes beyond that, with content filtering, internet time scheduling, private data protection, and even social media contact control.

Protect Your Mac

Most of the products covered in this roundup earned certification from at least one independent testing lab; some managed two certifications. There really are no bad choices here, as far as basic antivirus protection goes. Even so, a few products stood out. Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac not only achieved certification from both labs, it earned the maximum score in every test, and took the top antiphishing score. Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac also earned high scores. It offers a full suite of Mac security tools, at the same price competitors charge for basic antivirus protection. Symantec Norton 360 Deluxe (for Mac) is also a suite, and its features include a no-limits VPN. These three are our Editors' Choice winners for Mac antivirus protection.

Look over the reviews, pick the product that suits you best, and get your Mac protected. Once you've done that, you should also consider installing a Mac VPN. While an antivirus protects you, your devices, and your data locally, a VPN extends that protection to your online activities, protecting both your security and your privacy.

Editors' Note: We are aware of the allegations of Kaspersky Labs' inappropriate ties to the Russian government. Until we see some actual proof of these allegations, we will treat them as unproven, and continue to recommend Kaspersky's security products as long as their performance continues to merit our endorsement.

Best Mac Antivirus Protection Featured in This Roundup:

• Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac Review

  
  MSRP: $39.99
  

  Pros: Protects files and backups from ransomware. Top ratings from two independent testing labs. Excellent score in our antiphishing test. No-hassle Autopilot mode. TrafficLight browser extension marks dangerous links in search results.

  Cons: TrafficLight currently doesn't work under the specific Safari/Google combination.

  Bottom Line: Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac gets top marks from the independent labs and in our own hands-on testing. With its handy Autopilot mode, you can set it, forget it, and have confidence that your Apple computer is protected against malware.

  Read Review

• Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac Review

  
  MSRP: $39.99
  

  Pros: Excellent scores from two independent testing labs. Full parental control system. Network protection. Decent score in our antiphishing test. Privacy protection. Useful bonus tools.

  Cons: Parental content filter foiled by secure anonymizing proxy. Content filter missed raunchy sites blocked by Windows edition.

  Bottom Line: Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac excels in independent lab tests, and it goes far beyond mere antivirus, offering protection against network attacks, parental control, privacy protection, and many other useful features.

  Read Review

• Symantec Norton 360 Deluxe (for Mac) Review

  
  MSRP: $99.99
  

  Pros: Includes no-limits VPN. Certified by one independent testing lab. Fast scan. Firewall blocks exploit attacks. Cleans up unneeded files.

  Cons: Relatively expensive. Limited detection of Windows malware.

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  Bottom Line: Symantec's Norton 360 Deluxe delivers lab-certified Mac antivirus protection along with a two-way firewall, a password manager, and a full-powered VPN.

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• Avast Security (for Mac) Review

  
  MSRP: $0.00
  

  Pros: Certified by one independent testing lab. Speedy full scan. Excellent phishing protection for Chrome and Firefox. Network security scanner. Password manager. Website rating. Active Do Not Track. Free.

  Cons: Poor phishing protection in Safari. Password manager includes only basic features.

  Bottom Line: Avast Security (for Mac) delivers effective malware protection along with unusual bonus features. Phishing protection only works well in Chrome and Firefox, but this free utility is still worth a look.

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• Avira Free Antivirus for Mac Review

  
  MSRP: $0.00
  

  Pros: Top scores from AV-Comparatives, good scores from AV-Test. Cleaned most Windows malware in hands-on tests. Free.

  Cons: Protection against malicious and fraudulent URLs requires separate download. Mediocre score in antiphishing test.

  Bottom Line: Avira Free Antivirus for Mac costs nothing, and it gets good scores from the independent labs, but it's not the best free Mac antivirus we've tested.

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• McAfee AntiVirus Plus (for Mac) Review

  
  MSRP: $59.99
  

  Pros: Subscription covers unlimited macOS, Windows, Android, and iOS devices. Perfect score in antiphishing test. Includes simple personal firewall.

  Cons: No current test results from independent labs. Firewall no longer includes application control.

