- How I Rated the Best Antivirus for Mac in 2020. A Mac antivirus is different from a PC antivirus. Traditional “viruses” are not as much of a problem for Mac as they are for Windows, and therefore, a Mac antivirus needs to provide value by fighting other kinds of malware which are unique to Macs.
- Best Antivirus for Mac – Norton 'Windows or Mac?' Is a favorite debate among gadget lovers. It's also common for many enthusiasts to say that Mac is their computer of choice because they don't.
The myth that Mac computers are immune to viruses and malware is simply not true. Mac computers can get viruses and need file-based antivirus protection. Additionally, they need the other layers of protection offered in a device security software suite such as Firewall, Intrusion Prevention.
Don’t ignore these 7 key signs that your mac might have a virus. Don’t go without the best antivirus for mac computers and devices.
More than 970 million forms of malware are circulating on the web right now.
Cybercriminals use ransomware, spyware, and other types of malware to steal from unsuspecting Mac users. Once they access your Mac device, they can steal your vital data or impersonate you, and that’s why you should have a reliable antivirus.
This guide discusses seven telltale signs for Mac virus and the tips for choosing the best antivirus for Mac. If you suspect that your device is infected with malware, read through to confirm your doubts and take the necessary action.
1. Unexpected Popups
Have you noticed an increase in the number of popups that show on your Mac device? If yes, then the chances are that your device has a malware infection.
The unexpected popups can be annoying because of the interruptions they make. Never click on them even if they ask you to remove a virus. When you click, they will not remove the virus, but instead, they will download malware and increase your device’s vulnerability.
So ignore the popups and look for ideal software to keep your data safe.
2. Slow Performance
Usually, an Apple device should open quickly. It should open programs within the shortest period too. Reduced performance may be a red sign that the Mac has a virus.
However, the reduced performance may be caused by a lack of enough space, uncleared cache, and other reasons. If you have enough RAM and your internet is fast, find a reliable antivirus for Mac and install it.
3. Missing Files
Malware may delete or change the location of your files. If your files often go missing without your knowledge, take it as a warning sign that your Mac device has a malware. To confirm this, install new antivirus software or run an automatic scan with the old software.
Don’t hesitate to change the old antivirus software if it seems unreliable.
4. Increased Data Usage and Battery Usage
A sudden spike in your average data usage could signify a malware infection. Once the device gets infected, it starts to run background programs that deplete your data. Similarly, the malware mischief drains your battery due to the background data transfer.
Note that the increased data and battery usage may not always signify a virus infection. But when it happens, you can run an antivirus scan to stay safe.
5. Unexplained Web Browser Extensions
Some web extensions are legit and you may have visited the sites unknowingly. Others are helpful too and they communicate important information.
However, some extensions collect your data regarding all the websites you visit. The cybercrimes then sell that data to third party advertisers.
If you notice a weird web extension browser on your website, then there is a good chance that your device is infected with malware. Delete those extensions and install an antivirus for Mac.
6. Spam Messages
Irregular action on your social media platforms is an apparent sign that the device is infected with malware. Unless someone else has your account login details, you should not ignore your friends’ comments that you sent those messages.
If you experience many spam messages, log out from the accounts, change the passwords, and enable the two-factor authentication.
7. Random Fan Expelling
Fans cool down your device after having heavy computer operation. They also allow the free flow of cold air into the machine.
However, a random fan’s movement could be a red sign that the device is infected. If you have not played a game, downloaded a big video, or used it for long, your Apple device should be silent.
Take noisy fans as a warning sign that your device is malware-infected and observe the necessary measures.
Read also:4 Mac Security Tips You Need to Know
Choosing the Best Antivirus for Mac
If you use the internet frequently, then your Mac device is at risk of getting viruses. And when that happens, the performance of your machine might become slow, and you may risk losing your data too.
An excellent antivirus on my Mac can improve the performance of your device and protect your information. Here are useful tips which you should apply to choose the best antivirus for Mac:
- User Friendliness
The best antivirus software for Mac should be easy to use. If it requires new skills every day, you will waste a lot of time on it, and you will have zero motivation to scan your Mac. Before you buy, ask the vendor to give you the basics of using the software. Don’t install complicated software. - Price vs. Need
Consider the cost of installing the antivirus and compare it to your needs. Some programs are free, while others need a subscription. For the subscribed option, you may choose the one-time payment, monthly or yearly payment.If you use a Mac for business, you will need the subscription device which guarantees maximum protection. The free antivirus is useful as well, but it may not offer 100% protection. Understand your needs and choose the right Mac antivirus package for you.
- Scanning Ability
How flexible with the software scan your programs?You should scan your computer frequently even when the device does not show the signs of malware infection. Therefore, the right antivirus software should automatically scan your device every time it boots up.
- The Quality of Protection
The best antivirus should provide comprehensive protection against all types of malware. It should also protect your emails, RTP, and the other internet entry points for your computer. - Detection Rate
Your antivirus software should provide efficient and accurate results. It should find the threats without deleting your vital files, and it should also operate without slowing down the operating systems. - Privacy Policy
Some antivirus firms resell their clients’ data. Though uncommon, the truth is that it happens, and that’s why you should be keen on the privacy policy. Read the terms of use carefully and only choose the software if you are comfortable with the privacy policy. - Keep Your Mac Device Safe
Cyber theft is becoming more profound by day. The hackers are always a step ahead, and that’s why you should be wise. You may not offer total protection to your Mac device, but you can take the right steps to protect your device.
Final summary
Find out the best antivirus for mac device, buy it, and stay safe. Remember to update it regularly.
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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.
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.
#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.
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.
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