Best Mac OS X Antivirus Apps 1. ($30 for first year, then $60 / year) Norton is one of the biggest names in the antivirus world, the performance of their software backs up their reputation—they even offer a money-back guarantee that their software will keep your computer virus-free. As a leading researcher in cyber security and malware protection, they bring a lot of expertise to the table. In April 2015, an independent antivirus software testing group called AV-TEST showed that Norton detected 100% of tested malware samples, ranking it among the most effective antivirus software for Mac.
Norton’s Global Intelligence Network reports on threats around the world, helping them keep their virus definitions up to date. And deluxe and premium versions of the software also include parental control software and cloud backup capabilities. Possibly the most appealing factor of Symantec’s antivirus software is that it didn’t slow down AV-TEST’s computer during the performance test. Norton is the least system-resource-intensive antivirus package out there, and the fact that it’s still 100% effective makes it an easy choice for the top spot on this list. ($40 / year) BitDefender, like Norton, scored a 100% detection rate in the AV-TEST comparison (though it scored 99% on another test run by AV-Comparatives). The fact that BitDefender is constantly updating its malware definitions from the cloud, where much of the heavy lifting is done, means you can be confident that almost nothing will slip by your defenses.
Moving processing to the cloud also prevents BitDefender from hogging your system resources; BitDefender was the second lightest client in AV-TEST’s results, only slowing down their Mac by a little bit. BitDefender says that their Mac antivirus software was designed specifically to work well with OS X, and this could be the reason why it doesn’t place a big drain on Mac systems. Another high point of BitDefender is that it includes definitions not only for Mac-specific malware, but for Windows-based ones, too, which means you’ll be protected from an even wider array of threats.
Combining this with adware blocking, online phishing detection, and non-stop protection with AutoPilot makes this one of the best options for any Mac user. ($60 / year) With the largest price tag in this list, you’d expect Kaspersky to be the best antivirus package for Mac out there. And when it comes to protection, it is. AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives both found that Kaspersky’s Internet Security for Mac detected 100% of threats—which isn’t surprising, considering that Kaspersky is one of the most well-known group of internet security researchers. Kaspersky’s antivirus package comes with a few features that set it apart from many of its competitors, like network attack blocking and parental controls.
Luckerly there is some great free antivirus programs for Macs. Here at Top10BestAntivirus.com we have showcased some of the best free antivirus software for Mac to make it easier for you to find your perfect Mac protection. Use our comparison tools to help your fine the best free mac antivirus for your protection needs. How can the answer be improved?
This makes it a very versatile program that you can use to protect both your computer and your kids. It provides free automatic updates, protects from PC and Linux malware, and includes extra protection for your online monetary transactions. Falling right in the middle of the field, Kaspersky didn’t impress in the AV-TEST system resources performance test (though the system slow-down would likely be all but unnoticeable during regular usage). With the level of protection that it provides and the solid reputation backing the Kaspersky name, it’s still a viable choice for protecting your Mac from all of the threats out there. (Free) Although it wasn’t tested in either of the two recent reference tests by AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives, Comodo has been given a very positive review by AV-TEST in the past, which emphasized its negligible effect on system performance. Automatic updates combined with drag-and-drop file scanning and easy scheduling make this an antivirus package that anyone can use, regardless of their level of tech savviness.
The software also includes a Security Level slider that lets you easily adjust how much protection you receive, so you can tailor it to your needs. As a large company that provides a number of online safeguards for businesses of all sizes as well as individual users, Comodo has a solid reputation for protection, and that reputation extends to its antivirus software for your Mac. Adding minimal system usage makes this a viable option for Mac users, especially if you’d rather not pay for your malware protection. (Free) As one of the most popular antivirus packages for Mac, Avast has a large name to live up to. And with 100% detection rates from AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives, it has the chops to go head-to-head with more expensive software like Norton.
