5 best antivirus apps for Mac
Despite the popular claim to the contrary, Macs do get viruses and malware. It’s not nearly as common as Windows or some other platforms, but the risk is still there. Realistically, with some common sense, you don’t actually need antivirus software for your Mac. However, those who don’t have confidence in their common sense may want to opt for one. Thankfully, the list is pretty short for Macs. Here are the best antivirus apps for Mac!
Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac is the brilliant option for MacOS.It is a standout amongst the most precise Antivirus suites for Apple gadgets, making it the best antivirus for Mac. It accompanies a large group of highlights, including multi-layer ransomware security, adware evacuation, and it can examine for Windows PC malware too. Best Antivirus For Mac Below Along. Browse the top-ranked list of Antivirus For Mac below along with associated reviews and opinions. Its intuitive design allows you to do backups more easily, while mobile backup feature safeguards the data from your mobile device. Ease of use, efficient operation, and secure design make the most of Acronis. Intego Mac Internet Security X9(50% Discounted Link) is the most downloaded Mac Antivirus till date. It is the Best antivirus software for Mac. It is specifically designed, developed for Mac ecosystem. Unlike other antivirus applications on the market which offers products for both Windows and Mac, Intego is a dedicated solution for Mac users.
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Price: Free / $59.99 per year
Avast and AVG are both decent options for antivirus apps for Mac. They both offer the basics, including system scans, protection from ransomware, and anti-malware functionality. You also get Wi-Fi security scans and more. The free version is fairly light. It scans your system and keeps you safe. It's more than adequate for most Mac owners. Those who go pro get another level of protection, but it also comes in a heavier package. We would recommend the free version to anybody, but we would say not to go pro unless you have a system with enough RAM and power to handle it without affecting your other tasks. Avast purchased AVG a couple of years ago, so we consider them basically the same company.
Price: Free / $59.99 per year
Mac Internet Security X9 provides top-notch antivirus protection against the latest threats, and is rated up there with the best (like Bitdefender and Kaspersky) when it comes to the independent. There haven't been any recent Mac malware-detection testing scores for McAfee, so its protection powers are impossible to compare with those of the best Mac antivirus software.
Bitdefender is a popular and powerful option. It consistently scores very well on AV-TEST tests and it comes packed with features. The free version comes with a basic scanner and virus removal tool. Frankly, that should be good enough on its own for most people. Those who go pro get some additional features. They include multi-layer ransomware protection, adware protection, web browser protection, and more. The price is a little steep, but the yearly subscription covers three Mac devices. That's not a bad deal if you have two friends or family members that need protection as well.
Price: Free / $19.99-$49.99 per year
Kaspersky is another big name in antivirus apps. It also routinely scores well in testing and it has cheaper subscription options than most of its competitors. The free version is a little too light for our tastes. You can get more protection for free from Bitdefender. However, the premium version is decent. There are three tiers. The first comes with the basics along with online banking protection. The next tier adds support for your mobile devices and the last tier adds a kid mode, a password manager, and file protection. It's not a bad way to go. The $19.99 version is enough to protect you from basically everything. The rest of it might be a little overkill, though, unless you have kids.
Price: Free / $40-$90 per year
Malwarebytes has probably the most popular free antivirus app for Mac. It's super light, effective, and it works. The free version of Malwarebytes scans for and removes malware. It's super light and you hardly ever notice it running in the background. There are options for more device protection, though. The subscription version adds a bunch of features, including ransomware prevention, more comprehensive scanning, web browsing protection, and more. There is no functional difference between the $40 and $90 per year subscriptions. The $90 option just includes licenses for up to ten devices.
Price: Free / $50 per year
Sophos is a fairly serious antivirus company. It has some intense and very powerful enterprise solutions for businesses. However, they do have a personal antivirus app for Mac as well. The free version is fantastic, actually. It comes with real-time protection, parental controls, web protection, and even some niche things like remote management. The pro version adds ransomware protection, better customer support, and some additional privacy protection features. Honestly, this is probably the best free antivirus for Mac that you can get. The premium version doesn't add enough to make it worth it, but it's also not half bad.
