While all of the paid-for options above are proactive in securing your machine, free solutions might only perform regular or even manual scans, and detect problems that are already on your Mac.
You might find that free antivirus software doesn’t quite have the full feature set of a paid-for solution. However, having a free antivirus software package for your Mac is better than nothing at all, even considering MacOS machines’ reputation for security. Plus, if you are really concerned about people accessing your webcam, you can always put some tape over it.ĭo I Need Free or Paid-For Antivirus for Mac?įree antivirus software will never be as effective as a paid-for solution – it’s as simple as that. Macs and iOS devices can access iCloud to store documents and passwords, for example, and VPNs can be had for cheaper with other providers. While all these features make Norton 360 Plus seem like incredible value for money, in reality, most people probably already have access to the extra features through different providers. You also get a 10GB cloud backup to protect against hard drive failures, stolen devices, or even ransomware attacks – after all, none of your documents can be locked by hackers if they’re all stored in the cloud.įinally, Norton also has a feature called “SafeCam”, which will notify you if cybercriminals are trying to use your webcam and block them. It also rolls in a password manager, which creates and stores strong passwords for all your accounts – plus it can also store your credit card information and other credentials. Norton promises to monitor the dark web to check if any of your personal information has ended up there from a data breach. Like Bitdefender, Norton also gives you a secure VPN.īut there’s more. Plus, Norton 360 Plus will also protect your private and financial information when you’re online. Like all the other providers on this list, you get real-time threat protection from malware and ransomware. However, you do get a good range of features for that high price.
Its Mac solution, Norton 360 Plus, costs $39.99 per year but only offers protection for one device. Norton Life Lock, or simply Norton as it was once known, has been in the antivirus game for years. If your business needs an antivirus solution, it's definitely worth taking a look at our Best Antivirus for Business guide, as well.
Here are the providers that we believe to be the best antivirus software for Mac users: Fortunately, good antivirus programs offer protection from all of these threats. Especially during a pandemic when your personal devices also act as your connect to your business, keeping your laptop, smartphone, and other devices safe is more important than ever. Nowadays, users should be concerned about ransomware, phishing attacks, and fraud protection. Of course, there are a host of other threats on the internet beyond viruses. Above all, you shouldn’t simply eschew protection because you have gone for MacOS over Windows.
Well, we’re here to tell you that while Macs may not get viruses as often as Windows machines, they can still get infected. Malware authors have frequently found and exploited weaknesses, such as using obscure file formats or large file sizes that the sandbox can’t process, leaving Mac users at risk of infection.You might have heard that Macs don’t get viruses. While sandboxing adds another layer of security for Macs, not even the App Store nor sandboxed apps are 100% safe, as highlighted by the attack on the Chinese version of the App Store by the XCodeGhost Virus.
XProtect defends Macs against various types of malware, by scanning downloaded files for signs of infection, but it needs to be regularly updated to recognize new or emerging threats - and it won’t help you if you unwittingly land on an infected or unsafe website.Ī digital certificate is always seen as proof of a file’s security and a surefire sign that the file contains no malicious code, but cybercriminals can still plant malicious code at the file completion stage, exploit security gaps to sign their malicious files with valid digital certificates, and more.
The macOS, or Mac OS X system, has existed for 40 years in various forms - it’s robust, and because of its regular updates, malware developers find it hard to keep up with the changes and write viruses that will successfully infect the Mac operating system.Īpple's basic malware detection is built directly into its Mac OS X operating system.