By now, you should know that Macs need antivirus software, but which one should you choose? There are lots of Mac-specific security apps, and it can be difficult to tell them apart, so we’ve done the research for you. These nine security suites will help you stay free of viruses, trojans, and all other sorts of malwareWhat Is The Difference Between A Worm, A Trojan & A Virus? [MakeUseOf Explains]What Is The Difference Between A Worm, A Trojan & A Virus? [MakeUseOf Explains]Some people call any type of malicious software a 'computer virus,' but that isn't accurate. Viruses, worms, and trojans are different types of malicious software with different behaviors. In particular, they spread themselves in very...Read More.
Of course, to make sure you’re really secure, you should also disable JavaDisable Java on Mac OS X for a Secure SystemDisable Java on Mac OS X for a Secure SystemMacs are generally secure, but Java has been causing security problems for years. It's finally time to get rid of Java on your Mac; here's how.Read More, know which sites are likely to infect youWhich Websites Are Most Likely to Infect You with Malware?Which Websites Are Most Likely to Infect You with Malware?You might think that porn sites, the Dark web or other unsavory websites are the most likely places for your computer to be infected with malware. But you would be wrong.Read More with malware, beware of malicious browser extensions4 Malicious Browser Extensions That Help Hackers Target Their Victims4 Malicious Browser Extensions That Help Hackers Target Their VictimsYou'd be wrong to think all browser extensions are designed to help you. Whether extensions exploit vulnerabilities or send data to hackers, it's time to be vigilant about how you enhance your browser.Read More, and take the other standard precautions.
If your Mac is too fast for every day use, clearly get the snake oil from Sophos! /s Malwarebytes is basically fine, but does only do checks when you start it. 'Antivirus'-Software gets deep into the system to try and find any malware while you do every day work. Best Mac Antivirus Software. (Sophos with parental controls, Avast's password manager) that AVG does not. Best for Families. Worth considering.
1. BitDefender
Consistently rated as one of the top antivirus options for Mac, BitDefender has a solid reputation for both malware detection and system performance. In 2015, it detected 100% of threats tested by AV-Test, and 99% of those tested by AV Comparatives (though AV Comparatives notes that the definitions were quickly updated). It even detected 100% of Windows-based threats.
In AV-Test’s system performance test, BitDefender was only 12% slower than a Mac with no antivirus software in copying over 26GB of data, calculating MD5 check sumsWhat All This MD5 Hash Stuff Actually Means [Technology Explained]What All This MD5 Hash Stuff Actually Means [Technology Explained]Here's a full run-down of MD5, hashing and a small overview of computers and cryptography.Read More, and downloading test files, making it one of the fastest options out there. The exemplary malware detection combined, low system load, and adware removal earn BitDefender the #1 spot on the list. Of course, you can’t get this level of performance for free: BitDefender will cost $40 per year for a single Mac, and $60 annually for up to three Macs.
2. Symantec Norton Security
Although Symantec’s home security solution for Mac was only assessed by one of the testing organizations (AV-Test), its results were so impressive that it gets the #2 spot on this list. It detected 100% of the presented threats, and Norton is so confident in their product that if you get a virus that Norton techs can’t remove, they’ll give you a full refund.
Norton’s impact on system speed was exactly the same as BitDefender in AV-Test’s comparison, tying it for the #1 spot in effective antivirus packages (there were two pieces of software that were faster, but they detected fewer threats in the test). As with BitDefender, this performance will cost you: you’ll pay $40 for the first year, and $60 after that for a single computer.
3. Kaspersky
With 100% detection rates across the board, including Windows-based threats, Kaspersky will definitely keep your computer safe. The software also includes Kaspersky’s “Safe Money” features, which are meant to help improve your security while you’re shopping onlineHow to Safely Buy Online with Privacy & SecurityHow to Safely Buy Online with Privacy & SecurityCompeting with established online stores are smaller, lesser known businesses trying to compete. But can you trust them with your Visa details? And how can you better protect yourself when shopping online?Read More or using online banking features. In addition to all of these protections, it also has parental controls for keeping kids out of the darker parts of the web where they shouldn’t be, something neither BitDefender nor Symantec offers.