  Bottom Line: One subscription gives you unlimited licenses to protect all your Macs with McAfee AntiVirus Plus, and your Windows, Android, and iOS devices, too, and it aces our phishing protection test.

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• Sophos Home Premium (for Mac) Review

  
  MSRP: $60.00
  

  Pros: Remote management. Webcam protection. Decent phishing protection. Ransomware protection. Simple parental control. Inexpensive.

  Cons: No independent lab test results. Parental content filter foiled by secure anonymizing proxy. Lacks exploit protection, download reputation check, keylogger protection, and other advanced features found in the Windows edition.

  Bottom Line: Sophos Home Premium offers Mac antivirus protection at a low price, but it lacks many advanced features found in the Windows edition and doesn't have verification from independent testing labs.

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• Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac Review

  
  MSRP: $39.95
  

  Pros: Certified by two antivirus testing labs. Speedy full scan. Social network privacy scan. Includes ransomware protection, webcam privacy, and parental control.

  Cons: Parental control foiled by secure anonymizing proxy. Very poor phishing protection score. Webcam privacy needs work. Social network privacy not fully functional. Licensing model not practical for all-Mac households.

  Bottom Line: Two major independent testing labs certify Trend Micro's ability to fight malware on your Mac. It comes with a boatload of bonus features, but some of those need work.

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• Webroot SecureAnywhere Antivirus (for Mac) Review

  
  MSRP: $39.99
  

  Pros: Very fast full scan. Certified by one antivirus lab. Excellent phishing protection. Excellent detection of Windows malware. Marks dangerous links in search results.

  Cons: Lowest passing score in independent lab test.

  Bottom Line: Webroot SecureAnywhere Antivirus is by far the fastest Mac antivirus scanner we've seen, and it provides especially good phishing protection in our testing, too.

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• Avast Security Pro (for Mac) Review

  
  MSRP: $59.99
  

  Pros: Certified by one independent testing lab. Speedy full scan. Excellent phishing protection for Chrome and Firefox. Useful bonus features. Ransomware protection. Wi-Fi intruder detection.

  Cons: Doesn't add much to free edition's features. Expensive. Poor phishing protection for Safari. Password manager includes only basic features.

  Bottom Line: Avast Security Pro (for Mac) adds ransomware protection and Wi-Fi intruder detection to the features found in Avast's free antivirus, but these additions don't merit its high price.

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• ClamXav (for Mac) Review

  
  MSRP: $29.95
  

  Pros: Lab-certified for Mac malware protection. Scans for malware on demand, on access, and on schedule. Straightforward user interface.

  Cons: No filtering of malicious or fraudulent websites.

  Bottom Line: ClamXAV wraps the venerable, open source ClamAntiVirus engine in a straightforward user interface. It's lab-certified to protect your Mac, but doesn't go beyond the basics.

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• ESET Cyber Security (for Mac) Review

  
  MSRP: $39.99
  

  Pros: Elaborate scan scheduling options. Good detection of Windows malware. Simple device control. Includes online cybersecurity training.

  Cons: Poor results in our hands-on antiphishing test. Slow scans in testing. No longer certified by independent labs.

  Bottom Line: Though it doesn't have current certification from independent testing labs, ESET Cyber Security offers comprehensive protection for your macOS devices plus cybersecurity training.

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• Intego Mac Internet Security X9 Review

  
  MSRP: $49.99
  

  Pros: Certified by two labs for Mac malware protection. Includes full-featured firewall. Detects Mac, Windows, and Linux malware.

  Cons: Poor detection of Windows malware. No protection against malicious or fraudulent websites.

  Bottom Line: Intego Mac Internet Security X9 scores well in lab tests using Mac malware, and it offers firewall protection. But it fails against Windows malware and lacks protection against dangerous URLs.

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• Malwarebytes for Mac Premium Review

  
  MSRP: $39.99
  

  Pros: Extremely fast malware scan. Very good reputation among tech experts.

  Cons: No protection against malicious or fraudulent websites. No detection of Windows malware.

  Bottom Line: The premium edition of Malwarebytes for Mac scans for active malware and uses real-time detection to prevent infestation. It has a very good reputation, but hard data showing its effectiveness is scarce.