Avast touts its “automatic stream of microupdates” as a feature that keeps your computer always up to date on virus definitions, and their large user base helps them keep track of which threats are emerging. When it comes to system resources, Avast, although being generally touted as pretty lightweight, came in sixth place in AV-TEST’s performance comparison. While this slow-down would likely be imperceptible in day-to-day usage, it does show that you can’t get the maximum performance out of free software. However, most users won’t notice the difference, so it likely doesn’t matter very much. Avast uses a multi-platform sensor network in combination with machine learning and big data analytics to make sure that your virus definitions always include the latest threats.
This level of protection is one of the best you can get with free software, and the decently low use of system resources makes Avast a top contender. ($40 / year) With Mac-, PC-, and Linux-based malware protection, ESET aims to protect your Mac from a wide variety of threats, as well as keep you from passing on any malware you might get to other operating systems. The software also includes anti-spyware and anti-phishing modules to keep you even safer online.
And with 100% detection on the AV-Comparatives test, it does a good job doing so. One of the coolest features of ESET is that it contains removable media control, which prevents the unauthorized copying of private data to USB drives and other external media.
It even has special protections built in for social media so you don’t give away confidential information on Facebook or Twitter. While there aren’t any test results indicating the amount of system resources that ESET uses, it does include a feature called idle-state scanning, which lets you automatically trigger virus scans when your system isn’t under load. This means ESET will be doing its heaviest lifting when you’re not trying to work or play games, helping keep your computer running as smoothly as possible. (Free) Avira protects your Mac from both OS X-based malware and threats that target PCs, giving you a solid amount of coverage. AV-TEST also found that it detected 100% of the malware that they tested, placing it in good company among many other pieces of software that cost a lot more. Maintenance is made easier by Avira’s easy scheduling, which lets you choose when your computer is scanned for new malware. You can set it to run on any day and at any time you like, meaning you can have it run once a week or every night, depending on how much of your system resources you’d like it to use.
Another benefit of using Avira is that the company offers a convenient browser extension that will help you stay safe online by warning you when you’re about to enter a suspicious website. Unfortunately, Avira did not perform very well in AV-TEST’s system resources task; it fell third from the bottom, and slowed down their Mac quite a bit.
While this might be a deal breaker for some, it’s hard to argue with getting effective antivirus software for free. Balancing the tradeoff between cost and efficiency in running may depend on your priorities. (Free) Another free option, AVG protects against three types of viruses: Mac, PC, and Android-based. Why worry about Android-based malware on your Mac, you might wonder? Because you could pass it on to someone you know.
Even if you don’t use an Android phone, someone could become infected if you manage to get one of these pieces of malware. AVG comes with a number of easy-to-use features, like automatic file scanning, drag-and-drop file scanning, and automatic updates, making it easy for you to make sure that every file on your computer is free of malware.
In AV-Comparatives’ test, AVG detected 100% of the tested Mac- and PC-based malware, making it a solid selection for virus detection. The testing team also praised the software for its easy-to-use and straightforward interface. While AVG’s use of system resources wasn’t tested, it does have a reputation for being a bit of a resource hog. Without hard data from a test, it’s difficult to say, but some users have found it to use as much as two to three times as many resources as a lighter-weight client like Avast.
Still, the level of protection that it provides is tough to beat, and few free clients have an easier to use interface. ($40 / year) Although the price tag on F-Secure isn’t a world-beater, you can use a single license for up to three computers; so if you’re trying to get antivirus software for your entire family, opting for F-Secure could save you some money. There’s also a 30-day free trial so you can test it out. And with a 100% Mac-based malware detection score from AV-Comparatives, you can be confident that it’ll root out malware on your computer.
One notable area where F-Secure comes up short is in PC-based malware detection. AV-Comparatives found that this software only found 28% of PC threats, falling far behind most other competitors. Whether or not you think PC-based malware protection is important could be a determining factor of whether you should invest in F-Secure. Although F-Secure’s use of system resources hasn’t been definitively tested recently, it has received a range of positive and negative results in the past. Although their website states that the software doesn’t slow your computer down, it’s hard to find evidence that this is the case.
It might be worth taking advantage of the free trial to see how it performs on your Mac. (Free) Sophos advertises its antivirus software as being able to detect both old and new threats that are meant for Macs and PCs, and provides automatic updates that keep your definitions up to date. The test results support their claim, with a 92.5% detection rate from AV-TEST and a 100% rate from AV-Comparatives. While it’s not as good as some of the other entries, that’s still a very solid performance.