This software does have more of an impact on your system performance, though. It was 53% slower than reference on the AV-Test comparison, which is a very large margin. Tom’s Guide also performed a speed test, and while the slowdown wasn’t quite as drastic, it did have an effect. Its quick scan put more of a burden on the system than Avira’s, but its full scan was less resource-intensive, which is why it gets the third spot in the list. The price isn’t bad, either: $30 for a year on a single computer, then $40 per year thereafter.
4. Avast
100% detection rates on both AV-Test and AV Comparatives’ tests as well as a relatively low system-resource footprint earns Avast the highest rating of the free antivirus options for Mac. Its great ability to detect malware on your Mac is in part due to the fact that 230 million users worldwide provide data on threats, helping Avast react and update to new threats very quickly.
While the system performance report on AV-Test is difficult to interpret, as Avast was scanning during the download phase while other software was not, the other system performance results are encouraging. Tom’s Guide showed slower performance during background operation than Avira, but faster operation during a full scan. If you’re particularly concerned about speed, and are looking for a free solution, it’s probably best to install Avira and Avast in turn, and run a speed test for both.
5. Avira
Another popular free antivirus app for Mac, Avira caught 99% of Mac threats and 100% of Windows threats in the AV Comparatives test, as well as 100% of tested threats in the AV-Test comparison. If the counter on Avira’s website is to be believed, there are over over 450,000,000 installs of Avira around the world, regularly providing insights into new threats.
Speed tests for Avira generally place it in the same ballpark as Avast, though it still shows a 42% slowdown in the copying/checking/downloading test from AV-Test. Its background-run speed test from Tom’s Guide was tied for the least system-resource-intensive with Kaspersky, and its quick scan had the best time of all the software tested. Its full scan, however, was quite resource-intensive; it had the largest effect of any software tested. Again, if you’re trying to decide between Avast and Avira, you may want to test for yourself.
6. Sophos
Although there’s disagreement about where Sophos should be placed in the lineup of the best Mac antivirus software, there’s little disagreement that it works well: both AV-Test and AV Comparatives showed 100% detection ratings (Tom’s Guide discovered lower detection rates, but because the other two groups are industry leaders, their findings have figured more strongly in this ranking).
System resource usage is less clear. Tom’s Guide showed it as fast, but not blazing fast, and AV-Test found a 21% slowdown in their test tasks. Sophos has a bit of a reputation for slowing down Macs, but it’s quite possible that these issues have been resolved. Issues with speed may be more evident on older MacsSpeed Up an Old Mac with These Tricks [Mac OS X]Speed Up an Old Mac with These Tricks [Mac OS X]Given time, the performance of any computer will tend to degrade - even Macs (gasp!). Years of improperly un-installing applications can leave your drive littered with preference files and resources that are no longer needed....Read More, too. As with Avast and Avira, if you’re concerned about speed, you may want to test it out for yourself (personally, I didn’t notice much of a slowdown when I used it).
7. AVG
AVG scored a perfect 100% on both the Mac- and Windows-based threat detection tests from AV Comparatives, though it wasn’t tested by AV-Test. Despite only being tested by one group, AVG’s detection rates are so good—especially for a free antivirus app—that it gets a spot on the list.
Not being tested by AV-Test, we have no system resource usage results to report here—Tom’s Guide didn’t test AVG, either. However, its very nice-looking and easy-to-use interface does stand out as very useful. If you have any experiences with AVG, please let us know in the comments below!
8. ESET
Full 100% marks in threat detection from AV-Test and AV Comparatives show that ESET is a solid option for protecting your Mac from what’s out there, and the pro version also packs a personal firewall and parental controls, which those with youngsters will appreciate. You also get priority access to the ESET support team for any technical issues you may come across, which is nice.
A 25% slower system test in AV-Test’s comparison makes ESET one of the more—but not the most—resource-intensive security apps out there. Combining that with a cost of $40 for a year, or $60 for two years, means that ESET probably isn’t the best choice for most people (the parental controls on the pro version, though, may be enough to tip the scales in its favor).
