In 2012, 600,000 Mac computers were infected with the Flashback Trojan virus, despite the performance of the Mac OS operating system. Indeed, experts discovered a flaw. To remedy this, you need to install a Mac antivirus that can quickly detect and eliminate malware proliferating on the Internet. For you, we have searched for the best Mac antivirus software of the moment.
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Our selection
"Simply a must-have. It gets top marks in detection and requires few resources to run. You will get real-time protection and the ability to scan…"
"This basic version of Norton's Mac antivirus is the only one with a firewall at this stage. It is a mini Internet Security that is…"
"A must-have among antivirus products, Kaspersky has a powerful detection engine and frequent updates. It also has a quick installation process and an intuitive interface.…"
"After Intego, Bitdefender is the antivirus you should have in your sights. This version offers a complete protection solution for your Mac computer: antivirus, firewall,…"
Simply a must-have. It gets top marks in detection and requires few resources to run. You will get real-time protection and the ability to scan USB drives.
See the priceHere we present you the Premium Bundle X9 version of Intego. This antivirus has the Virus Barrier feature, which scores high in all independent tests. It detects and quarantines or eliminates all the programs that are harmful to your Mac. Since public Wi-Fi hot spots are the most sensitive, Intego offers you its firewall, Net Barrier, capable of blocking the connection of third-party software or preventing an intrusion.
This Mac antivirus has an easy-to-manage interface and is very smooth to use. It does not interrupt you every time applications start up. The parental control mode allows you to filter access to your Mac and monitor the sites your child visits.
This basic version of Norton's Mac antivirus is the only one with a firewall at this stage. It is a mini Internet Security that is versatile and efficient in detecting viruses and other malware.
See priceThis basic version of Norton Antivirus is a powerful and efficient tool, although it lacks some functions compared to the full program. It is equipped with the same detection engine with a more than adequate score in tests. Norton does not take the easy way out, as it provides its basic version with a firewall capable of analyzing web threats in real time and a VPN that allows you to surf the web incognito.
In addition, the antivirus recognizes new threats thanks to the Machine Learning function. We only regret the cumbersome installation and interface, a recurring problem with Norton. Despite this, it is an excellent protection system.
A must-have among antivirus products, Kaspersky has a powerful detection engine and frequent updates. It also has a quick installation process and an intuitive interface. The only downside is the price.
See priceWith its simple and effective home interface, this Mac antivirus offers a complete security solution against viruses, spyware or phishing. In particular, it has received outstanding results in the AV-Test, both in terms of protection and performance. It is a lightweight application that installs quickly and has an accessible support service.
Its real-time protection keeps you safe from intrusions when you're surfing the web. The Money feature allows you to pay for your online purchases in a secure, encrypted window to protect your private data from web hackers. In addition, your webcam will be secured with the Privacy option.
After Intego, Bitdefender is the antivirus you should have in your sights. This version offers a complete protection solution for your Mac computer: antivirus, firewall, phishing, ransomware, etc.
See priceVoted Antivirus of the Year 5 times in the last decade, Bitdefender Total Security fully protects your Mac from all possible infections. It has all the features: firewall to protect you on the web, ultra-reliable mechanism to identify viruses, malware or others, etc. A big thank you to the designers for this accessible and understandable interface, even for non-experts.
The Time Machine feature activates a backup mechanism for your hard disk, making it easier to recover data in case of a malicious attack. Bitdefender Shield also offers a security feature that analyzes file movements in real time on your Mac and is very responsive.
Any specific needs?
The best Mac antivirus in 2021
The best entry-level Mac antivirus
The best high-end Mac antivirus
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Intego Mac Premium Bundle X9
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Norton AntiVirus Plus
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Kaspersky Total Security 2021
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Bitdefender Total Security (Mac/Windows)
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Simply a must-have. It gets top marks in detection and requires few resources to run. You will get real-time protection and the ability to scan USB drives.
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This basic version of Norton's Mac antivirus is the only one with a firewall at this stage. It is a mini Internet Security that is versatile and efficient in detecting viruses and other malware.
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A must-have among antivirus products, Kaspersky has a powerful detection engine and frequent updates. It also has a quick installation process and an intuitive interface. The only downside is the price.
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After Intego, Bitdefender is the antivirus you should have in your sights. This version offers a complete protection solution for your Mac computer: antivirus, firewall, phishing, ransomware, etc.
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Right price/performance ratio
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There is a big difference between installing antivirus software on Windows and on Mac OS. On a Mac computer, there are permissions, just like on an Android, in order to install third-party software. It is therefore necessary to choose a program that is easy to install and handle. The 4 antivirus programs we offer all meet this criterion except for Norton. Once installed, you should be able to quickly understand how to run a scan and get an idea of the other features. There is no need to spend time on software that will ask you for difficult configurations. Having everything you need on the home screen is a good place to start.