The anti-malware strength of Sophos’ Mac antivirus software comes from the fact that the technology used is the same as the tech behind their business-class antivirus software. The very simple interface makes it easy to scan your files when you need to, and the built-in quarantine manager lets you make decisions no what to do with infected files. While the protection offered by Sophos is top-notch, that protection might take a toll on your computer’s speed.
Among the ten packages tested by AV-TEST, Sophos was ranked #9 in system performance, causing a noticeable slowing of computer function. Unless you put very few demands on your system, it might be better to opt for a more efficient option. SEE ALSO: Stay Safe No matter which Mac OS X do you use (OS X El Capitan, OS X Yosemite, OS X Mavericks), it’s important that you’re well-protected. People used to think that Macs don’t get malware, but that’s just not the case anymore, and you’re risking a lot of important data if you aren’t protected. Make sure to download one of these best antivirus software for Mac today!
Rubenking The Best Antivirus Protection for 2019 Antivirus software is critical for every PC. Without it, you risk losing your personal information, your files, and even the cash from your bank account. We've tested more than 40 utilities to help you pick the best antivirus protection for your computers. Malware, Spyware, and Adware Protection Don't bother to make a resolution to install antivirus protection on all your devices in 2019. Just drop whatever you're doing and take care of it right now.
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Doesn't that feel better? Now you don't have to worry about Trojans stealing your personal data, or about ransomware rendering your important files into encrypted gibberish. If you're dithering because you don't know which antivirus utility to use, we can help. We've put more that 40 antivirus tools through extensive hands-on testing, combining our experience with data from independent testing labs to help identify the best ones. We call it antivirus, but in truth it's unlikely you'll get hit with an actual computer virus.
Malware these days is about making money, and there's no easy way to cash in on spreading a virus. Ransomware and data-stealing Trojans are much more common, as are bots that let the bot-herder rent out your computer for nefarious purposes. Modern antivirus utilities handle Trojans, rootkits, spyware, adware, ransomware, and more. PCMag has reviewed more than 40 different commercial antivirus utilities, and that's not even counting the many. Out of that extensive field we've named five Editors' Choice products.
Some nonstandard commercial antivirus utilities proved effective enough to earn an excellent four-star rating alongside their more traditional counterparts. VoodooSoft VoodooShield bases its protection on suppressing all unknown programs while the computer is in a vulnerable state, such as when it's connected to the internet, and also acts to detect known malware. The Kure resets the computer to a known safe state on every reboot; it works, but because malware can run free until reboot it didn't quite make the cut.
If, one of the ten products in the chart above should take care of the problem. These commercial products offer protection beyond the antivirus built into Windows 10; the best free antivirus utilities also offer more. However, is looking a bit better lately, with some very good scores from independent testing labs. In our hands-on tests, it showed a marked improvement since our previous review, enough to finally bring it up to three stars. Listen to the Labs We take the results reported by independent antivirus testing labs very seriously.
The simple fact that a particular vendor's product shows up in the results is a vote of confidence, of sorts. It means the lab considered the product significant, and the vendor felt the cost of testing was worthwhile. Of course, getting good scores in the tests is also important. We follow four labs that regularly release detailed reports:,.
We also note whether vendors have contracted with ICSA Labs and West Coast labs for certification. We've devised a system for aggregating their results to yield a rating from 0 to 10. We Test Malware, Spyware, and Adware Defenses. We also subject every product to our own hands-on test of malware protection, in part to get a feeling for how the product works. Depending on how thoroughly the product prevents malware installation, it can earn up to 10 points for malware protection.
Our malware protection test necessarily uses the same set of samples for months. To check a product's handling of brand-new malware, we test each product using 100 extremely new malware-hosting URLs supplied by, noting what percentage of them it blocked. Products get equal credit for preventing all access to the malicious URL and for wiping out the malware during download.