9. MalwareBytes
The only reason MalwareBytes is so far down the list is because it wasn’t included in any of the tests that we referenced for the rankings in this article, though it does come recommend by our own Justin PotHere's The Only Mac Security Software You NeedHere's The Only Mac Security Software You NeedFor most people, OS X is fairly secure out of the box — and there are a number of programs out there that potentially do more harm than good.Read More (and it’s one of the best Mac apps of 2015The Best Mac Apps of 2015 (And Our Favorite Updates)The Best Mac Apps of 2015 (And Our Favorite Updates)Brilliant calendar apps, feature-rich Twitter apps, a whole new Office experience, and a sassy way to find out the weather, were just some of the best OS X apps released or updated this year.Read More). The company does have a good reputation for being secure and effective, and the app itself is very small, leaving more room for the important things on your Mac.
MalwareBytes specializes in adware removal, so if that’s a concern of yours, this may be a good option. According to the website, it completes a scan in under six seconds, which is impressively fast. If you have any experience with MalwareBytes, let us know!
Free Apps Are Great, But Paid Are Better
Most people will probably choose to go with Avast or Avira to protect their Mac, as their high levels of detection, low levels of system load, and $0 price tags are difficult to beat. If you’re looking for maximum system performance, though, BitDefender or Symantec will be your best options. With new types of threats being developed all the time and the explosion of malvertisingMeet Kyle And Stan, A New Malvertising NightmareMeet Kyle And Stan, A New Malvertising NightmareRead More as an important attack vector, protecting your Mac is crucial. You really can’t go wrong with any of the entries on this list, so pick one and make sure you’re protected!
What do you use to protect your Mac from online threats? Has it been effective? Have you noticed any system slowdowns? Share your experiences below!
Explore more about: Antivirus, Computer Security, Online Security.
I have been using the desktop version of Sophos for Mac Free Edition since it came out I think in 2011. In my non-techie eyes it seems not to be a resource hog, runs in the menu bar. Sophos is primarily a maker of enterprise anti-virus software but gives the free version to its Mac users. Along with Anti-Malware Bytes + CCleaner, I seem to have kept my Mountain Lion OS free of Malware. Also there is a fabulous security site 'grc.com' where you can run 'Shields Up' to see if any of your ports are vulnerable. My, so far, shows that my iMac is at full stealth, apparently, to a hacker, my computer seems not to exist on the internet.
Hard to take this list seriously when it doesn't include Intego.
Great rundown, Dann. However, readers need to be aware of something about Avast: 'To detect malware and threats on HTTPS sites, Avast must remove the SSL certificate and add its self-generated certificate.' If you trust Avast, this is all well and good, but if Avast every gets hacked, their users are in trouble. The only way I found out about this was because Agilebits.com, the maker of 1Password, wouldn't open with Avast web shield enabled. You can read more about it here: https://discussions.agilebits.com/discussion/comment/264053/#Comment_264053. I recommend readers stick with Avira or Sophos, if they're looking for a free app. Malwarebytes is also good, but it just looks for adware.
Derp im a mac user my life is about getting tricked into buying things I dont need, and getting overcharged durp.
i don't understand your troll. Are you saying that Macs are bad, their users, or that Macs don't need antivirus?
Please clarify your stellar contribution to this conversation.
Software
Avast Vs Sophos For Mac
Pros
Certified by one antivirus testing lab. Good detection of Windows malware. Clear, simple user interface. Free.Cons
Very poor score in hands-on phishing protection test. Lacks scheduled scanning, website rating, and other features found in competing free apps.Bottom Line
The free AVG AntiVirus protects against Mac, Windows, and mobile malware, but that's about all, and its antiphishing component tanked in our hands-on testing.
'Ok, ok,' you say, 'you've convinced me. I'll install an antivirus app on my Mac. But I'll be goldarned if I'm gonna pay for it!' That's actually quite a reasonable attitude. Sure, you get more and better protection from the best commercial products, but while Mac-centered malware totally exists, it doesn't come close to the wild and woolly jungle of Windows malware. AVG AntiVirus for Mac is one of several totally free antivirus solutions to protect your Macs. It takes care of basic antivirus protection, but its protection against malicious and fraudulent URLs currently leaves much to be desired.
Since Avast's acquisition of AVG a couple years ago, this product and Avast Security (for Mac) are now, if not siblings, at least cousins. On the PC side, the two free antivirus products are extremely similar under the hood, and my company contacts assure me that the same is true of the Mac products. Note, though, that Avast offers Mac users a lot more than AVG does. In addition to basic antivirus protection, it includes site rating, active Do Not Track functionality, a network security scanner, and even a basic password manager.
