Many say Antivirus software is a myth and it inserts malware in your PCs and Mac. Well, that’s not the case as I have tested out several free and paid Antivirus software on my MacBook. A lot of antivirus software for Mac are available; I have run a few of them and they meet my expectations. I hope they are useful to you as well as you’re searching for the finest Mac antivirus software.
With Sophos (free or premium) and Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac, a content filter can block access to websites matching unwanted categories. Kaspersky goes beyond that, with content filtering. Download antispyware, spy-protect, antivirus and privacy shield software for your Apple macOS X, these anti-virus software has the ability to detect viruses and malware written specifically for a macOS, although the existence of these viruses are rare, it still exist and with the ever growing popularity of Apple macOS, the threat is growing proportionately. Sophos Home for Mac Antivirus - Free Download. Includes a 30 day trial of Sophos Home for Mac Premium, with advanced ransomware scanning in real time.
Well, it’s just a matter of time if you want to remove the Mac auto fixer virus but if you want protection from all types of viruses, malware and ransomware, then you need to check our best Mac antivirus software available in 2020. Of course, not all antivirus software protect the Mac from ransomware but a few of them do that.
Best Paid and Free Antivirus Software for Mac in 2020
To make it easy for you, I have decided to break down the list into two parts: free antivirus software for Mac and paid Mac antivirus software. So here we go…
Quick Access:
Best Free Antivirus Software for Mac
#1. Avast Security
Ever since my childhood days, whenever I heard of Antivirus, first thing that came to my mind was Avast Antivirus. That was probably the best antivirus software those days and it’s still on the top when it comes to the free version.
Avast provides features like real time protection along with a full system scan. Other than this, it allows you to run custom scans so that your Mac is always safe. Moreover, if you’re often using the internet and visiting various websites every day, it blocks websites with malicious attempts on your Mac.
Overall, Avast is one of the best Antivirus software for Mac that is available for free! The best part is it doesn’t affect the system performance in any way and it scans the complete system quickly as compared to other antivirus software programs.
#2. Sophos
Sophos is the most underrated antivirus program, but believe me, it’s one of the finest antivirus packages available for Mac. It comes with initial Home Free plan of 30-day trail period and I am sure you’ll love the premium features offered by this software.
That doesn’t mean it’s just free for 30 days, but you will not be able to use a couple of premium features available in the paid plan after that. Be it a virus, ransomware, Trojans, malware etc., it quickly scans to stop, remove and prevent your Mac against every possible vulnerability.
The best thing I liked about Sophos Home Plan (of course paid after 30 days) is it comes with parental control. This allows you to block certain websites that you don’t want your kids to open. You can try this free plan from Sophos on three devices simultaneously ensuring that all your systems are safe!
#3. Avira Antivirus
When a software protects your Mac in real-time in the background, you couldn’t ask for more! It is always running in the background to detect instant virus, malware, Trojans etc. trying to creep into your Mac and it blocks it right away!
The free plan from Avira also comes with a browser safety feature in the form of extension or add-on for different browsers. With this, it blocks the unsafe websites and those blogs/websites that use different tracking codes to extract your browser or system information without your permission.
Take note that it only supports the Mac systems that are running on macOS versions released after 2017. So if you didn’t update your Mac, consider it to update with the latest macOS version right away to take full advantage of Avira free antivirus plan.
#4. AVG
AVG is known for the transparency it brings to the table! It’s very sharp in terms of protecting your Mac with the automatic updates that it gets in its database. AVG runs in the background right when your Mac starts and if it doesn’t, make sure you enable it to launch automatically on Mac startup.
As it runs in the background, you can perform your tasks on your Mac without any worries as it automatically blocks the malicious activities in the apps or websites you are visiting.
Take note that the full system scan is on the slower side as compared to Avast. So if you’re looking for a solution that can do a full system scan, this might not be an ideal choice for you. Other than that, it’s worth as it comes for free!
#5. Bitdefender
If quick malware detection is your sole purpose, one cannot get a better antivirus program than Bitdefender. The blazing fast speed at which it detects all types of viruses, Trojans, malware etc. is simply amazing!
