Best Security Software For Mac
Regardless of what people say about Mac being impervious to malware, it is always advisable to get antivirus software. As the number of Mac users is increasing, the threat increases proportionally. To secure you from any activity that could cause trouble to your system. Malware can potentially harm your operating system and steal your data. You can be an easy target if you don’t have a security tool installed to save you from cyber-attacks. We will cover the 6 best Internet Security Apps for Mac in this article.
Mac antivirus software is different to its Windows equivalent as it is designed. For security when banking or shopping online and protection for the Mac's Time. Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac is best-rated mac internet security software against all. For all the features it provides as antispam, firewall, multi layer ransomware, ad-ware, Safe online banking, Wifi security, webcam protection. It is a web attack prevention software for Mac, which doesn’t affect the system’s performance.
Why You Need Internet Security Software On Mac?
Against the general norm, Mac users are prone to get malware as much as Windows users. This has been a wrong conception that people don’t need to install a tool because it is already secure. Since the interaction with portable disks and drives and constant download from internet, Mac is giving a gateway to malware. macOS is built with the Unix layout which provides tight security but the access to the internet makes it vulnerable.
6 Best Internet Security Software For Mac
To keep your system safe and secure it from threats and viruses, we have listed some of the best Mac internet security software.
1. Systweak Anti-Malware
Systweak Anti-malware for Mac provides a complete solution for securing your system from adware, malware and viruses. The use of this much-recommended product will boost your system performance and save you from any malicious threats. Running the scan for your Mac to ensure there are no viruses or bugs in your system. It tends to instantly remove the malicious apps, software and files that can corrupt the system.
Systweak Anti-Malware for Mac will scan your browser extensions for any suspicious activity. It is a great tool for you macOS as it allows you to scan plug-ins, addons and widgets for Safari, Chrome and Firefox.
Two types of scans are available – Quick scan, which looks for the most vulnerable areas on your system for malicious and infected files. The other is Deep Scan, which will run a complete scan on your system for full-proof protection. You can schedule a scan with Systweak Anti-malware to guard your Mac and you don’t have to keep a note to run the scan. Another great thing about Systweak Anti-Malware is regular database updates that keeps even the latest Mac malware at bay.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Complete protection from malware, adware and spyware | User interface can improve |
| Updated database for malware | New in market |
| Scans plug-ins, add- ons and extensions for browsers |
2. Kaspersky Internet Security
Kaspersky features parental control, locking webcam, and restrict sites from tracking your browsing activity. Before installing the software, you must check the operating system’s version. Once you have installed software, launch the app and initiate the scan. Choose from – Quick Scan or Full Scan. It will scan the threats and find out the malicious files and fix them. When browsing online, it pops up a warning message for the sites which seem contentious. Webcam can be locked and thus preventing sites from using it without your knowledge.
Although it has been found that running the scan timely will detect all kinds of malware on Mac. If it still misses one or two you can try repeating the Full Scan which takes a longer period of time. The best feature of this is the parental control which also restricts the children from sharing personal information online. It will restrict them from viewing the content which is not safe for their age. It also offers packages to be used on your PC and mobile together. Other than that, you can also get a package to share the software within your family.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Parental control | Slow scan |
| Safe Banking Transaction | Misses a few viruses |
| Lock Webcam | The scan does not start on default |
| Schedule Scan |
It is a good choice to guard your Mac against internet attacks, and secure your personal data on your Mac.
Also Read: Best Malware Removal For Mac
3. Sophos
Sophos is good for the Mac users which are not using the system for any commercial use. It is free to use for certain features and that can be enough for the users. It is light on your system and does not even have to be on your system as an app. The scan results are shown online which is saving up space for your system. However, it can also be a problem as it only helps in detecting the threats online. It cannot remove these threats as it does require access to the Mac operating system. But it will keep warning you with the message notification.
Its interface consists of a simple Menu bar and a pop-up notification where you choose to start the scan. The full scan option is good to go for acquiring any details on which virus has affected you.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Detects virus accurately | Does not always delete all virus |
| Free of cost | Not good for commercial use |
| Remote management |
If it is helping you to find out all the threats online correctly, this is a good tool to use for internet security for Mac.
4. Intego Mac Internet Security X9
Intego is one of the best for providing internet security for Mac according to us. It will prevent you from threats found in real time. Safe surfing and Firewall component comes as plugins along with the purchase of Intego Mac internet Security X9.