AVG's main window is spacious and simple. A large dark grey expanse holds three icons penned in by a darker rectangle: Mac Shield, Web Shield, and Email Shield. Mac Shield refers to real-time protection, scanning new files as they arrive. Web Shield works to divert your browsing away from malicious or fraudulent pages. The third icon, Email Shield, will eventually scan incoming email attachments for malware, but the feature is not yet ready. Don't worry; the moment you attempt to save or launch an attachment, the Mac Shield scans it.
You can use the Scan Mac button at center bottom to launch various types of antivirus scans. Links to view quarantined items and log in to your AVG account round out the window. Choosing File Preferences from the menu lets you tweak a few minor settings. For most users the defaults are fine, with one exception. Like Avast, AVG can scan your Time Machine backups for malware. Out of the box, this feature is disabled; turning it on seems like a good idea.
Free Sophos For Mac Os X
Pricing and OS Support
Like Sophos and McAfee, AVG requires macOS 10.10 (Yosemite) or higher. Avira and Norton want 10.11 (El Capitan) or higher. If you're a prudent user who always accepts operating system upgrades, this shouldn't be a problem. However, if for some reason you're stuck using an old macOS version, consider ClamXAV, ProtectWorks, or ESET Cyber Security (for Mac). These three can handle versions all the way back to 10.6 (Snow Leopard).
As noted, AVG is completely free. Sophos Home Free (for Mac), Avast, and Avira are among the other vendors offering free antivirus for macOS. However, like Avast, AVG is only free for noncommercial use. If you want to use AVG in a business setting, you must pony up for the business edition.
Commercial Mac antivirus pricing centers on just under $40 per year for a single license. Half of the current products fit that model, and most of those give you three licenses for $59.99 per year. With McAfee, that $59.99 subscription price gets you unlimited licenses, not just three. You can install McAfee AntiVirus Plus (for Mac) on all the macOS, Windows, Android, and iOS devices in your household.
Good Malware Protection Scores
When reviewing Windows antivirus utilities, I look at test results from four independent labs, and I also perform my own hand-on testing with live malware. That's not as dangerous as it sounds. I use virtual machines, so if malware wreaks havoc, I just revert to an earlier snapshot. I don't perform that level of testing on macOS, so results from the two labs that test Mac antivirus become very important.
As I mentioned, Avast now owns AVG, so I wasn't surprised to see that the two earned precisely the same scores from AV-Comparatives. Both protected against 99.90 percent of the lab's Mac malware samples, detected 100 percent of the Windows malware samples, and earned this lab's certification.
AV-Test Institute also included Avast in its latest report, but not AVG. Avast detected all the Mac malware and PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications) and most of the Windows malware. We can hope that AVG would have scored the same, but the labs are very clear: results apply only to the precise product tested.
Bitdefender and Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac are the big winners, as far as lab results go. They received certification from both labs, earning 100 percent protection against Mac malware in both cases.
Scan Choices
If you just click the big Scan Mac button, AVG scans the most likely places for malware traces. On the Apple MacBook Air 13-Inch I use for testing, this scan finished in less than four minutes. Clicking the gear icon next to Scan Mac lets you choose a Deep Scan of the entire system, or a File Scan looking just at certain files or folders. Even the Deep Scan only took 15 minutes, just a hair longer than Avast, and well below the current average of 24 minutes.
Avast, Avira Free Antivirus for Mac, ClamXAV, and several others include the option to define a scan schedule. AVG, like Sophos, Malwarebytes, and a few others, eschews the scheduled scan, figuring that real-time protection should handle any new threats. I suggest that you run a Deep Scan immediately after installing AVG, to root out any hidden nasties.
Almost all the Mac antivirus utilities I've reviewed include the ability to detect Windows malware as well. True, malware designed for Windows can't run on a Mac, but eliminating it means there's no chance of it somehow leapfrogging to a Windows system on your network. AVG promises to detect and remove Windows and mobile malware, in addition to malware aimed at macOS.
To test AVG's skills against Windows malware, I copied my current malware collection from a thumb drive to the desktop. AVG immediately started wiping out the samples, leaving just a handful. A File Scan on the folder eliminated a few more, for a total of 86 percent. Interestingly, I tested Avast with my previous malware collection and it weighed in at 85 percent, almost the same. Sophos has the best score this test, with 100 percent of Windows malware eliminated.