With multiple scan options, you are your own boss to decide which mode you want to use to scan your Mac. It’s easy to navigate through the various options and it doesn’t affect your system speed in any way!
The only set back of this free Bitdefender version is it doesn’t provide protection to your browsers or email apps on your Mac. One more thing, it will always ask you to upgrade to a paid plan every now and then. Rest, everything is fine if you’re looking for a free Mac antivirus software.
So these were some of the finest antivirus programs available for free for your Mac. Now, let’s have a look at some of the paid ones that stand up to your expectations.
Best Paid Antivirus Software for Mac
You simply cannot entrust your precious Mac to a free antivirus program irrespective of the best security features. Better be safe than sorry by getting a paid plan of any of these Mac antivirus software packages reviewed below.
#1. Norton 360 Deluxe
Norton is one of the most trusted companies when it comes to Mac Antivirus software. It’s been used by thousands if not millions of users around the world currently.
The best part about this software is it lets you scan the system when you are not active on your Mac. Other than this, there are many other scanning options that you can use. With excellent malware detection, it can protect up to five of your systems simultaneously with this 360 Deluxe plan which costs $59.99/year (as of writing this).
Norton comes with unlimited usage of VPN and a password manager for Mac as well along with the antivirus software. Now that’s just like icing on the cake as you don’t need to buy a separate VPN for Mac now. It’s a bit expensive for sure but given the 24/7 technical support via phone and chat, it makes it worth every penny you spend!
#2. McAfee Total Protection
Safeguard all your data, passwords, IDs used to log in various websites, browsers and a lot more with McAfee Total Protection plan on your Mac. While all the antivirus programs usually slow down your Mac, McAfee has a variety of tools that can actually improve your system performance.
With encrypted storage features and home network security, it’s a perfect antivirus software for those who are looking to get it for their regular use at home, be it individual or a complete family (up to 10 devices).
Not just your Mac, but you can also safeguard your iOS devices, Android or Windows systems if you have any when you choose multiple devices plan.
![Free Antivirus Software For Apple Mac Free Antivirus Software For Apple Mac](/uploads/1/1/8/0/118005772/384267149.jpg)
#3. Malwarebytes Premium for Mac
Malwarebytes might not be considered the best of all but it certainly is an option to try if you have minimal needs for your Mac in terms of protection. Of course, you can try the free trial offered by Malwarebytes but I am sure you will love it.
There are a lot of users who think Norton or McAfee is far better than this antivirus software and it is true up to some extent as I have personally used a few of these software on my Mac. Of course, it’s easy to use navigation and super fast scans can get your eyeballs rolling for this software.
Besides this, there is hardly any impact on your Mac when Malwarebytes is scanning your system in the background while you work on your regular tasks on Mac. Overall, this would be my third option if I had to choose anything after Norton and McAfee.
#4. Kaspersky Internet Security
Online shopping has rapidly seen upward curve because of internet speeds and a plethora of websites offering various discounts. With that comes the threat of leaking details of your card, bank accounts, personal information etc. And this is where you need Kaspersky’s Internet Security for Mac.
The online attacks are blocked by Kaspersky when you visit certain websites and it’s much more than just an antivirus as it safeguards everything on your Mac. Be it a virus, malware, Trojan, ransomware or any other scripts that try to creep into your Mac, Kaspersky’s Internet Security plan for Mac blocks them right away!
With perfect malware detection, amazing parental controls and handful of privacy tools, it stands on top for many users who are looking for the best Antivirus for Mac. The only set back is that it impacts your system heavily when you scan your Mac. You can avoid your work when the system is being scanned. That’s the only way out! Rest, everything is perfect!
#5. Bitdefender Total Security
As compared to all the paid antivirus programs available for Mac, Bitdefender is cheaper. If you ever wanted the fastest antivirus software, this one should be your first choice as it’s one of the cheapest options too. Within a matter of seconds, it can scan thousands of files on your Mac. That’s really SUPER FAST, indeed!
Besides the audio, video, and software, it can also scan files like PDF, ZIP etc. which isn’t possible in most of the antivirus programs. The always-on scanner option lets you run the Bitdefender in the back-end ensuring that your Mac is safe 24/7 when you turn it on!