It's always tempting to pick the free version of a software and think you're safe. The problem is that you own a Mac. Your Mac has a security system as standard, and it's free. To make up for the shortcomings of this program, you need to install a third-party antivirus program. There is no need to look at the free offers since you already have one. By opting for an annual subscription, you will have a complete update of the software and the definition base. Moreover, in case of a hard blow you will be able to have a real time assistance.
Nowadays, everyone uses his computer to connect to the Internet in order to make purchases, read an eBook or download programs. Unfortunately, the majority of intrusions happen when you are permanently connected to the web. Theft of personal data or inadvertent downloading of spyware are more than common. It is therefore important to have an efficient firewall with an intuitive interface. This way, you will be able to monitor potential incoming threats and attempts to connect non-essential software to your Mac in real time. Then, have features like phishing protection or a VPN to allow you to surf incognito.
Mac antivirus developers offer several choices to their customer like a subscription for one PC with a 2-year term. There are several types of offers and it is hard to understand the price differences. In fact, you are asked to choose on how many devices you will install the software. A subscription for 3 Macs means that you can install it, with the activation key, on 3 different computers. Secondly, you should know that every year new versions are released with notable novelties. The ability of developers to make improvements to their product allows products to evolve or stagnate. It is therefore possible to take out a subscription for several years for a very good antivirus today, but which will no longer hold up in 2 years. This is why we recommend subscribing for a maximum of 2 years or 1 year with the possibility of installing it on 3 computers. This way, you will have flexibility of use. If you buy a laptop in addition to your desktop iMac, you will only have to install.
Previously, it was not necessary to install an antivirus on a Mac, as the security levels present were deemed inviolable, in the same way as a Linux system. However, in recent years there has been a noticeable increase in infections and potential threats on Mac computers.
Apple boasts of having an almost unbreakable built-in protection based on certification, but which was broken by hackers in 2016 with the spyware Ke.ranger. Not to mention the massive Flashback Trojan infection that affected 600,000 Macs in 2012 (only a few months after the MacDefender malware). A number probably underestimated by Apple.
This proves that Mac owners are now the target of hackers and adding third-party antivirus software can improve security against vulnerabilities in built-in protection mechanisms.
The unique thing about this type of Mac antivirus is that it only protects you when you manually scan your system. It is unable to monitor the movement of files on your computer or online in real time. We can also talk about a passive protection, this is the type of mechanism that equips the basic versions.
Here, the antivirus is equipped with one or two additional modules that allow it to actively monitor all actions on your Mac computer. A firewall to block threats from the internet and a file monitoring system to scrutinize spyware activities internally. All in real time, the software will alert you as soon as it spots something suspicious. The downside is that bad antivirus software will report false positives and the alerts will become annoying.
On-demand protection is perfect for those who use their Mac computer at home most of the time. For those who exchange files between computers all day long, they should use the real-time protection found in the Internet Security, Premium or Full packages.
Update your Mac antivirus software.
In order to have optimal security, it is advisable to activate the automatic update of your Mac antivirus. It is through these updates that the developers update the virus definition database and provide fixes to the various security flaws discovered in the month or week.
Analyze your system.
Once
you've installed your Mac antivirus software, it's recommended that you first update the software and run a full scan. By doing so, your antivirus starts its monitoring on a threat-free system. After that, it is useful to program your software to scan your system regularly automatically.
When to do a full analysis?
All
Mac antivirus software now offers several scanning options in addition to the full scan option. As you may have noticed, performing a full scan takes time. Instead, you can undertake a shorter Smart Scan or a targeted scan. However, it is recommended to do a full scan every two weeks or once a month, and to do it at night.
Activate the browser extension.
A
browser extension allows the antivirus to warn you if a site is malicious or not. The software relies on the opinions of users and Internet security professionals to secure your Web browsing. However, if you want to access a site that you are used to seeing or are confident of its safety, you can simply disable the add-on.
Parental control.
If
one has children at home and they regularly use your Mac, enabling parental controls will allow you to block questionable sites and direct their browsing
.
The best Mac antivirus software depends on your needs and budget. Read our buying guide to find out which products are the best.
Threats to Mac users are now more present than ever before. The Ke.ranger intrusion is proof that the Apple way is not as secure as it used to be. So, yes, a Mac can be infected and installing a third-party antivirus software helps to correct this problem.
No technology is 100% secure and hackers are always on the lookout for the slightest flaw in security systems. Installing a Mac anti-virus will be an additional barrier to ensure the integrity of your system. Prevention is better than cure, they say!
Yes, in most cases mac antivirus software has an option to scan your USB drives or external hard drives in depth. If they detect a threat, they automatically block the device.
On the market, you will find third-party software completely dedicated to protecting Mac computers like Intego. For the big brands like Avast or Kaspersky, for example, just look in the description if the software has Mac compatibility.
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