In this post, we will be sharing the list of Best Antivirus for Mac. A lot of them are free to get started, so make sure you go through every name and pick the Best Mac Antivirus for your Macbook.
It is a common myth in the tech industry that you don’t need an antivirus if you own a mac. Well, this is not true. Mac is usually more immune to viruses than Windows OS but, this in no way means that Mac computers cannot be affected by viruses. As Mac is becoming more popular overtime, they are becoming more vulnerable to viruses and malware. A 2018 report has suggested that Mac malware has grown by 270 percent than in 2017.
On top of great protection, Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac includes a vulnerability scanner and a VPN. It also both blocks and removes adware, which reduces how often you'll see targeted ads. There are a few missing tools, though. Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac doesn't come with either a personal firewall or a password manager. The Best Antivirus for Mac Features to Look For. Searching for the best antivirus software for Mac is a bit different than finding some for another operating system. Because Apple’s systems are so closed off, it’s much harder for malware to get into the system.
Contents
- 1 What Is The Most Recent Mac Virus?
- 2 Best Antivirus for Mac
The Mac Internet Security X9 for Intego comes under the category of 2019’s best antivirus for Mac. Both real-time and scheduled protection gets activated by default, and one can also turn off non-Mac malware’s identification for avoiding false alarms. The installation procedure is smooth and the overall scanning takes only 30 minutes. Norton antivirus comes with a reputation for outstanding performance and that’s what you get with Symantec. Its malware detection engine is second to none and you can use it across multiple Mac, iOS, Windows, or Android devices. Like Intego, it’s demanding on performance but not to a point where it’s annoying.
What Is The Most Recent Mac Virus?
As of February 1, 2019 the most recent malware to be identified in the Mac is the CookieMiner malware. It can steal passwords and login credentials from the browser, obtain authentication cookies for cryptocurrency wallet and thereby, steal cryptocurrency.
Do MacOS Need Antivirus?
A lot of mac connoisseur will say that mac computers are immune to viruses and do not require any kind of protection. We beg to differ with them because the fact of the matter is that Macs do get affected by viruses.
Macs are generally more secure than windows counterparts because of two main reasons:
- MacOS is a Unix-based operating system. A Unix-based operating system is sandboxed. It is like having a series of protection, to explain in realistic terms what happens is that even if the virus gains access to your mac it is unable to spread.
- The second reason is that as of now there are fewer Macs than windows computers so, Macs are a less appealing target.
However, MacOS is not entirely safe. As they grow in popularity and become more widespread the threat from being affected by a virus or a malware will keep on increasing as time passes by.
Best Antivirus for Mac
So, here’s the full list of Antivirus Software that you can use on your Macbook.
1. MacKeeper Antivirus For Mac
It is one of the best antivirus out there for MacOS as of now. It scans,detects and removes most of the potential threats to your computer. Not only keeping your computer safe from viruses,documents does a lot more than that. If you need to save some pictures from your last vacation or want to save some important document but unfortunately, you are out of space. MacKeeper can clean junk files and free up gigabytes of disk space for things you really need. If your computer is becoming slow overtime, don’t worry, you don’t need a Mac you need MacKeeper.
Pros of MacKeeper:
It lets you clean up memory and makes the computer fast. Your Mac will feel like it came just out of the box. Do you think the files that you downloaded are safe? It’s is better to be safe than sorry. Reliable virus protection blocks adware, malware and major security threats from harming your important files and personal data. MacKeeper is for $95.40 per year for one device and is available here.
2. Kaspersky Internet Security For Mac
The installation of Kaspersky Internet Security is a little bit tricky at first, as you need to choose the right version for your operating system. But once you have been able to determine which you need then the setup process is really quick and easy. It has some additional features such as Safe Money for protecting online payments and other privacy options. Kaspersky Internet Security is $34.99 per year for one device and can be purchased here.
3. Intego Mac Security X9
It is one of the best antiviruses for Mac out there in the market. It’s both scheduled and real-time protection are activated by default and also that you can turn off the identification of non-Mac malware to avoid false alarms. The installation process is quite smooth but you will not get any instructions as to how to authorize the necessary kernel module. A scan takes 30 minutes which is slightly less than some other antivirus software for Macs. Intego Mac Security costs $49.99 for one computer per year you can buy it and also use a free trial from here.
4. Bitdefender
The previous versions of BitDefender antivirus were not that great, to be honest. But, the latest versions have proved to be hugely improved over previous ones and also a very effective one. It has features like ransomware protection, VPN and a plugin for Safari that blocks trackers and detects phishing attempts. So, it is very easy to install and a scan is very quick and moreover, it has a simplistic interface. It is priced at $33.04 per year up to 3 computers you can check it out over here.