The best part is it comes with an adware blocker which is hardly offered by any of the antivirus companies. When you select five devices plan, you can use it on your devices running different operating systems like macOS, iOS, Android, Windows and others.
These are some of the finest Mac antivirus software that are available in the free trial and paid versions as well.
Free Antivirus Software For Apple Macbook Air
Summing Up…
If I were you, I would have definitely selected the free plan first, test out which works perfectly as per my Mac data and files and then move ahead with the paid plans respectively. So which one of these antivirus programs for Mac are you going to get for your system? Do let us know in the comment section right away!
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Jignesh Padhiyar is the co-founder of iGeeksBlog.com who has a keen eye for news, rumors and all the unusual stuff that happens around Apple products. During his tight schedule, Jignesh finds some moments of respite to share side-splitting contents on social media.
- https://www.igeeksblog.com/author/iosblogger/
- https://www.igeeksblog.com/author/iosblogger/How to Share Purchased Apps Between iPhones and iPads
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1. This comment applies to malicious software ('malware') that's installed unwittingly by the victim of a network attack. It does not apply to software, such as keystroke loggers, that may be installed deliberately by an intruder who has hands-on access to the victim's computer. That threat is in a different category, and there's no easy way to defend against it. If you have reason to suspect that you're the target of such an attack, you need expert help.
OS X now implements three layers of built-in protection specifically against malware, not counting runtime protections such as execute disable, sandboxing, system library randomization, and address space layout randomization that may also guard against other kinds of exploits.
2. All versions of OS X since 10.6.7 have been able to detect known Mac malware in downloaded files, and to block insecure web plugins. This feature is transparent to the user, but internally Apple calls it 'XProtect.' The malware recognition database is automatically checked for updates once a day; however, you shouldn't rely on it, because the attackers are always at least a day ahead of the defenders.
The following caveats apply to XProtect:
- It can be bypassed by some third-party networking software, such as BitTorrent clients and Java applets.
- It only applies to software downloaded from the network. Software installed from a CD or other media is not checked.
Gatekeeper doesn't depend on a database of known malware. It has, however, the same limitations as XProtect, and in addition the following:
- It can easily be disabled or overridden by the user.
- A malware attacker could get control of a code-signing certificate under false pretenses, or could simply ignore the consequences of distributing codesigned malware.
- An App Store developer could find a way to bypass Apple's oversight, or the oversight could fail due to human error.
For the reasons given above, App Store products, and other applications recognized by Gatekeeper as signed, are safer than others, but they can't be considered absolutely safe. 'Sandboxed' applications may prompt for access to private data, such as your contacts, or for access to the network. Think before granting that access. OS X security is based on user input. Never click through any request for authorization without thinking.
4. Starting with OS X 10.8.3, a third layer of protection has been added: a 'Malware Removal Tool' (MRT). MRT runs automatically in the background when you update the OS. It checks for, and removes, malware that may have evaded the other protections via a Java exploit (see below.) MRT also runs when you install or update the Apple-supplied Java runtime (but not the Oracle runtime.) Like XProtect, MRT is presumably effective against known attacks, but maybe not against unknown attacks. It notifies you if it finds malware, but otherwise there's no user interface to MRT.
5. XProtect, Gatekeeper, and MRT reduce the risk of malware attack, but they're not absolute protection. The first and best line of defense is always your own intelligence. With the possible exception of Java exploits, all known malware circulating on the Internet that affects a fully-updated installation of OS X 10.6 or later takes the form of so-called 'trojan horses,' which can only have an effect if the victim is duped into running them. The threat therefore amounts to a battle of wits between you and the malware attacker. If you're smarter than he thinks you are, you'll win.
That means, in practice, that you never use software that comes from an untrustworthy source, or that does something inherently untrustworthy. How do you know what is trustworthy?
- Any website that prompts you to install a “codec,” “plug-in,” 'player,' 'extractor,' or “certificate” that comes from that same site, or an unknown one, is untrustworthy.
- A web operator who tells you that you have a “virus,” or that anything else is wrong with your computer, or that you have won a prize in a contest you never entered, is trying to commit a crime with you as the victim. (Some reputable websites did legitimately warn visitors who were infected with the 'DNSChanger' malware. That exception to this rule no longer applies.)