Poor Phishing Protection
While viruses, Trojans, and other typical types of malware necessarily target a specific operating system, phishing attacks are totally platform-agnostic. If you log in to a fraudulent site, thereby giving the fraudsters your credentials for the actual site, it doesn't matter if you did it on a PC, a Mac, or a browser-equipped refrigerator. Whatever the platform, you've lost control of that account.
My phishing test starts with hundreds of suspected phishing URLs, scraped from websites that specialize in tracking and reporting on them. To test a Windows-based product, I set up five browsers, one protected by the product under test, one by phishing champ Symantec Norton AntiVirus Basic, and one each by the protection built into Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer. I wrote a simple program to launch each URL simultaneously in all five, and record with one click whether it blocked or missed a fraud, or whether the URL turned out not to be a phishing fraud after all. Alas, my handy program runs strictly on Windows, so my antiphish testing on macOS is a manual cut and paste affair.
In my testing, I've learned that while phishing frauds themselves are platform-independent, defense against phishing is not. Symantec Norton Security Deluxe (for Mac) scored quite a bit lower in this test than the comparable Windows edition.
Many phishing protection systems replace the fraudulent page with a warning message in the browser, explaining that proceeding to the site would be dangerous, but allowing the user to override the warning. AVG's Web Shield works quite differently. It pops up a window reporting that it secured a threat, leaving the browser to display a simple error message.
When I finished the test and ran the numbers for AVG, I was a bit shocked. AVG's detection rate was 39 percent lower than Norton's, and all three browsers beat it handily using their built-in protection. Among Mac antivirus products, only Avira has done worse, running 47 percent below Norton's detection rate. On the plus side, this is significantly better than the score earned by AVG AntiVirus Free.
Then I remembered that I had a similar experience with Avast. Initially it scored 32 percentage points behind Norton, which is in the same ballpark as AVG's 39 points. At that time, my Avast contact explained that Safari gets protection only from the Web Shield component, while browser extensions offer enhanced protection in Chrome and Firefox. When I repeated the test using Chrome, Avast tied with Norton and beat all three browsers. Only Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac has done better, outscoring Norton by 5 percentage points. Bitdefender on Windows did even better, 12 points above Norton.
Alas, browser extensions for AVG's Mac antivirus aren't yet ready, so phishing protection totally relies on the less-effective Web Shield component. I'll revisit this review when the browser extensions come out.
What's Not Here
AVG covers the basics, with protection against Mac, Windows, and mobile malware. It offers a modicum of protection against phishing frauds, though this component isn't very effective. And that's about all. Other free Mac antivirus utilities bring quite a bit more to the party.
With Sophos, you get full remote management of up to three installations, so you can fix Uncle Ernie's antivirus without driving across town. It also includes a simple content filter for parental control.
Avira rates links in search results, so you don't accidentally visit a dangerous page. By default, it runs a scheduled scan every week. It brings along a raft of other security-related components, some free, others free trial.
AVG's cousin Avast also rates the safety of search result links. Its active Do Not Track component prevents advertisers and other trackers from building a profile of your online activity. The network security scan lists all the devices on your network and flags any that have security problems. It even includes a basic password manager.
You Can Do Better
As you can see, AVG Antivirus for Mac suffers by comparison with other free Mac antivirus utilities. Lab tests show that it does its essential job, protecting against malware, but it's not effective at blocking malicious or fraudulent URLs. Its biggest virtue lies in its extremely simple, streamlined user interface.
Those willing to pay for Mac antivirus protection can get significantly better protection. Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac and Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac both cost $59.99 for three licenses, and both earn top ratings from the independent labs. Bitdefender took the top score in our antiphishing test, and its ransomware protection feature prevents unauthorized apps from modifying your important files. Kaspersky goes beyond the basics with an effective parental control system, protection against webcam spyware, a network attack blocker, and more. As in the Windows realm, free antivirus tools for Mac handle the basics, but commercial ones do much more.
AVG AntiVirus for Mac
Bottom Line: The free AVG AntiVirus protects against Mac, Windows, and mobile malware, but that's about all, and its antiphishing component tanked in our hands-on testing.