Mac OS X is considered one of the most secure operating systems. However, today’s user must protect himself not only against viruses but also against identity and money theft. Therefore, it is a good idea to take prevention. Here below is a description of Top 5 best free and most popular Mac antiviruses.
1. Avast Security for Mac
Avast software is the most popular and, for many, the best antivirus for Mac. Developed by Czech company Avast Software, it has been available in 43 languages since 1988. It is currently being used by more than 400 million people worldwide, and third-party tests done in 2016 have shown a malware detection rate of 99.5%.
Features
Though Sophos does offer a good free version of its software, Avast Free Mac Security edges it out as the best free antivirus software for macOS. In security lab tests, Avast detected 99.9 percent.
This antivirus is based on a central virus-scanning daemon and requires 128MB of RAM, and 750MB of disk space. It offers three protection shields and on-demand scanning.
In addition, WebRep clients are installed to Safari, Chrome and Firefox browsers in an automatic manner. However, this free antivirus for Mac provides the user with the option not to install them.
Disadvantages
On the negative side, Avast antivirus is quite difficult to uninstall, requiring a special uninstaller program that must be downloaded from the company’s website.
Conclusion
In brief, Avast free antivirus for Mac is a safe option for many users, as its vast adoption and publicized tests give the user a guarantee in performance and confidence.
3 Easy Steps to Install Avast Antivirus for Free
1. Download from the official website and save the installation file. 2. Run the installation by clicking on a downloaded file. 3. Follow the installation instructions. 2. Kaspersky Internet Security
Kaspersky antivirus for Mac is a security suite developed by Kaspersky Lab, a company made famous by its research.
Features
This software protects the user from malware, email spam, phishing, hacking attempts, data leaks and more. It also has features for secure online shopping and banking, and for privacy and child protection.
Its strong parental control has been praised. It includes protection against sexual predators, inappropriate content, games, social network sites, the disclosure of personal information, and unwanted online buys.
In addition, its webcam protection prevents criminals from gaining access to the computer’s webcam, and thus, invading the user’s privacy. This feature is enhanced through the private browsing option, which prevents websites from tracking the user’s personal information and online behavior.
Kaspersky’s Mac antivirus software also offers an attack blocker, which has the capacity to detect suspicious actions and stop them.
The app is offered with a free 30-day trial, and free automatic updates.
Conclusion
Overall, the Kaspersky Internet Security suite presents a sound option for the user, when considering the high quality of the product and the research behind it. 3. Norton Antivirus
Available since 1985, and now a product by Symantec, this classic app is a good antivirus for Mac. The software runs in the background, has daily updates and the advantage of being designed to work without slowing down the computer.
For Mac users, the app protects the computer, iPhoto pictures, and iTunes media files from viruses and spyware amongst others. Best svn gui for mac. It also features vulnerability protection, which prevents criminals from using weaknesses in software programs.
In addition, this Mac antivirus software monitors email and Instant Message, protecting the user against identity and money theft. On the downside, this antivirus for Mac only has free support in the English language.
Summarizing, the Norton software has the advantage of a well-known name and the backing of a good antivirus developer such as Symantec. Its daily updates and smooth background running, make it a practical choice for the sensible Mac user.
4. Avira Free Security for Mac
Avira for Mac antivirus was developed by Avira Operations GmbH & Co. KG, a German company that specializes in computer security. The app runs on OS X 10.9 and above, and it is used by more than 100 million people. There is also a version for iOS available.
What makes this Mac antivirus software different is its use of generic signatures that increases performance and scanning speed. Adding to it, the software works by using a set of heuristics that can prevent damage by unknown malware. However, they can also produce false alarms.
Avira also contains the ProActiv component, which detects potential threats via a set of rules, and sends the information to the company. The app has had several awards and some excellent reviews.
Summarizing, Avira presents a good alternative due to its use of generic signatures and heuristics, which can result in fast and efficient protection against criminals.
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With the proliferation of virus threats even the once unassailable Mac environment can be vulnerable to virus attacks, and as such it is vital to have some protection installed on your mac when going online. With a wide variety of software out there, finding the right one can be a little confusing, here are some of what we think are the best Mac Antivirus Software available.
Part 1. The 5 Best Antivirus Programs for Mac#1. Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac
Offering a suite of protection for your mac when connected to the internet, Kaspersky brings a wealth of features to a small footprint package that uses few resources. With real time protection for your entire computer, web protection to protect from email and text attachments, parental controls to allow the blocking of certain sites as well as controlling social network use if required. This comprehensive package is kept automatically up to date and offers complete protection for your Mac.
#2. F-Secure Anti-Virus for Mac
F-Secure includes full time malware protection for your Mac, protecting against viruses and spyware, email attachments and downloads and so on, providing complete peace of mind whilst online. It is incredibly easy to use with a simple interface and does not slow down your computer at all when in operation. Using virus signatures and real time scanning in combination, no matter what you are doing with your mac you can be sure that you will have adequate protection from malicious attacks.
#3. Intego Mac Internet Security Suite
Another comprehensive package, that includes automatic and comprehensive malware protection, as well as location aware network protection and automatic scans to ensure that your computer, is never vulnerable. Rather than a port from other platforms, Intego have created an antivirus package specifically for the mac from the ground up, providing a wonderfully familiar interface that fits the platform perfectly, and includes a feature that scans your iOS devices every time they are connected to your Mac to ensure your system remains free of infection. It does use more of your systems resources than others here however, which should be taken note of.
#4. Bitdefender Antivirus for MacBest Antivirus Software For Mac Os In 2018
Another package designed from the ground up for Mac, Bitdefender is notable for the low resource overhead it brings. This is especially useful for those with older equipment when computer resources are at a premium, this is the software package that offers the lowest footprint of all those included here. Integrating easily into OS X has a beautiful and easy to use interface, whilst setup is fast and walks beginners through the very simple process. With the usual full time background scanning and automatic updates to ensure the latest threats are always recognized, this comprehensive package is a good option for Mac users.
#5. McAfee Internet Security for MacFree Antivirus For Mac Downloads
This is a full feature package that includes the usual antivirus, phishing and scanning features to keep your system safe, but also includes a software firewall to control traffic both in and out of your system. You can define trusted networks, establish rules for how your software connects to the internet and even block certain types of data from entering the system completely.
Fully integrated into the operating system, this package can protect not just from email attachments but also iChat, external drives and even iOS devices that you connect to the PC. The online protection available is equal to the others here, but the Firewall is a little lacking compared to dedicated solutions, and this package tends to use the most system resources of those looked at here.
Best Antivirus For MacsPart 2. Comparison of the above Mac OSX Antivirus Software
Best Mac Os AntivirusVerdict:
There are pros and cons for each solution, but Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac offers the best balance between features and resource use, whilst remaining at the top of the threat detection performances as well.
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