If we missed any great antivirus apps for Mac, tell us about your favorite in the comments! You can also click here for more DGiT app lists!
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Jan—26—2019 12:00AM ESTAsk most Mac users about antivirus for Mac and they’ll tell you that macOS doesn’t get viruses and so there’s no need to worry about it. Sadly, that’s not quite true. While there’s been no serious outbreak or epidemic of Mac viruses in the wild, macOS has been hit by malware quite a few times. Just recently Meltdown and Spectre malware exploited flaws in Intel chips and affected Macs.
Macro Virus is the new Mac-specific threat that was discovered in 2020. This virus gets on your Mac through an infected Word document.
While malware and viruses aren’t the same thing, the steps taken to combat them are similar enough that we’re going to use both terms interchangeably. And the best security software for Mac should deal with both categories equally well.
Technically, a virus is a bit of code that infects your system and can cause all sorts of havoc. Malware is a much wider term used to describe anything malicious that finds its way onto your Mac from apps you download think they were something else and which steal data, to code that arrives on your Mac because you clicked on a link on a website and which shows you adverts or threatens to hack your computer if you don’t pay up.
How do I know if my Mac has a virus?
Viruses display a number of different symptoms, depending on the kind of malware they are. It could be that your Mac starts behaving strangely and displaying odd things on screen. Or you may see a message telling you that your Mac is infected and that you should call a premium rate number to get rid of it. If you see that, don’t call the number.
Here are a few signs that your Mac has a virus:
- Your Mac suddenly starts running very slowly or applications lag much more than they usually do.
- You see adverts pop up on your Mac randomly.
- Websites you visit show strange adverts that are unconnected with anything you’ve browsed or searched for.
- You find a piece of software, like, say a browser toolbar that you didn’t install.
- Websites that don’t normally show adverts have banners on them.
If your Mac displays one or more of these symptoms, it doesn’t necessarily mean it has a virus or has been infected with malware. It’s a sign that it might do, however. And it’s well worth getting to the root of the problem. You can do that by installing an antivirus program and using it to scan your Mac. It will alert you if it detects any any known viruses or malware.
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What do I do if my Mac gets a virus?
We’ve covered that in detail in a separate article here. In summary, here’s what you should and shouldn’t do.
Don’t google your symptoms and then download whatever comes at the top of the search listings. One common host for malware is fake antivirus software, and often the websites that house these apps are optimized for the very symptoms they cause. So instead of downloading a solution, you make the problem worse. If you want to scan your Mac for malware, try using CleanMyMac X. It can detect thousands of threats, including adware, worms, spyware, ransomware, and more.
It comes with an malware monitor that works in real-time. If some dubious app attempts to get into your Launch Agents, you'll see an alert and instructions on what to do next. Here's the screenshot of CleanMyMac X detecting a bunch of viruses on a MacBook:
How can I protect my Mac from viruses?
The obvious answer is to do a research and install some trusted Mac security software. Our latest research on best antivirus for Mac may be a good starting point.
Is There A Best Virus Protection App Designed For Mac Computers
1. Clear your browser cache
If the malware has come from a website you downloaded, you don’t want any traces of the site or and files it’s deposited left on your Mac. You can quickly and easily clear the browser cache for Safari and Chrome using CleanMyMac. Unlike many independent antiviruses this program is notarized by Apple, so check it out.
Tip Mac osx how to shuffle image viewer app. : CleanMyMac can also remove extensions for those two browsers — extensions are sometimes infected and if you get a virus it may have come from one of those.
2. Make sure your Mac’s firewall is switched on
- Go to System Preferences and click on the Security & Privacy pane.
- Choose the Firewall tab.
- If the green light next to the word Firewall is showing, your firewall is on. If it’s not, click Turn On Firewall.
- Click on Firewall Options and check the Enable Stealth Mode box.
Best Virus Protection For Mac
3. Use a VPN
Keeping your firewall on will help protect your Mac, but it won’t keep out every piece of malware. If you regularly use your Mac on a public Wi-Fi network, you should consider using a VPN tool. By connecting your Mac to a VPN, you create a secure tunnel between your Mac and websites you visit, and your data is encrypted. If the Wi-Fi network is compromised, your data and your Mac will be safe.
