Mac Antivirus Software To Protect Your Online Data
Do Macs need to be protected against viruses?
You are wrong to think that using an Apple computer will protect you from viruses and spyware. Even though malware and viruses are less likely to target Macs they can still happen. Even if you don't mind adware being used to infect people on other platforms you could still get ransomware have your passwords stolen or have your Mac backups stolen.
So good antivirus software for Mac will protect your computer in all of these ways. It will find and stop malware that is still spreading or being used; it will protect older systems with out-of-date software from security vulnerabilities; it will stop your Mac from being used to spread malware to other operating systems; and it will keep infected files off of any virtual machines you're running.
In this post we'll talk about why you should use an antivirus on a Mac and show you some of the best antiviruses for mac programs to help you.
1 Norton

Norton Antivirus is a well-known name in the antivirus world. It has been around for 30 years. Norton can protect you from more than just viruses. It can keep you safe from malware phishing trojans and even crypto-jacking.
It costs less than most of its competitors and has a strong anti-malware engine a wide range of internet security tools an easy-to-use online dashboard and good customer service.
Its anti-malware engine uses machine learning advanced heuristics and a constantly updated list of malware to find viruses trojans spyware ransomware and cryptojackers among other types of malware. During our testing both Norton's full scan and real-time protection were able to find every malicious file we tried to download with minimal system slowdown and no false positives.
What you get
- All plans to offer full protection for your identity
- Software is the only way to check on your bank and credit card activity
- Software is the only thing that has a monthly subscription
- 100% protection from malware
2 Kaspersky

Kaspersky Antivirus for Mac is a robust top-tier security solution that offers comprehensive protection for your online data. It excels in detecting and neutralizing threats thanks to its advanced malware detection capabilities. The software is designed to operate seamlessly in the background ensuring minimal impact on system performance. Its user-friendly interface makes it easy to navigate even for non-tech savvy users. Kaspersky's offers Standard Plus and Premium Plans for Mac.
Kaspersky also offers a suite of privacy tools including VPN and safe browsing features which add an extra layer of protection while surfing the web. With its real-time scanning and automatic updates Kaspersky ensures your Mac stays protected against the latest threats. Its commitment to privacy combined with its exceptional performance makes Kaspersky Antivirus a top choice for Mac users seeking reliable online data protection.
3 Bitdefender Antivirus

Bitdefender is one of the best antivirus software for Mac you can buy. This security solution uses cutting-edge technology to make a strong defense against ransomware spyware viruses and other new types of online threats.
Independent testing shows that Bitdefender can find all attacks. In most tests 9 out of 10 malware files were already known to the service. It's also important to point out that this antivirus is pretty easy on your Mac's resources so speed and performance aren't affected too much.
Bitdefender Total Security's antivirus software also has cross-platform detection technologies that scan for all kinds of malware automatically. So you can safely share information with people who use different operating systems. With the Safe Files feature this antivirus also keeps other people from getting to your most important files.
4 Webroot Antivirus

Like its Windows version Webroot Antivirus for Mac is a small piece of software that searches for viruses very quickly. It is more like the Windows version than most other programs. The main difference is that it doesn't have a button to protect against firewalls.
One benefit that might not be obvious at first is that Webroot can be monitored and controlled from afar. If you set it up for a friend or family member who isn't good with technology you can log in from across town check the security status and even do a scan. Other features include a system analyzer to find out how healthy your Mac is overall a secure deletion tool to get rid of important information for good and a system optimizer to get rid of junk files and make your Mac run better overall.
5 Sophos Antivirus

Since many different organizations provide free antivirus software differentiation among them might be challenging. Sophos a British corporation stands by providing free solutions with greater functionality than some of its expensive rivals. Sophos antivirus for Mac uses Artificial Intelligence Threat Detection to make sure that its online threat database is always up-to-date. This makes sure that you are always protected from the latest malware.
Sophos is a one-of-a-kind free Mac antivirus engine. It has a remote management interface that makes it less of a burden on the computer's overall performance. Luckily it's also a very strong antivirus that can find malware very well and has one of the best free plans out there. But if you want important features like protection from ransomware and the ability to stop scammers from using your Mac's camera and microphone you might want to look into Sophos Premium.
6 Intego Antivirus