Some products earn absolutely stellar ratings from the independent labs, yet don't fare as well in our hands-on tests. In such cases, we defer to the labs, as they bring significantly greater resources to their testing. Want to know more?
You can dig in for a detailed description of. Multilayered Malware Protection Antivirus products distinguish themselves by going beyond the basics of on-demand scanning and real-time. Some rate URLs that you visit or that show up in search results, using a red-yellow-green color-coding system. Some actively block processes on your system from connecting with known malware-hosting URLs or with fraudulent (phishing) pages. Software has flaws, and sometimes those flaws affect your security. Prudent users keep Windows and all programs patched, fixing those flaws as soon as possible. The vulnerability scan offered by some antivirus products can verify that all necessary patches are present, and even apply any that are missing.
Spyware comes in many forms, from hidden programs that log your every keystroke to Trojans that masquerade as valid programs while mining your personal data. Any antivirus should handle spyware, along with all other types of malware, but some include specialized components devoted to. You expect an antivirus to identify and eliminate bad programs, and to leave good programs alone. What about unknowns, programs it can't identify as good or bad? Behavior-based detection can, in theory, protect you against malware that's so new researchers have never encountered it.
However, this isn't always an unmixed blessing. It's not uncommon for behavioral detection systems to flag many innocuous behaviors performed by legitimate programs. Whitelisting is another approach to the problem of unknown programs.
A whitelist-based security system only allows known good programs to run. Unknowns are banned. This mode doesn't suit all situations, but it can be useful. Sandboxing lets unknown programs run, but it isolates them from full access to your system, so they can't do permanent harm.
These various added layers serve to enhance your protection against malware. Firewalls, Ransomware Protection, and More Firewalls and spam filtering aren't common antivirus features, but some of our top products include them as bonus features. In fact, some of these antivirus products are more feature-packed than certain products sold as security suites. Among the other bonus features you'll find are secure browsers for financial transactions, secure deletion of sensitive files, wiping traces of computer and browsing history, credit monitoring, virtual keyboard to foil keyloggers, cross-platform protection, and more. You'll even find products that enhance their automatic malware protection with the expertise of human security technicians. And of course we've already mentioned sandboxing, vulnerability scanning, and application whitelisting. We're seeing more and more antivirus products adding modules specifically designed for.
Some work by preventing unauthorized changes to protected files. Others keep watch for suspicious behaviors that suggest malware. Some even aim to reverse the damage. Given the growth of this scourge, any added protection is beneficial. Beyond Antivirus: VPN Your antivirus utility works in the background to keep out any faint possibility of infestation by malware, but its abilities don't extend beyond the bounds of your computer.
When you connect to the wild and wooly internet, you risk the possibility that your data could be compromised in transit. Sticking to HTTPS websites when possible can help, but for full protection of your data in transit you should install a virtual private network,.
This component is important enough that we're starting to see it as a bonus feature in some antivirus tools. What's the Best Malware Protection? Which antivirus should you choose?
You have a wealth of options. Kaspersky Anti-Virus earned perfect scores in all the latest independent lab tests, and Bitdefender Antivirus Plus came very close. A single subscription for McAfee AntiVirus Plus lets you install protection on all of your Windows, Android, Mac OS, and iOS devices.
And its unusual behavior-based detection technology means Webroot SecureAnywhere Antivirus is the tiniest antivirus around. We've named these four Editors' Choice for commercial antivirus, but they're not the only products worth consideration. Read the reviews of our top-rated products, and then make your own decision. Note that we have reviewed many more antivirus utilities than we could include in the chart of top products. If your favorite software isn't listed there, chances are we did review it.
The blurbs below include every product that managed 3.5 stars or better. All the utilities listed in this feature are Windows antivirus apps. If you're a macOS user, don't despair, however; PCMag has a separate roundup dedicated solely to the. 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, and continue to recommend Kaspersky's security products as long as their performance continues to merit our endorsement. Pros: Outstanding scores in independent lab tests and our web protection tests. Multi-layered ransomware protection.
Password manager. Banking protection.
