If you’re a Mac user, you’ll probably love the sleek desktop experience and how easy it is to turn it on and just get started. However, finding protection for your computer can be a challenge, because most options are only supported by Windows. Therefore, we have put together a list of the best antivirus for Mac, and you can protect your operating system for a long time.
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Mac
Windows users have long resorted to the free Malwarebytes option giving it an always-on use of antimalware . The Mac version started as an antiadware only, but as of today, it is also a complete tool to protect your computer against other forms of malware.
What’s more, it’s just as effective on MacOS as it is on Windows, a fact that is backed by the team’s ongoing research into current threats: The company identified the first Mac malware threat in 2017, for example.
Using the app couldn’t be easier. Just select scan and the software will quickly alert you to any specific malware infection, when other programs normally skip something.
However, like the free version of Windows, this is not a real-time protection solution, that is to say, it always remains active, and therefore, it is better suited to perform deep scans and get rid of particularly harmful threats from MacOS as the fake Adobe Zii malware.
You have the option of scheduled and proactive locks, but these features expire after two weeks in the free version. You need the premium version for always-on protection, starting at $ 40 for a year.
Avast Security for Mac
Avast Security for Mac is one of the most popular security suites available, and it’s easy to see why. It is effective and free for non-commercial use, as it provides on-demand tools that allow you to quickly perform malware scans of the entire system.
It has a filtering option through specific email threads, attachments and various web activities. It even offers drag-and-drop scanning for individual files and phishing protection, along with the ability to scan external drives and attached volumes.
The application interface is simple and self explanatory. It has a navigation panel on the left consisting of five main buttons and a real-time graph that adds protection activity and allows you to quickly check the general statistics of your Mac.
The free version offers to install two other applications at installation: Avast Internet Security for $ 30 a year and Avast SecureLine VPN for $ 60 a year. However, neither is necessary to detect and remove malware, so be careful when installing them if you don’t want them.
If privacy is particularly important to you, you may want to consider recent reports that Avast collects and sells its customers’ web browsing data.
Although Avast admits doing so, the company also maintains that it does not collect “personally identifiable information”, including name, email address, or contact details. Users have the option to opt out of sharing their data.
Sophos Antivirus Mac Home Edition
When you’re at a point between the need and the excess, Sophos offers all the basic utilities you expect from a quality antivirus and much more. It has custom on-demand and scheduled scans for specific files, folders, and drives, along with additional tools to remove and quarantine any file that Sophos considers a potential threat.
The software incorporates real-time protection features that quarantine unknown files that exhibit suspicious behavior. Although, the application tends to scan slower than most, it is quite light and performs vital background tasks discreetly, while hardly using your system resources.
Despite its robust feature set, Sophos manages to bundle all of this functionality into one compact interface. Starting a full system scan can be done directly from the top of the main menu, and you can quickly set exemptions in the easily navigable menus.
Malware definitions are also constantly updated, ensuring the app is never left without the latest warning of potential threats. It is one of the most independent antivirus applications on the market, and as such, it is among the best.
The free version includes ransomware monitoring, webcam protection, and live support options, but all of these expire after thirty days. You will need to obtain the premium version of $ 60 dollars to maintain these functions.
Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac
Based on the company’s award-winning antivirus engine, Bitdefender Virus Scanner presents a host of scanning options, allowing you to quickly perform deep scans of your entire system or those targeting specific locations.
If you grant it access, the simplified app even offers an option to scan critical locations, like your Mac’s launch agents and your entire system library, allowing it to skip longer scans when pressed by time.
It is automatically updated with Bitdefender malware definitions every hour before scanning, at the same time, providing a quick means to blacklist specific locations of system scans.
Bitdefender Virus Scanner automatically tries to disinfect and quarantine suspicious files, and although the function is not exclusive to this antivirus, the program can also quickly search for malware in various types of files (PDF, PKG, ZIP, RAR, etc.).
From the home screen, you can choose four different scan options, plus an update button and a “view quarantine” button. Everything is very easy to understand and use.
Avira Free Antivirus for Mac
Avira strikes a good balance between ease of use and quick access to advanced utilities, ultimately making basic system scans as simple to run as scheduled and specific file scans.
The program is equipped with standard protection against spyware and adware, along with the ability to intercept harmful websites and block tracking. If the software finds an infected file or folder, it will repair or remove the problem so you don’t have to worry again. The antivirus can also scan USB devices for possible dangers.
Avira’s full-featured interface has a navigation bar on the left side to check the status of your system, schedule tasks and view previous quarantine history, among other options.
Virus definitions are also updated in a timely manner, regardless of how long initial updates take to complete. It has a lot of resources, but is capable enough if you are looking for automation, scan history, and other advanced features.
Unlike most antiviruses in our roundup, Avira is combined with a moderately long installation and update process that goes hand in hand with intensive use of system resources by the software. It’s certainly not a deciding factor when considering the non-existent price and its comprehensive antivirus engine, but it’s an unfortunate downside.
And an extra option: Zap Antivirus
If you don’t mind spending a few bucks on affordable software, Zap Antivirus is also a worthy download. This Mac security application offers a quick scan that looks for viruses in probable places, and a full one that takes more time, but checks the entire system.
Zap also offers a custom scan that can check specific folders or locations, if you have good reason to believe that something is infected. But, the additional options are where Zap Antivirus really comes in handy.
It offers a “browser restore” option that will automatically remove your extensions, cookies and caches, essentially cleaning your browser to help eliminate any problems and speed things up.
Also, you can scan Windows Boot Camp partitions, external networks and other systems that you use on your Mac and that you want to protect. Also, the interface is very simple and easy to understand, even if you don’t have much experience.
