Despite what you may have heard, your Apple computer is not immune to malware. We’ve tested the top contenders to determine those that offer the best Mac antivirus protection.
Mac Antivirus Bonus Features
Many antivirus tools on Windows boast tons of bonus features, including everything from tweaking utilities to VPNs. This behavior seems to be less common on the macOS side, although Norton now includes a VPN with no bandwidth restrictions. Even so, some vendors don’t have standalone Mac antivirus, opting instead to offer a full security suite as a baseline level of protection, while others include suite-like bonus features in their basic antivirus.
Typical personal firewall components block attacks from the Internet and manage network permissions for programs installed on your Mac. Intego, McAfee, and Norton all include a firewall component, while Kaspersky’s Web Protection comes close.
Parental controls are another common suite component. With Sophos and Trend Micro, content filters can block access to websites that match unwanted categories. Kaspersky Standard doesn’t include Kaspersky Internet Security – the limited parental control system in Mac, but you can buy the powerful Kaspersky Safe Kids separately for $14.99 per year.
What’s the best free antivirus software for Mac?
There’s another angle to the changes in Mac antivirus pricing. How about paying nothing? Avast One Essential for Mac, AVG AntiVirus for Mac, and Avira Free Antivirus for Mac are completely free for personal use. The best commercial products offer more protection, but if you can’t afford the best, at least install free antivirus software.
What’s the best antivirus software for Mac?
Many of the products covered in this roundup are certified by at least one independent testing laboratory; some manage two certifications. As far as basic antivirus protection goes, there’s really no bad choice here. Even so, there are a few products that stand out.
Not only was Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac certified by the lab, but it also scored top marks on every test. Norton 360 Deluxe for Mac is a complete security suite that is also certified by a lab, and its features include unlimited VPN. These two are our Editors’ Choice winners for Mac antivirus protection.
However, these are not the only options. Check out our reviews to choose the one that’s right for you and protect your Mac. Once you’ve done that, you should also consider installing a Mac VPN. While antivirus software protects you, your device, and your data locally, a VPN extends that protection to your online activities, keeping you safe and private.