Offers a virtual private network, or VPN. Many security-centered bonus features. Cons: Unlimited VPN access requires separate subscription. With antivirus disabled, ransomware-specific features missed one uncommon sample. Bottom Line: With outstanding antivirus test results and a collection of features that puts some security suites to shame, Bitdefender Antivirus Plus is a top choice.
Pros: Perfect score in our malware protection test. Very good antiphishing score. Ransomware protection. Light on system resources. Fast scan, tiny size. Advanced features. Cons: Limited lab test results due to unusual detection techniques.
Missed one unique hand-modified ransomware sample in testing. Bottom Line: Tiny, speedy Webroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus keeps a light touch on your system's resources. It aces our hands-on malware protection test, and can even roll back ransomware activity. Pros: Protection for every Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS device in your household. Good scores in hands-on tests.
Perfect score in antiphishing test. Includes new ransomware protection and PC Boost, plus many bonus features. Cons: Ransom Guard missed one hand-modified ransomware sample. PC Boost web speedup works only in Chrome. Mac edition less feature-rich than Windows or Android. Still fewer features for iOS.
Bottom Line: A single subscription for McAfee AntiVirus Plus lets you protect every Windows, Android, macOS, and iOS device in your household. It's quite a deal, and the current edition adds some new and useful features. Pros: Advanced firewall. Antivirus licensed from Kaspersky. Unique and effective phishing protection. Includes useful bonus tools. Cons: Sparse results from independent labs.
Advanced features too advanced for average user. At max sensitivity, OSFirewall flagged both good and bad programs. Phishing protection only in Chrome. Bottom Line: With the powerful ZoneAlarm firewall, antivirus licensed from Kaspersky, and a unique new approach to phishing protection, Check Point ZoneAlarm PRO Antivirus + Firewall 2017 is worth a look. Pros: Excellent antiphishing score. Very good malicious URL blocking score. Protects against ransomware, keyloggers, and exploits.
Remote management for up to 10 PCs or Macs. Cons: Lab test results not current.
Advanced features require uncommon tech expertise. Limited parental control and webcam protection.
Bottom Line: The new Sophos Home Premium security suite brings consumers powerful protection technology forged in the company's Enterprise-level products, including ransomware protection, keylogger blocking, exploit mitigation, and more. Pros: Excellent scores in our malware and exploit protection tests, and our malicious URL blocking test. Good scores from independent antivirus labs. Includes spam filter, password manager, and other bonus features. Cons: Poor antiphishing score. First full scan unusually slow. Limited tech support.
No Virus Protection Promise. Bottom Line: Symantec Norton AntiVirus Basic gets good scores from the independent labs and very good scores in most of our hands-on tests. However, it tanked our antiphishing test this time around, it's expensive, and it lacks full tech support. Pros: Prevents non-whitelisted programs from launching when computer is at risk.
New machine-learning tool flags malware. Checks blocked files against 57 antivirus scanners. Free edition for consumers.
Cons: Could possibly whitelist malware running prior to installation. Flagged some legitimate programs as suspicious, some as malicious. Bottom Line: VoodooShield takes a whitelist approach to antivirus protection, but without getting in the user's way. A new machine-learning component brings it closer to the abilities of a standalone antivirus. Pros: Very good independent lab scores. Excellent score in our malware protection test. Behavioral detection successfully blocked ransomware.
Surfing protection is browser-independent. Cons: Dismal score in our phishing protection test. Few scores from independent labs. Behavioral detection failed against ransomware launched at startup. Bottom Line: Emsisoft Anti-Malware effectively handles the basic tasks of malware protection, including ransomware. Its few lab test results are good, as are its scores on our in-house malware protection tests, though it tanked on our antiphishing test.
Pros: Good score in our hands-on malware-blocking test. Speedy full scan. Behavior-based DeepGuard detects brand-new malware.
Advanced network protection. Streamlined, simple interface. Cons: Failed to block disk-encrypting ransomware and ransomware launched at startup. No antiphishing URL blocking. Lab test scores good, not great.
Bottom Line: F-Secure Anti-Virus's fast full scan and DeepGuard behavior-based detection system make it a powerful malware fighter, but it failed some of our ransomware protection tests.