5. Avira Antivirus
It’s one of those rare anti virus installing which is super easy and quick.However,a full scan take slightly longer than some of the other offerings. In terms of additional features it can also scan for games and “joke apps”,a USB storage device scanner is available too. The best part is you can also get a version of it for free for your Mac. You can check the paid version which retails for $44.99
6. Norton Security
Norton is one of the oldest names in antivirus softwares that you can know about.the installation process for Mac is relatively quicker than many others. The anti virus is self-effacing as it has an automatic,always-on protection which is enabled by default. The scan is quick. It costs $69.99 for a single Mac computer available here.
7. Antivirus Zap for Mac
It is a little bit different from the other offerings listed out here. It is available from the Mac App Store at a cost of $6.99. The installation is very easy and the scan is also very quick. Although it has a very few bugs but considering what it’s offering for the price it is an anti virus surely to look for.
8. ESET Cyber Security
It offers quick scanning capabilities. The installation is quick. It also offers to update your MacOS if it’s not updated to the latest builds. ESET also provides a scan scheduler which comes in handy at times. It retails for $39.99 for a single Mac per year. You can have a look at it as well.
9. Total AV
It is relatively cheap as compared to others listed above. But, you are sacrificing few security features against the compensated cost. You will, however, get a system Boost tool for uninstalling apps and also a Disk Cleaner tool for scanning duplicate files and also an ad-blocker for Chrome, Firefox and Opera. It costs$19.95 in the first year but it is worth mentioning that there is an automatic renewal of $99.95 for the second year check it out.
10. Trend Micro Antivirus
A very popular name in the computer security industry. It is quick to install,offers ransomware protection and very high speed scans. But, it is not that effective. It cannot detect four out of every ten viruses out there . You can have a look at it over here.
List of 12 Best Mac Antivirus Available
- MacKeeper Antivirus For Mac
- Kaspersky Internet Security For Mac
- Intego Mac Security X9
- Bitdefender
- Avira
- Norton Security for Mac
- Antivirus Zap for Mac
- ESET Cyber Security
- Total AV
- McAfee Antivirus
- Trend Micro Antivirus
- Sophos Antivirus
Final Words
So as you can see that although Macs are less vulnerable to viruses, they do actually get affected by malware and ransomware. While, Apple does offer a slue of features to protect your Mac from potential threats sometimes they are not enough. Therefore to avoid such a situation and to have a peace of mind you can try out one of the antiviruses listed out in this article. I really hope it helps you out.
There is a popular opinion that Mac systems are inherently more secure than Windows. In fact, most Mac users don’t even bother to use an antivirus or anti-malware software. Objectively speaking, that opinion may or may not be true. Mainly because that depends on a variety of factors like the number of Mac users, how they use their system, how computer literate they are, etc. However, over the past few years, the threats to Mac users have been increasing, thanks to quickly spearing malware, ransomware, and adware.
Read: Best Malware Removal Tools For Windows
Avoid MacKeeper
I bet you might have seen ads on websites (mostly porn sites), telling you to clean your Mac with MacKeeper. And while it’s legitimate software (as in not a virus), but it’s nonetheless useless and a waste of resources. Also, uninstalling MacKeeper isn’t easy as well. So, no matter what you do, avoid MacKeeper at any cost. Adobe flash player for mac os mojave.
Instead, it is essential that you use a good anti-malware software so that not only you can be safe but also avoid spreading malware, ransomware, and viruses to other users. Here are some of the best anti-malware software for mac.
Read: How I Removed Malware From my WordPress Site https://yellowtrax.weebly.com/download-civilization-5-for-free-full-version-mac.html.
Best Anti Malware for Mac
1. Malwarebytes
When it comes to dealing with malware and other nasty stuff like rootkits, there is no other software that more popular than Malwarebytes. Other than it being able to remove malware from Mac effectively, the best thing about Malwarebytes is that it plays nice with your other antivirus software if you’ve already installed any. In fact, most users including me use Malwarebytes as a backup and perform weekly scans just to make sure that the system hasn’t been infected or has infected files.
To scan your system all you have to do is install the application, launch it and hit the scan button. As soon as you hit the button, it can do a quick scan for malware, PUPs (potentially unwanted programs), rootkits, adware, spyware, virus, etc., both in your system memory and hard disk. If it finds any threats, it will automatically quarantine those threats.
For in-depth scanning, select the custom scan option. Do keep in mind that the custom scan can take a couple of hours depending on the amount of data you have on your hard disk. Divx plugin chrome mac download.
