Best Mac Antivirus Software for 2024 If you own a Mac, you might think that you don’t need antivirus software. After all, Macs are supposed to be more secure than Windows PCs, right? Well, not exactly. While Macs are less likely than Windows PCs to contract malware, they are not immune to it. In fact, in recent years, Mac malware has become more prevalent and sophisticated, targeting not only your personal data but also your system resources and performance.
That’s why it’s important to protect your Mac with reliable antivirus software that can detect and remove any threats that might compromise your security and privacy. But how do you choose the best Mac antivirus software for your needs and budget? There are many options available, each with different features, prices, and ratings. To help you make an informed decision, we have tested and reviewed some of the best Mac antivirus software for 2024, based on the following criteria:
- Protection: How well does the software protect your Mac from malware, ransomware, phishing, and other online threats? We use the test results from independent labs such as AV-Comparatives and AV-Test to measure the effectiveness of the software’s detection and removal capabilities.
- Performance: How much does the software impact your Mac’s speed and performance? We use our own testing data and the lab results to measure the software’s resource usage and impact on system performance.
- Features: What extra features does the software offer besides antivirus protection? We look at the software’s additional tools and functions, such as VPN, firewall, parental control, backup, optimization, and more.
- Ease of use: How easy is the software to install, use, and manage? We look at the software’s user interface, settings, options, and support.
- Price: How much does the software cost and what value does it offer? We look at the software’s pricing plans, subscription options, discounts, and money-back guarantees.
Based on these criteria, we have ranked the best Mac antivirus software for 2024 as follows:
1. Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac
The best Mac Antivirus Software number 1 is Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac is our top choice for the best Mac antivirus software for 2024. It offers excellent protection, performance, features, and ease of use at a reasonable price.
Protection
Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac consistently scores high in independent lab tests, proving its ability to detect and remove various types of malware, ransomware, phishing, and other online threats. It uses advanced technologies such as behavioral analysis, machine learning, and cloud scanning to protect your Mac from both known and unknown threats. It also features a web protection module that blocks malicious websites, ads, and trackers, as well as a ransomware protection module that prevents unauthorized changes to your files.
Performance
Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac has a minimal impact on your Mac’s speed and performance, thanks to its optimized scanning engine and low resource usage. It also features an autopilot mode that automatically adjusts the software’s settings based on your system’s status and activity. You can also use the battery mode to save power when your Mac is running on battery.
Features
Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac offers some extra features besides antivirus protection, such as:
- VPN: A built-in VPN that encrypts your online traffic and hides your IP address, allowing you to access geo-restricted content and protect your privacy. However, the free version of the VPN is limited to 200 MB of data per day, and you need to upgrade to the premium version to get unlimited data and access to more servers.
- Time Machine Protection: A feature that protects your backups from ransomware and other threats, ensuring that you can restore your files in case of a disaster.
- Adware Removal: A tool that removes annoying and potentially harmful adware from your Mac, improving your browsing experience and security.
Ease of use
Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac is easy to install, use, and manage, thanks to its intuitive and user-friendly interface. It has a simple dashboard that shows your protection status, scan results, and quick actions. You can also access the software’s settings, features, and support from the menu bar. The software runs quietly in the background, without interrupting your work or entertainment.
Price
Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac has a reasonable price, considering its quality and value. It costs $39.99 per year for one device, $59.99 per year for three devices, or $79.99 per year for five devices. You can also get a 30-day free trial to test the software before buying it.
2. Intego Mac Internet Security X9
The best Mac Antivirus Software number 2 is Intego Mac Internet Security X9 is another great option for the best Mac antivirus software for 2024. It offers comprehensive protection, decent performance, useful features, and an easy-to-use interface at a competitive price.
Protection
Intego Mac Internet Security X9 provides comprehensive protection for your Mac, using a dual-engine scanner that detects and removes both Mac and Windows malware, as well as a real-time scanner that monitors your system for any suspicious activity. It also features a firewall that controls your network traffic and prevents unauthorized access to your Mac, as well as a web protection module that blocks malicious websites, phishing, and spam.
Performance
Intego Mac Internet Security X9 has a moderate impact on your Mac’s speed and performance, depending on your system’s configuration and activity. It has a fast scanning engine that can scan your entire Mac in minutes, as well as a smart scanning mode that only scans the files that have changed since the last scan. You can also customize the software’s settings to optimize its performance and reduce its resource usage.