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• ProtectWorks AntiVirus (for Mac) Review

  
  MSRP: $44.99
  

  Pros: Certified for Mac protection by an independent testing lab. Scans on demand, on access, and on schedule.

  Cons: No web-based protection against malicious or fraudulent sites. Mediocre detection of Windows malware.

  Bottom Line: An independent lab verifies that ProtectWorks AntiVirus can keep your Mac safe from malware, but it lacks some useful features found in competing products.

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• Sophos Home Free (for Mac) Review

  
  MSRP: $0.00
  

  Pros: Remote management. Detected many Windows malware samples in hands-on test. Decent phishing protection. Simple parental control. Free.

  Cons: No scores from independent labs. Limited content filter missed some racy sites. Very slow full scan. Phishing score lags Windows edition.

  Bottom Line: Sophos Home Free (for Mac) keeps configuration to a minimum, but doesn't have independent test scores to verify its accuracy. It can be a good choice for protecting your Macs at no cost.

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• AVG AntiVirus for Mac Review

  
  MSRP: $0.00
  

  Pros: Certified by one antivirus testing lab. Good detection of Windows malware. Clear, simple user interface. Free.

  Cons: Very poor score in hands-on phishing protection test. Lacks scheduled scanning, website rating, and other features found in competing free apps.

  Bottom Line: The free AVG AntiVirus protects against Mac, Windows, and mobile malware, but that's about all, and its antiphishing component tanked in our hands-on testing.

  Read Review

If you're looking to keep your Mac safe from Trojans, ransomware and malicious websites, you'll want the best Mac antivirus software available.

Norton Security Standard is compatible with both Mac and Windows computers, so it’s ideal if you have computers running different operating systems that need virus protection.
In partnership with Norton

Best Antivirus For Mac 2018

After all our testing and research, we feel Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac is the best antivirus protection for Mac users. It does a good job detecting and protecting against threats, including Windows malware.

It has extra security tools like a VPN, and it doesn’t cause your computer to slow down. For Windows computers, we found Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2019 to be the best antivirus security software.

Why trust us on Mac Antivirus software?

We spend most of the year testing internet security programs, including antivirus software for Mac. We devote hundreds of hours to downloading, using and testing the most popular security programs on multiple devices running different operating systems, including Mac OS, Windows 10, Windows 8 and Windows 7. We test programs that are compatible with mobile operating systems as well. All this helps us understand just how each program works and if any slowdowns, quirks or tools affect performance on each device.

As part of our testing methodology, we research the standards of the Anti-Malware Testing Standards Organization (AMTSO) and follow several of these suggestions. The most important standard is to maintain unbiased. This means we don’t talk with program developers, representatives or vendors during testing, and we either purchase each program or download the free trials from the program’s website to make sure the software we are testing is the same version users get rather than one that may have been tampered with to create a more favorable outcome.

Best Antivirus For Apple Products

We have developed relationships with several experts in the internet security industry, including security analysts, IT technicians and cybersecurity managers. We also follow security blogs and news outlets, receive monthly newsletters from manufacturers, attend trade shows and do all we can to stay on top of new developments and security breaches within the industry. Devoting this much time over the last 15 years has helped us become a leading expert in antivirus and internet security practices. This is why you can trust us when it comes to the best antivirus Mac software.

Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac

Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac is our top pick because it effectively protects against Mac malware and automatically removes most threats.

AVG AntiVirus for Mac

AVG AntiVirus for Mac offers free virus protection against malware, even ransomware. It scans any portable drive or device that is connected for threats, including mobile devices.

Norton Security Standard

Norton Security Standard is compatible with both Mac and Windows computers, so it’s ideal if you have computers running different operating systems that need virus protection.

1. Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac: best overall

Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac

Blocked 99 percent of the live threats we used and scrubbed most of them from our system automatically

Reasons to Buy

Reasons to Avoid

When we tested Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac, it blocked 99 percent of the live threats we used and scrubbed most of them from our system automatically. It also did a decent job recognizing Windows threats so they wouldn’t be accidently sent to a PC user.

