Because Apple spends substantially on in-built security measures, macOS is often regarded as one of the safest operating systems. Cybercriminals, on the other hand, are constantly inventing new and complex dangers that might infect Mac machines. As a result, Macbook users should invest in an additional layer of security – a powerful antivirus.
While there are numerous security solutions for Apple devices, deciding which one is best for you might be difficult. Keep in mind that it should be focused on macOS security and have a good detection rate for malware.
As a result, we’ve put at least a dozen different solutions through their paces before deciding on the best antivirus for Mac.
Intego Mac Internet Security X9
The Mac Internet Security X9 package from Intego is a set of tools that will help you keep your Mac safe and functioning efficiently. VirusBarrier and NetBarrier are two programmes that detect and eliminate malware threats, as well as prospective infiltration attempts from the outside and outgoing efforts from rogue software.
The Mac Premium Bundle X9 adds three more sets of capabilities to these: Personal Backup’s backup prowess (a good ‘belt’ addition to your Time Machine’s ‘braces’), Mac Washing Machine’s useful cleaning, tidying, and general speed optimization tricks, and finally ContentBarrier’s multi-user safe surfing intelligence.
That final one isn’t necessary for everyone, but it’s ideal for parents. Whichever software package you pick, you can rest assured that it will provide your Mac with some of the greatest protection available.
McAfee Total Protection
McAfee Total Protection is a specialised software security programme that monitors your Mac as you work, searching for unauthorised software activity including browser search engine hacks, efforts to deceive you into downloading undesirable software, and genuine malware and virus assaults.
It’s quite easy to use; once you’ve followed the advised steps for permitting it to function behind the scenes, it’s simply something you can just allow to do its thing.
WebAdvisor is another option in Total Protection, which steers you away from known issue sites and warns you when you visit ones that aren’t safe. It also has a software firewall for monitoring two-way network traffic.
We noticed some performance issues while it was running in the background, but it was mostly inconspicuous in its efforts. It’s also good to have the option of securing additional devices, like cellphones and Windows PCs, if needed.
It’s worth mentioning that the Windows version, in particular, has more capabilities than the Mac software, such as a native VPN.
Norton 360 Deluxe
Norton 360 Deluxe is a security programme that monitors and protects your Mac from a variety of dangers, including browser hacks and search engine hijack scripts, as well as infiltration attempts and genuine malware.
It concentrates on spotting malicious software, but it also includes a VPN for protecting personal data while online and a tool for managing passwords, bank card numbers, and other sensitive information.
There are three versions available, two of which may also be used to safeguard your iPhone, Android cellphones, and Windows PCs if necessary. It had minimal to no influence on performance on our testing, and it detected all of the issues in our test macOS.
It’s worth noting that the Cloud Backup option isn’t compatible with macOS, although it’s more of a bonus than a necessary component of the bundle.
Avast Premium Security
Overall, Avast Premium Security for Mac performs a good job. There are a few niggles, such as the unwelcomed Cleanup Premium upsell and the fact that File Shield monitoring slows down file copy times slightly.
Otherwise, it’s a well-rounded security suite that will guard against a variety of threats, including browser script hacks, possible ransomware, and other remote attack activities. Naturally, it will check for potentially undesirable apps and genuine malware threats on your Mac, portable media, and email attachments.
Custom scheduled scans can be set up, but for most needs, automated background monitoring combined with occasional specialised manual scans should be enough. Another aspect of this programme is that it monitors Wi-Fi networks for vulnerabilities, and the Real Site option looks for phoney sites posing as real shopping or banking sites, which is a big issue that extends beyond just looking for undesirable files on your own Mac. It is quite successful at all of these tasks, however, customising its behaviour may be a bit tricky.
Bitdefender Total Security
Bitdefender Total Security is a powerful tool for protecting your Mac, as well as your Windows PC, iOS, and Android devices. Although the included VPN is rudimentary and only provides 200MB of data per day, the rest of the array of tools is effective and simple to use.
When you compare what the Mac version has to offer to what the Windows version has, you’ll feel cheated. There’s no password manager, no social network security, no camera or microphone security, no Wi-Fi security advisor, or any of the other services that Windows customers get for the same price.
Bitdefender is also behind its competitors in terms of identity protection. If all you want is to keep your Mac safe from viruses, Bitdefender is an excellent choice. However, you can get a better deal elsewhere.
Conclusion
With the ever-increasing amount of macOS malware, having a strong antivirus is critical. Even though there aren’t many solutions that provide reliable and Mac-friendly virus protection, we were able to select the best programmes.
Our top picks are the finest antivirus software for Mac currently on the market. The top products on the list, such as Norton 360 and Bitdefender, are jam-packed with important security features.
