Its tracker-blocking system actively prevents advertisers and others from tracking web surfing activity in your browsers, and, like its Windows counterpart, it actively protects against ransomware. This product doesn’t boast the immense feature collection found in its Windows equivalent, but it still goes well beyond the average macOS antivirus. In the default Autopilot mode, it does its work while keeping user interaction to a minimum. Both AV-Test and AV-Comparatives give Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac a perfect score, and it earned very good scores in my hands-on tests. Independent antivirus labs put macOS antivirus products to the test, reporting scores that let us know which ones are the most effective. We've tested them, and what follows are our top recommendations, along with buying advice to find the right antivirus protection for your needs. At the high end, you pay $99.99 per year for a three-license subscription to Intego Mac Internet Security X9 or Airo Antivirus for Mac. With Sophos Home Premium, $60 per year lets you install and remotely manage protection on 10 Macs or PCs. McAfee goes beyond that, with a $64.99 per year subscription that protects all your Macs, PCs, Android, and iOS devices. ProtectWorks is unusual in that a single $29.95 payment lets you protect all the Macs in your household, with no subscription needed. We’ve reviewed dozens to help you make an informed choice.Īs with Windows antivirus tools, the most common price is just under $40 per year for a single license. It’s not a question of whether you should install antivirus on your Mac-the question is which one. Social engineering attacks subvert you, the user, rather than your device, but many antivirus products include protection against phishing and similar attacks.

Without antivirus protection, you could find your Mac running hot due to a crypto-mining bot, or you might lose your best pics and videos to ransomware. There’s also no question that coding malware to run on Windows or Android is easier because macOS is more tightly locked down.

There’s no question, Macs can suffer malware attacks, especially if you dabble in pirated software. Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. How to Set Up Two-Factor Authentication.How to Record the Screen on Your Windows PC or Mac.How to Convert YouTube Videos to MP3 Files.How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill.How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad.How to Block Robotexts and Spam Messages.

Falcon antivirus mac