Download Malwarebytes (free, $40 for pro version)
2. Systweak Anti-Malware
Systweak Anti-Malware is a dedicated malware scanning and removal software for MacOS. Just like Malwarebytes, Systweak Anti-Malware scans for malware, rootkits, viruses, and adware in your hard disk and system memory. Once it finds a threat, it automatically quarantines it. If you know that Systweak Anti-Malware quarantined a false positive, you can restore the file or app with just a single click. For regular, deep, or custom scans, you can create custom schedules.
If you know a file or folder to be safe, you can exclude them from scanning avoiding any possible false positives by adding them to the exclude list. Of course, Systweak Anti-Malware always runs in the background and protects your Mac system from malware and PUPs in real-time. Other features of the software include start-up scan, memory scan, and beginner friendly user interface.
So, if you unsatisfied or looking for a good alternative for Malwarebytes you should try Systweak Anti-Malware.
Download Systweak Anti-Malware ($40)
3. Bitdefender
Bitdefender is another popular software to protect your mac from various threats like malware, virus, trojans, adware, spyware, unwanted software, and much more. The best thing about Bitdefender is that apart from protecting you from regular threats, it can actively scan in multiple layers and protect your system from ransomware. Other than that, Bitdefender can also keep an eye on cross-platform threats so that you don’t unintentionally spread malware, virus, or other infected files to your friends, colleagues or family.
Since Bitdefender always runs in the background, it can block any and all threats in real-time. Of course, Bitdefender also scans your system occasionally. If needed, you can create custom schedules with various configurations and scan settings. Bitdefender also has other features like backup protection, safe files, parental controls, secure shopping protection, etc.
Best Antivirus For Mac And Pc
Simply put, if you need a full-fledged software that can do much more than blocking and removing malware then give Bitdefender a try.
Download Bitdefender ($50 – $70 according to the version you choose)
4. Avast
Just like Bitdefender, Avast is not just an anti-malware software, it is a anti-virus software that can scan and protect your system from a wide range of threats. In fact, if you’ve ever searched for a anti-virus software, you should have definitely heard about Avast.
Using Avast you can regularly scan your system and create your own schedules to better protect your system. Along with anti-malware security, Avast can also protect your system from infected emails, unprotect WiFi network, and ransomware. Other features of the software include real-time protection, detailed security reports, browser protection, ability to shield you from dangerous downloads and PUPs, etc.
As good as the software is, while using Avast, you should be ready for a little bit of performance dip, at least, that is my experience while using Avast. Other than that, Avast is a pretty good and reputed software to protect Mac system from online and offline threats.
Download Avast (free, $70 for pro version)
5. AVG
AVG is yet another popular software that can protect you from malware, viruses, trojans, adware, and other threats. The good thing about AVG is that you can scan your system for threats related to Mac, Windows, and Android so that you don’t spread viruses or malware to other systems. Also, thanks to the simple and minimal design, using AVG to scan or create scanning schedules is pretty easy and straightforward. Moreover, unlike Avast, AVG always runs in the background and provides real-time protection for free.
As good as it is, when you try to download AVG from the official site, you will be redirected to the CNET website. So, be careful while installing it on your system as CNET has a habit of bundling adware and other toolbars along with the software you are trying to install.
If you are looking for all-around protection with real-time threat analysis and blocking then you should go with AVG.
Download AVG (free)
6. Sophos Home
Top Antivirus For Mac 2018
Another popular opinion amongst Mac users which is more than just an Anti-Malware. Sophos Home comes with a bunch of extra features including a live chat support.
Sophos offers features like Anti-virus and ransomware security along with anti-malware protection. The programme also lets you remotely manage your devices. Yes ‘Device(s)’, Sophos home can be used in up to 10 devices for the paid version and 3 devices for the free version. Doesn’t end here, Sophos Home also lets you put on parental controls so that none of your devices reach the unprotected side of Web.
Download Sophos Home (30 day trial, $27 yearly for premium)
Wrapping Up: Best Anti Malware for Mac
If you are looking for a dedicated anti-malware software that plays well with other antivirus and firewall software then go with Malwarebytes. As a premium option, you can also try Systweak Anti-Malware. If you are looking for a full-fledged anti-virus software that can extend the protection to viruses, adware, ransomware, and other threats then go with AVG as it provides real-time protection for free. You can also try Bitdefender.
In general, if you know what you are doing on the Internet and don’t download the cracked software or porn, you’ll probably don’t need an anti-virus and/or anti-malware software. That said, if you don’t consider yourself tech savvy or if you are buying a computer for your parents, it’s a good idea to have an anti-malware installed.
That’s for now. If you think I missed any of your favorite anti-malware software then command below and share it with me. It will also help other Mac users.
Top Antivirus For Mac Free
Read: Top 10 Free Portable Anti-Malware Software to Have on Your Pen Drive