The vulnerability scanner looks for outdated software then gives you a trusted link where you can download the latest patch or version. This helps cover any weak spots where hackers and ransomware could infiltrate your computer. Bitdefender warns of malicious websites with its safe browsing feature, and it scans USB drives to stop any threats from infecting your computer at that point. It is also one of the only programs that includes a VPN that hides you while online so adware and other trackers can’t see your search history or which sites you visit. The biggest drawback is Bitdefender isn’t the easiest program to set up or use. There are some tools and features that can only be accessed through the online portal while others are only found on the dashboard.

• Read the review:Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac

2. AVG AntiVirus for Mac: best free Mac AntiVirus

AVG AntiVirus for Mac

AVG AntiVirus for Mac is an extremely budget-friendly Mac antivirus solution

Reasons to Buy

Reasons to Avoid

This simple program offers great virus protection, doesn’t slow down your computer and includes a few additional internet security features. It is also free for home use.

This software scans incoming email and anything connected to the USB port, including mobile devices, and removes any threats it finds so your computer isn’t infected. It also scans for outdated software since this is one of the biggest ports of for ransomware and hackers. AVG has phishing blockers and spam filters that keep threats in emails from downloading to your computer or directing you to dangerous sites designed to gather personal information. It is one of the easiest programs to use, with large icons for each tool. Because it is a free program, AVG does have in-program ads that can be distracting. It also requires the vulnerability scanner to be installed separately from the antivirus program, though once it’s installed you can access it from the program dashboard.

• Read the review: AVG Antivirous for Mac

3. Norton Security Standard: best for multiple devices

Norton Security Standard

Norton Security is the best antivirus software if you have computers that run different operating systems

Reasons to Buy

Reasons to Avoid

It offers the same level of protection to both Mac and Windows machines, easily detects threats on both, and even detects and removes some Windows malware hidden on Mac machines.

Norton Security Standard scans email and USB shared files to make sure they don’t have hidden threats that may infect your Mac. It also looks for out-of-date software that may create a weak spot that hackers and ransomware can use to infect your computer. The antivirus program for Mac includes a password manager and banking tools to shield your important information from identity thieves, keyloggers and other internet tracking programs. The biggest drawback is Norton costs significantly more than other programs and charges a fee for each device you want to protect.

• Read the review:Norton Security Standard

4. Intego Mac Internet Security

Intego Mac Internet Security

It’s designed to look, feel and work similarly to other Mac system programs like Finder or Safari

Intego Mac Internet Security does an excellent job detecting and protecting against Mac threats including viruses, Trojans and ransomware. It’s designed to look, feel and work similarly to other Mac system programs like Finder or Safari, so it isn’t too difficult to figure out. Along with ContentBarrier, the program that protects against malware, Intego Mac Internet Security also comes with NetBarrier, a personal firewall that secures your computer against anyone trying to steal your internet which slows down your speeds. Any cellphones, tablets or other mobile devices attached to your computer through its USB ports are scanned by Intego to make sure there aren’t any threats that can infect your computer as you transfer files. Because it isn’t a premium security program, Intego Mac Internet Security doesn’t come with parental controls or a system vulnerability scanner, but you can purchase these separately.

• Read the review:Intego Mac Internet Security

5. Sophos Home

Sophos Home

Free Antivirus For Mac

During our tests Sophos wasn’t very effective at protecting against Mac malware

We know many Mac users look at Sophos Home as a cost-effective solution since its basic program is free. However, during our tests Sophos wasn’t very effective at protecting against Mac malware, and it is very difficult to figure out how to use. It only detected 78 percent of the threats we unleashed during testing, and a few threats we had to manually remove after following the online instructions from Sophos. But these instructions included disabling the automatic virus protection, which triggered Sophos to reboot. Once we reopened Sophos, the virus protection was on again and we couldn’t continue through all the steps of removing the threats. Ultimately, we gave up, uninstalled Sophos and installed another program to find and scrub our Mac clean of threats. Sophos did a good job of identifying and blocking Windows malware on our Mac machines.

• Read the review:Sophos Home

Do I need antivirus software for my Mac?