It comprises of two parts – Virus Barrier and Net Barrier. The NetBarrier is protecting you from unauthorized access when you are working online. Whereas VirusBarrier is working against the malware, protecting your system from getting corrupt. It blocks a connection with an unsafe website and also warns you when using any public Wifi. It will help you to identify the rogue applications which are able to access the internet and fix them.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Real-time protection | Slow scan |
| Blocks unsolicited visitors | Slows down the system |
| Location-based firewall | |
| Easy configuration |
Try the free version to test if it meets the need for Mac internet security software.
5. Bitdefender
It searches every link on Google search to identify the bad links. Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac is best-rated mac internet security software against all. For all the features it provides as antispam, firewall, multi layer ransomware, ad-ware, Safe online banking, Wifi security, webcam protection. It is a web attack prevention software for Mac, which doesn’t affect the system’s performance.
To reduce the danger of virus infliction in your system, it keeps running in the background. Bitdefender ensures you complete safety with its great features in one account.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Light on system | Not easy to use |
| Low Price | Separate download for Mobile |
| Online backup storage |
It upgrades automatically as a part of a subscription, that’s how it is designed to protect your Mac.
6. Norton Security
Norton is a renowned name among computer users. Norton Security provides the security to all the operating systems be it PC, smartphones or tablets. You can choose from the plans as per your requirements. Norton protects your system from malware and online threats. Once installed, it recommends you to get two plugin Safe Keep and Identity Safe. These are to protect you from getting any kind of privacy breach while browsing the internet.
The safety is always ensured as it stays running the check with Protection enabled by default. You can additionally have it running it the background without being informed with the summary from time to time. This is like an undemanding worker which is doing its work proficiently. So this is a very recommended product to get for the safety of Mac. One major drawback is that you can only get it for your Mac version macOS 10.10 and further. It provides you with parental control to prevent your children from surfing certain websites or to upload sensitive information
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easy to use | Only supported the latest versions of Mac |
| Creates Backup files | A separate plan for mobiles |
| Quick Scan |
It is an excellent tool to detect malware in your Mac, so you should get this one for its effective work.
Conclusion:
It is a good decision to invest in internet security for Mac, as a small investment runs a long way. As sometimes when you visit unsafe websites or tend to download apps and files from them, security is at stake. We have listed the best internet security apps for Mac with their best features. You choose them as per your requirements after analysing their use in your Mac.
BEST DEALS ON ANTIVIRUS FOR MAC THIS WEEK:
Bitdefender Total Security for Mac (10 devices) — $34.99 (save $65)
Webroot Internet Security for Mac (3 devices) — $29.99 (save $30)
Norton 360 Premium (10 devices) — $34.99 (save $65)
Kaspersky Internet Security (3 device) — $39.99 (save $40)
McAfee Total Protection (3 devices) — $24.99 (save $55)
There's a common misconception that Macs don't need antivirus software. Unfortunately, that's far from accurate these days.
Macs are generally more secure than PCs, thanks to a more secure operating system where certain aspects of its software are more locked down and harder to infiltrate by rogue software. Also, fewer people own Macs meaning fewer targets for criminals. However, that doesn't mean that it's impossible to get a virus on your Mac, or receive a suspicious piece of malware either.
SEE ALSO: Best cheap laptops: 10 options for under $500
A report from Malwarebytes found that Mac malware has seen an increase of over 400% between 2018 and 2019. That number is likely to rise in 2020 with new threats like OSX.Generic.Suspicious and FakeFileOpener cited in the article as significant ways of disrupting Mac owners. The more Macs are used, the more they’ll be targeted by cyber criminals. And everyone loves the must-have MacBook of the moment, right?
MacOS might still be more secure than Windows but why take a risk with your valuable data? We've taken a look at some of the best antivirus solutions out there for your Mac, ensuring you have an extra layer of security between your data and nefarious viruses. We’ve evaluated their effectiveness at detecting viruses, and lay out any of their additional security features too.
Protect your Mac against ransomware attacks, computer viruses, and more with these antivirus products:
1. Norton 360 Standard for Mac
Norton runs in the background, keeping an eye out for any suspicious activity or threats to your system, without any need for interaction from you.- One Mac: $39.99/year
- Up to five Macs: $49.99/year
What it offers: Norton Security for Mac offers a few different options for scanning. You can switch to automatic, always-on protection and never think about it again, or there's schedule scanning for appropriate times of day for you. It's the idle scanning feature that's most useful though, which simply works when you need it to.
Additionally, Norton 360 Standard includes two powerful Safari plugins. Safe Web helps you avoid visiting rogue sites, while Norton Password Manager is a simple password management tool. Neither are quite as expansive as the antivirus facility, but as a useful way of cutting off issues at the source, they do the job admirably.