4. Don’t click the link
Email messages are a very common distribution medium for malware. Never click a link in an email unless you’re certain you know who the message is from. Phishing, as it’s called, can catch anyone out if you’re not vigilant. We’ve all had emails that look legitimate and that ask us to click a link to access a form or read an important message. Don’t do it. The easiest strategy and the best malware removal for Mac is simply being vigilant.
5. Trust in Gatekeeper
Gatekeeper is a built-in security layer of the macOS itself. It's no replacement for antimalware software, but it has a couple of very helpful tools that protect your Mac. One is Quarantine. If you’ve ever downloaded an application from the internet, you’ll have seen it in action. It pops up a dialog box telling you that you’ve downloaded it and where it’s come from — assuming it’s been digitally signed by its developer. Apps that don’t have a signature, supplied by Apple, don’t even get that far. You must then click to approve the app before it can be opened. Don’t ignore this box when you see it. Check the app you’ve downloaded is the one you expected to download, before you agree to open it.
6. Xprotect yourself
The other macOS tool is Xprotect — it scans files you’ve downloaded when you open them and looks for known malware. Vlc for mac free. If it finds anything, it will warn you. If you see it, follow its instructions.
7. Avoid known offenders
Both Flash and Java have been used in the past to spread viruses — usually by hackers who create fake installers that pretend to be updates and lure you into downloading them. But outdated versions of Flash (the MacDownloader malware used a fake Flash update as a host) and Java can leave your Mac vulnerable to malware. The safest approach is to avoid installing them altogether. There’s very little reason, now that most of the web uses HTML 5 video, to have Flash installed on your Mac.
8. Keep your browser up to date
Safari updates are installed with macOS updates, while other browsers like Firefox and Chrome will alert you when your browser is out of date and a newer version is available. Don’t ignore the warnings. Update your browser immediately. Often, these updates will include security features designed to keep you safe from malware.
9. Backup your Mac regularly
If you backup your Mac you can restore from that backup in the event that a virus causes real damage to your system. And if you use Time Machine, you can boot your Mac into the recovery partition and restore from a snapshot that was taken just before your Mac became infected. That makes it very easy to get back up and running again.
10. Secure personal data
You could use macOS’ FileVault to encrypt every file on your Mac. But it consumes resources and hits your Mac’s performance. For most of us, it’s overkill. But you should make sure that all sensitive or personal data stored on your Mac is encrypted. One way to do that is to use a password manager. As well as passwords, most of these apps allow to encrypt and safely store credit card details, bank accounts, and text notes. You should also use secure, difficult to guess passwords for everything, from your Mac user account to your Wi-Fi network.
As you can see, the best virus protection for a Mac is to be alert, and to use common sense. If you notice your Mac behaving strangely, take action immediately, even if it’s only launching Activity Monitor to find out why your Mac is running slowly.
Apple virus protection in macOS, in the form of Gatekeeper and Xprotect will help, but they won’t stop every possible piece of malware. You need to be vigilant, backup your Mac regularly and minimize the risk by removing Flash and Java.
The chances of your Mac becoming infected with a virus are slim. Mac close all apps. By employing the advice here, you can reduce that risk even further.
11. Antivirus software
What to look for in antivirus software? Antivirus software is a juicy market that attracts many newcomers. That’s why you should look into software with a reputable name and at least some years of credibility behind it. So, don’t fall for fancy names. And don’t install more than two antivirus programs because antiviruses often conflict with each other. What else to consider:
Reputable brand: Malwarebytes, CleanMyMac X
Apple notarization: Legit apps are notarized with Apple
Real-time protection
Regular updates: Because new viruses appear every day
We hope this article gave you some valuable insights. Our MacPaw team is on the watch for the latest Mac security updates, so stay tuned.
Apple notarization: Legit apps are notarized with Apple
Real-time protection
Regular updates: Because new viruses appear every day
We hope this article gave you some valuable insights. Our MacPaw team is on the watch for the latest Mac security updates, so stay tuned.