Best Antivirus For Macbook Pro

The short answer is, yes, you do need antivirus software for your Mac. While Macs are less susceptible to viruses thank Windows computers, Macs are still at risk.

We conduct our own in-house tests using 165 of the nastiest Mac malware to find the antivirus programs that protect Macs best. These threats were tucked inside a zipped file that, when opened, downloaded the files and let them loose. We looked at which point each virus scanner picked up the threats, including Trojans and ransomware, and if the program automatically removed them or placed them in a quarantine folder for us to take care of later. Most of the Mac antivirus programs caught the threats as the files opened and deleted them immediately. Some programs moved each threat into the quarantine folder while others quarantined just those threats that were created to look like legitimate programs. This gave us a good idea of how well the programs protect Mac computers. It also is a good way for us to evaluate how much of our computer’s resources are used while running. During virus scans we perform common tasks, such as sending email, browsing the web, watching movies and playing online games and look for any lag, buffering or slowdown that may be caused by the antivirus software.

While testing we look for how easy the program is to download, install, set up and use. We feel this is important since many users aren’t computer savvy, so an easy setup process ensures that all a program's tools are in working order.

How much does antivirus for Mac cost?

Best Antivirus For Macbook Pro Retina 15

Because Mac antivirus solutions are basic programs without many tools beyond malware protection, you can expect to pay between $30 and $40 for a single user license. Some programs, like F-Secure SAFE, come with a minimum of three licenses to protect multiple computers or laptops at once. There are a few free programs available, but they generally don’t recognize as many threats – plus they bog down your computer and have lots of annoying pop-up ads. If you want more protection with parental controls, a personal firewall or a password manager, check out Mac internet security suites that typically come with these extra tools for around $50.

Which antivirus is best for Mac?

Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac, Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac and Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac are all great Mac antivirus programs that proved in our lab tests they are excellent at detecting, blocking and protecting against malware, including Trojans and ransomware. Because the most important function of antivirus for Mac is protecting against malware, Top Ten Reviews invests considerable time testing each program using live threats, so we can tell you exactly how the program works and how well it detects and blocks malware.

Windows threats don’t affect Mac devices, but we still test how well Mac antivirus tools detect these threats because they can hide among your files and accidentally be sent on to a PC through email or file sharing. Avast Security for Mac, AVG AntiVirus for Mac and Trend Micro all do an excellent job of detecting both Mac and Windows malware on Mac computers.

After protection, the biggest differences among Mac antivirus solutions are security features. Detection features are where and what the antivirus program scans on your computer. All of the leading programs scan USB drives and incoming email. Some Mac antivirus software includes a system vulnerability scan that looks for weak points in your computer, typically out-of-date software, and prompts you to install the latest version to strengthen those points. Programs such as Bitdefender present you with a legitimate link where you can download newer software rather than chance downloading a malicious link.

Extra security tools include parental controls that let you set up time limits or block family members from accessing dangerous websites. Password managers shield your username and password from key loggers as you log into email, bank accounts and social media pages. And safe banking tools protect you from identity thieves as you bank and shop online. These aren’t typically included with basic antivirus programs but are included with Mac internet security suites.

Mobile protection isn’t included with antivirus programs, but a few solutions, such as Intego and ESET, will scan your mobile phone or table for any threats and remove them if the device is connected to your computer through a USB port.

How do I remove viruses from my Mac?

The hardest part of cleaning a threat from a Mac computer is finding what the malware is called and where it is hiding, especially since there are sophisticated viruses that look and function like a legitimate app. There are sites that list common Mac malware and where they can be found using the Activity Monitor on your iOS. Once the threat is located, the next step is to stop the malicious application from running and quickly move it to the trash bin. This will keep the program from restarting. If there are any other folders or files that were installed along with the malicious application, make sure these are placed in the trash too; otherwise these files will continue to drain your computer’s resources and cause frustration. When you empty the trash bin these files will be permanently removed.

An easier way to ensure you quickly find and remove Mac viruses is to use an antivirus program like Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac because it not only locates malicious apps and files, but automatically scrubs them from your computer for you. On top of that, because Mac antivirus programs are paid for through a yearly subscription, you can keep the program installed and use it to prevent a malware attack in the future.