The price:Norton 360 Standard uses a subscription based service: $39.99 for the first year provides you with one Mac license. If you want to use the software on more than one Mac, you'll need to upgrade to Norton Security Deluxe for $49.99 for the first year. The $10 upgrade gives you up to 5 licenses (for PC, Mac, Android and iOS smartphones), as well as parental controls if you need them.
2. McAfee Total Protection
McAfee offers extra tools like digital document shredding and anti-spam protection that help it rise above the rest.- One device: $34.99 (first year)
- Five devices: $39.99 (first year)
- Ten devices: $44.99 (first year)
What it offers: As expected from a name as big as McAfee, there's the prospect of award-winning antivirus scanning. It's not quite as fast as Norton's nor quite as accurate, but it's still highly competent.
Where things are ramped up is McAfee Total Protection's many extra tools, much beloved by its users. There's anti-spam protection that works with many popular email clients, a digital document shredding tool, Wi-Fi protection settings, and a network manager so your network can't be hijacked without your knowledge. Parental controls are also available along with McAfee Identity Theft Protection which helps protect you against identity theft by scanning the dark web and SSN monitoring. It's all about cutting off your risks before you even get that far.
It might not be the speediest or the most attractive antivirus software, but for those after comprehensive security assistance, it's unparalleled.
The price: The price you pay depends on how many systems you want to run it on. You can protect one device for $34.99 or five for $39.99, and up from there. In each case, that's the price for the first year of use.
3. Bitdefender Total Security 2020 for Mac
A little cheaper than some of its competitors, it's a strong opening gambit for a company that's more well known among tech savvy folks than the average consumer.- Up to 5 devices: $44.99 (first year)
- Up to 10 devices: $49.99 (first year)
What it offers: Speed is one of the best things about . Within seconds of use, it'll scan thousands of your files with a full scan taking mere minutes. Opting to scan specific locations such as your Mac's system library is also an option, streamlining your experience. No one wants to wait around for a full virus scan, so it's refreshing to see Bitdefender just get on with things, or provide you with convenient alternatives.
There's also the ability to search for malware quickly within various archives and common filetypes, such as PDF or ZIP, further extending your options. An always-on scanner known as Autopilot keeps an eye on things when you don't want to do anything manually, although that does mean no choice of scheduling.
Security suite features are also included, such as an adware blocker, anti-phishing detection for webpages, and backup protection for your Time Machine backups.
The price: is currently priced at $44.99 for five devices for the first year. It'll work across platforms so it's ideal if you have additional Macs, smartphones (Android or iOS) or PCs that require protection.
4. Webroot SecureAnywhere Antivirus for Mac
Webroot Antivirus for Mac stores all its anti-malware protection information on the cloud, meaning it's speedy and has a small footprint on your Mac.- One device: $29.99 (first year)
- Three devices: $37.49 (first year)
What it offers: Webroot Antivirus for Mac stores all its anti-malware protection information on the cloud, meaning it's speedy and has a small footprint on your Mac. By saving you the effort of downloading virus definition updates, it's also impressively accurate while speedy. Most full scans will only take a matter of minutes rather than hours, no matter how dated your technology is.
Alongside such fast scanning, Webroot Antivirus for Mac works to cut things off at the source. It has anti-phishing tools that block harmful sites before you even load them, along with a firewall and network connection monitor. Working as pseudo security software means it's a little more effective than simply scanning your system as and when needed.
However, the real advantage here is how undemanding Webroot Antivirus for Mac is. It simply just works, without making you worry about any noticeable performance impact while your Mac is in use.
The price: Webroot Antivirus for Mac works out as $29.99 per year for one device license. $37.49 provides you with three licenses per year, so it suits a household well.
5. Intego Mac Internet Security
Intego does a fantastic job of detecting anything thrown at it, albeit a little slower than with some antivirus protection.- One device: $39.99 (first year)
- Three devices: $54.99 (first year)
- Five devices: $69.99 (first year)
What it offers: High rates of accuracy is very much Intego Mac Internet Security's game. It does a fantastic job of detecting anything thrown at it, albeit a little slower than with some antivirus protection. As soon as it's installed, scheduled and real time protection is activated by default, making it an ideal choice for anyone who wants to avoid poking around the software.
By default, it automatically detects Mac malware, but it'll also keep an eye out for anything Windows or Linux based, so you can be sure to not accidentally send such files elsewhere. It keeps an eye on files on your iOS devices too.
Besides the key antivirus protection features, also includes NetBarrier X9 to provide network protection, securing your Mac from unauthorized access when you're on a public network, like public Wi-Fi.
The price: A one-year subscription for one device costs $39.99 with that price rising to $54.99 for up to three devices.