These tips from CR's testers will help you find great malware protection—including some that's free
Avast Free Antivirus for Mac is a free antivirus program with a virus scanner, firewall, and various features that you can turn off or on. The program is free, but will request payment for some features, which means that you can’t expect everything in the features section to be free. 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%. Mar 15, 2018 Avast, Avira Free Antivirus for Mac, ClamXAV, and several others include the option to define a scan schedule. AVG, like Sophos, Malwarebytes, and a.
In an era when malware is a looming threat to personal computers—not to mention smartphones, routers, and even TVs—the benefits of antivirus software are obvious. But given the wide range of options, it’s tough to choose the one that provides the best protection. Despite constant threats, many people choose to go without any at all.
Avast Free Mac Test
That’s why we put 30 antivirus programs, including a dozen free offerings, to the test, exposing computers running Windows 10 and macOS to a host of malware samples and malicious websites.
To evaluate the programs’ scam-fighting capabilities, we tossed in 200 phishing web pages, too. These are sites that try to trick consumers into providing sensitive information, such as passwords. And then we looked at how easy each AV program was to use and whether its operation had a negative effect on the computer’s overall performance.
For a full breakdown of the test results, Consumer Reports members can consult our updated ratings. And here are some recommendations and tips based on what we learned.
Finding the Right AV Package
You don’t have to pay for solid AV protection.Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition got high marks from our testers for its ability to stop threats. Avast Free Antivirus 2019 and AVG Free Antivirus 2019 also performed well. The Windows 10 Defender software that comes installed on new Windows computers is not quite as strong as those first three, but it still offers considerable protection.
Paid programs have extra benefits. Shelling out money—generally $60 to $80—does get you a few perks, says Richard Fisco, who heads electronics testing for CR. Case in point: In addition to its top-rated malware-fighting abilities, Bitdefender’s paid version offers a firewall, a spam filter, parental filters, and a password manager. Other paid products provide anti-ransomware features, and email and/or banking protection.
Another benefit? With a paid program, you don’t get peppered with pop-ups asking you to upgrade from the free version, Fisco says. “They can be almost as annoying as adware that pops up on social media and other websites and constantly bugs you to buy something,” he adds.
But opening your wallet does not guarantee you a better product.Malwarebytes Premium, $65, scored lower than Windows Defender without offering any meaningful extras. McAfee AntiVirus Plus, $60, and Panda Dome Advanced, $95, also score lower overall—but they do come with some notable extras, including firewalls.
Yes, Macs need AV, too. Less malware is aimed at Macs than at PCs, but that’s changing, Fisco says. The amount of malware written for Macs continues to rise. And while Windows PCs have Defender built in, Macs don’t come with anything comparable. As a result, Apple fans can’t afford to ignore cyberthreats any longer.
“And if you don’t protect yourself and you get an infected file,” Fisco says, “you can pass that malware on to a friend with a Windows PC.”
Consumer Reports now rates antivirus products for Mac computers. If you’re looking for a free option, we recommend AVG Antivirus for Mac or Avast Free Mac Security. The top paid options include Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac, $60, and G Data Antivirus Mac, $55.
Download the software from trusted sites. If you click on a pop-up ad promising free AV protection, you could easily end up with malware on your computer. These ads are a common scam employed by cybercriminals. To be safe, go straight to the source and manually type in the web address for the company that offers the product you want to use.
Avast Free Antivirus 2018 For Mac
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