Features
Intego Mac Internet Security X9 offers some additional features besides antivirus protection, such as:
- Backup: A backup tool that allows you to create and restore backups of your important files, either locally or online. You can also schedule your backups and encrypt them for extra security.
- Cleaner: A cleaner tool that helps you remove junk files, duplicates, and other unnecessary items from your Mac, freeing up space and improving your system’s performance.
- Parental Control: A parental control tool that lets you monitor and manage your children’s online activity, such as the websites they visit, the apps they use, and the time they spend online. You can also set filters, limits, and rules to protect your children from inappropriate content and cyberbullying.
Ease of use
Intego Mac Internet Security X9 is easy to install, use, and manage, thanks to its simple and clear interface. It has a main window that shows your protection status, scan results, and quick actions. You can also access the software’s settings, features, and support from the menu bar. The software runs smoothly and quietly in the background, without bothering you with unnecessary notifications or pop-ups.
Price
Intego Mac Internet Security X9 has a competitive price, considering its quality and value. It costs $49.99 per year for one device, $74.99 per year for three devices, or $99.99 per year for five devices. You can also get a 30-day free trial to test the software before buying it.
3. Norton 360 Deluxe for Mac
The best Mac antivirus software number 3 is Norton 360 Deluxe for Mac, which is another excellent choice for the best Mac antivirus software for 2024. It offers robust protection, good performance, rich features, and an easy-to-use interface at a fair price.
Protection
Norton 360 Deluxe for Mac provides robust protection for your Mac, using a powerful scanner that detects and removes various types of malware, ransomware, phishing, and other online threats. It also features a web protection module that blocks malicious websites, ads, and trackers, as well as a ransomware protection module that prevents unauthorized changes to your files. Additionally, it offers a dark web monitoring service that alerts you if your personal information is exposed on the dark web.
Performance
Norton 360 Deluxe for Mac has a good impact on your Mac’s speed and performance, thanks to its optimized scanning engine and low resource usage. It also features a silent mode that automatically suspends the software’s activities when you are using your Mac for full-screen tasks, such as gaming or watching videos. You can also customize the software’s settings to improve its performance and reduce its resource usage.
Features
Norton 360 Deluxe for Mac offers a rich set of features besides antivirus protection, such as:
- VPN: a built-in VPN that encrypts your online traffic and hides your IP address, allowing you to access geo-restricted content and protect your privacy. Unlike some other antivirus software, the VPN has no data or server limitations, and you can use it on up to five devices simultaneously.
- Firewall: a built-in firewall that controls your network traffic and prevents unauthorized access to your Mac, as well as a device security module that protects your other devices, such as smartphones and tablets, from malware and other threats.
- Password Manager: A built-in password manager that stores and manages your passwords, credit cards, and other personal information in a secure vault, as well as a password generator that creates strong and unique passwords for your online accounts.
- Cloud Backup: A cloud backup service that allows you to backup and restore up to 50 GB of your important files, either manually or automatically. You can also access your files from any device and share them with others.
- Parental Control: A parental control service that lets you monitor and manage your children’s online activity, such as the websites they visit, the apps they use, and the time they spend online. You can also set filters, limits, and rules to protect your children from inappropriate content and cyberbullying.
Ease of use
Norton 360 Deluxe for Mac is easy to install, use, and manage, thanks to its simple and clear interface. It has a main window that shows your protection status, scan results, and quick actions. You can also access the software’s settings, features, and support from the menu bar. The software runs smoothly and quietly in the background, without bothering you with unnecessary notifications or pop-ups.
Price
Norton 360 Deluxe for Mac has a fair price, considering its quality and value. It costs $99.99 per year for up to five devices, including Mac, Windows, Android, and iOS. You can also get a 60-day free trial to test the software before buying it. Additionally, you can get a 40% discount if you buy the software through this link.
4. Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac
The best Mac Antivirus Software number 4 is Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac is another good option for the best Mac Antivirus software for 2024. It offers solid protection, decent performance, helpful features, and an easy-to-use interface at a low price.
Protection
Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac provides solid protection for your Mac, using a reliable scanner that detects and removes various types of malware, ransomware, phishing, and other online threats. It also features a web protection module that blocks malicious websites, ads, and trackers, as well as a ransomware protection module that prevents unauthorized changes to your files. Additionally, it offers a webcam protection service that alerts you if any app tries to access your webcam without your permission.