- Pirated copies or 'cracks' of commercial software, no matter where they come from, are unsafe.
- Software of any kind downloaded from a BitTorrent or from a Usenet binary newsgroup is unsafe.
- Software that purports to help you do something that's illegal or that infringes copyright, such as saving streamed audio or video for reuse without permission, is unsafe. All YouTube 'downloaders' are in this category, though not all are necessarily harmful.
- Software with a corporate brand, such as Adobe Flash Player, must be downloaded directly from the developer’s website. If it comes from any other source, it's unsafe.
- Even signed applications, no matter what the source, should not be trusted if they do something unexpected, such as asking for permission to access your contacts, your location, or the Internet for no obvious reason.
Fortunately, client-side Java on the Web is obsolete and mostly extinct. Only a few outmoded sites still use it. Try to hasten the process of extinction by avoiding those sites, if you have a choice. Forget about playing games or other non-essential uses of Java.
Java is not included in OS X 10.7 and later. Discrete Java installers are distributed by Apple and by Oracle (the developer of Java.) Don't use either one unless you need it. Most people don't. If Java is installed, disable it — not JavaScript — in your browsers.
Regardless of version, experience has shown that Java on the Web can't be trusted. If you must use a Java applet for a task on a specific site, enable Java only for that site in Safari. Never enable Java for a public website that carries third-party advertising. Use it only on well-known, login-protected, secure websites without ads. In Safari 6 or later, you'll see a lock icon in the address bar with the abbreviation 'https' when visiting a secure site.
Follow the above guidelines, and you’ll be as safe from malware as you can practically be. The rest of this comment concerns what you should not do to protect yourself from malware.
7. Never install any commercial 'anti-virus' or 'Internet security' products for the Mac, as they all do more harm than good, if they do any good at all. Any database of known threats is always going to be out of date. Most of the danger is from unknown threats. If you need to be able to detect Windows malware in your files, use the free software ClamXav— nothing else.
Why shouldn't you use commercial 'anti-virus' products? - Their design is predicated on the nonexistent threat that malware may be injected at any time, anywhere in the file system. Malware is downloaded from the network; it doesn't materialize from nowhere.
- In order to meet that nonexistent threat, the software modifies or duplicates low-level functions of the operating system, which is a waste of resources and a common cause of instability, bugs, and poor performance.
- By modifying the operating system, the software itself may create weaknesses that could be exploited by malware attackers.
8. ClamXav doesn't have these drawbacks. That doesn't mean it's entirely safe. It may report email messages that have 'phishing' links in the body, or Windows malware in attachments, as infected files, and offer to delete or move them. Doing so will corrupt the Mail database. The messages should be deleted from within the Mail application.
ClamXav is not needed, and should not be relied upon, for protection against OS X malware. It's useful only for detecting Windows malware. Windows malware can't harm you directly (unless, of course, you use Windows.) Just don't pass it on to anyone else.
A Windows malware attachment in email is usually easy to recognize. The file name will often be targeted at people who aren't very bright; for example:
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥!!!!!!!H0TBABEZ4U!!!!!!!.AVI♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥.exe
Free Antivirus Software For Apple Macbook
ClamXav may be able to tell you which particular virus or trojan it is, but do you care? In practice, there's seldom a reason to use ClamXav unless a network administrator requires you to run an anti-virus application.
Avast Free Mac Security Antivirus Software For Apple Os X
9. The greatest harm done by security software, in my opinion, is in its effect on human behavior. It does little or nothing to protect people from emerging 'zero-day' threats, but if they get a false sense of security from it, they may feel free to do things that expose them to higher risk. Nothing can lessen the need for safe computing practices.
10. It seems to be a common belief that the built-in Application Firewall acts as a barrier to infection, or prevents malware from functioning. It does neither. It blocks inbound connections to certain network services you're running, such as file sharing. It's disabled by default and you should leave it that way if you're behind a router on a private home or office network. Activate it only when you're on an untrusted network, for instance a public Wi-Fi hotspot, where you don't want to provide services. Disable any services you don't use in the Sharing preference pane. All are disabled by default.