Intego has been making security products for macOS for a very long time. Intego which is known for having great virus protection did not let its user down. It's a great choice for your Mac also.
Intego's VirusBarrier gives you real-time security by scanning files and programs as you use them. Intego Mac Internet Security is the next great thing. You can pick from a number of different scans for your device. The first check for malware will take longer but subsequent scans will go much faster because of advanced file-caching technology. It only looks for files that are new or have been changed. The firewall on a Mac is another improvement that keeps unauthorized people from getting into your laptop.
There are even more interesting safety features. There's the Washing Machine which gets rid of the garbage and duplicates data to make room for new information. You might even find their own version of Mac's Time Machine called Personal Backup which lets you store your most important personal information on external discs.
7 AVG Antivirus

One of the few free antivirus apps for Mac is AVG Antivirus for Mac. It is simple but it protects you from viruses spyware and malware. Even though AVG is free it protects you from viruses and other harmful software on websites in downloads and in email attachments. AVG will check apps check each file on your Mac and get rid of any threats. It automatically updates so you're always safe from the most recent threats.
Even though it doesn't have as many features as more expensive antivirus software it does what it needs to do well and efficiently. If you need to solve more complicated problems you have to pay to subscribe to the full version of the program.
8 Malwarebytes Antivirus

The best Mac antivirus software does more than just find the latest and most dangerous ransomware or other high-risk threats. Most apps can also get rid of adware and other possibly unwanted programs that might not be harmful but use up system resources and make your Mac run slower.
Malwarebytes has been getting rid of all kinds of malware on Windows since 2006. The Mac version is just as quick clear and effective. The program is so small that it is equivalent to only three digital audio files—that most users hardly noticed it was there.
When you install Malwarebytes for Mac you get a 30-day trial of the Premium version which can find threats as they happen and stop them. If you're not interested just ignore it. When the trial period is over real-time protection will be taken away and you'll only be able to scan when you want to.
9 Avast

Avast Free Mac Security goes above and beyond to protect your Mac. It has a very long list of features. For example the main antivirus engine offers real-time protection to find threats as they appear. If you think there might be a problem you can do a full system scan whenever you want or check only certain files folders or drives. You can also set up scans to run automatically even when you are not there.
A Web Shield will warn you about websites that could be dangerous block unsafe downloads and email attachments and protect your privacy by stopping ads from spying on you. The wireless network scanner from Avast has an innovative feature that quickly scans your network router and all devices that are connected to it. If it finds any possible weaknesses it will let you know. Upgrade to Avast Security Pro for protection against ransomware and instant alerts when Wi-Fi intruders or changes to your network security are detected.
10 MacBooster

To get rid of unwanted files and spyware you'll need a maintenance tool that can bring your Mac back to its best performance level. Macbooster is an all-in-one maintenance program for Macs. It comes with cutting-edge system tools and security features that will help your PC run better.
It can get rid of up to 20 different types of trash files and Mac viruses to keep your computer safe from outside threats. Macbooster quickly looks at security risks and keeps your computer safe from viruses. It shows a picture of the malware and viruses that have been found on the Mac. If you click the "Fix" button you can clean up your system. Macbooster protects your privacy and gets rid of stubborn files and apps that you can't get rid of with the Move to Bin option.
It also optimizes Mac hard drives and deletes files that aren't needed but are taking up a lot of RAM. This makes your Mac run faster and safer.
11 McAfee

You can shield your Mac from viruses by installing a reliable antivirus program like McAfee. It can safeguard your device from malware viruses ransomware and spyware attacks. At the same time it will save you from concerns about your privacy.
McAfee delivers a lot more than antivirus protection and that’s because of the privacy-related features and tools it offers. A single total protection subscription can work for five to ten devices making it cost-effective.
There are many other perks with McAfee making it a leading antivirus software for Mac. One of them is the flexibility it offers by extending three separate ways to scan the device. After that all you need is to set up the firewall and you will be able to take charge of the traffic on your Mac.
Related: Why McAfee is an Antivirus Beast?
Conclusion
There is now more macOS malware than ever before, thus a solid antivirus is more important than ever. There aren't many choices for reliable Mac-specific virus protection programs, but we've narrowed it down to the most flexible solutions. If you own a Mac, read this guide and choose an antivirus program accordingly.