Performance
Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac has a decent impact on your Mac’s speed and performance, depending on your system’s configuration and activity. It has a fast scanning engine that can scan your entire Mac in minutes, as well as a smart scanning mode that only scans the files that have changed since the last scan. You can also customize the software’s settings to improve its performance and reduce its resource usage.
Features
Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac offers some helpful features besides antivirus protection, such as:
- VPN: A built-in VPN that encrypts your online traffic and hides your IP address, allowing you to access geo-restricted content and protect your privacy. However, the free version of the VPN is limited to 200 MB of data per day, and you need to upgrade to the premium version to get unlimited data and access to more servers.
- Firewall: A built-in firewall that controls your network traffic and prevents unauthorized access to your Mac, as well as a device security module that protects your other devices, such as smartphones and tablets, from malware and other threats.
- Safe Money: A safe money feature that protects your online transactions, such as banking, shopping, and payments, from hackers and fraudsters. It opens a secure browser that isolates your financial data from other apps and websites and verifies the authenticity of the websites you visit.
Ease of use
Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac is easy to install, use, and manage, thanks to its simple and clear interface. It has a main window that shows your protection status, scan results, and quick actions. You can also access the software’s settings, features, and support from the menu bar. The software runs smoothly and quietly in the background, without bothering you with unnecessary notifications or pop-ups.
Price
Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac has a low price, considering its quality and value. It costs $39.99 per year for one device, $59.99 per year for three devices, or $79.99 per year for five devices. You can also get a 30-day free trial to test the software before buying it. Additionally, you can get a 50% discount if you buy the software through this link.
These are some of the best Mac antivirus software for 2024 that can protect your Mac from malware, ransomware, phishing, and other online threats without compromising your Mac’s speed and performance. They also offer some extra features, such as VPN, firewall, backup, parental control, and more, that can enhance your online security and privacy. However, the best Mac antivirus software for you depends on your needs and budget, so we recommend you compare the software’s features, prices, and ratings and choose the one that suits you best. You can also install a cleaner for your mac to improve its OS performance.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about the best Mac antivirus software for 2024:
- Q: Do I really need antivirus software for my Mac?
- A: Yes, you do. While Macs are less likely than Windows PCs to contract malware, they are not immune to it. In fact, Mac malware has become more prevalent and sophisticated in recent years, targeting not only your personal data but also your system resources and performance. Therefore, it’s important to protect your Mac with reliable antivirus software that can detect and remove any threats that might compromise your security and privacy.
- Q: How do I install and use antivirus software for my Mac?
- A: Installing and using antivirus software for your Mac is easy and straightforward. You just need to download the software from the official website or the App Store, follow the instructions to install it on your Mac, and activate it with your license key or account. Then, you can use the software’s interface to scan your Mac for any malware, adjust the software’s settings, access the software’s features, and contact the software’s support.
- Q: How do I choose the best antivirus software for my Mac?
- A: Choosing the best antivirus software for your Mac depends on your needs and budget. However, some general criteria that you should consider are:
- Protection: How well does the software protect your Mac from malware, ransomware, phishing, and other online threats? You can use the test results from independent labs such as AV-Comparatives and AV-Test to measure the effectiveness of the software’s detection and removal capabilities.
- Performance: How much does the software impact your Mac’s speed and performance? You can use your own testing data and the lab results to measure the software’s resource usage and impact on system performance.
- Features: What extra features does the software offer besides antivirus protection? You can look at the software’s additional tools and functions, such as VPN, firewall, parental control, backup, optimization, and more.
- Ease of use: How easy is the software to install, use, and manage? You can look at the software’s user interface, settings, options, and support.
- Price: How much does the software cost, and what value does it offer? You can look at the software’s pricing plans, subscription options, discounts, and money-back guarantees.
- Q: How often should I update and scan my Mac with antivirus software?
- A: You should update and scan your Mac with antivirus software regularly, preferably every day or every week. Updating your software ensures that you have the latest version of the software and the most up-to-date malware definitions, which can improve your protection and performance. Scanning your Mac ensures that you can detect and remove any malware that might have infected your Mac, either through the internet or external devices.
- Q: What are some common Mac malwares, and how can I avoid them?
- A : Some common Mac malware is:
- Adware: Adware is a type of malware that displays unwanted and intrusive ads on your browser or desktop, which can redirect you to malicious websites, collect your personal information, or install more malware on your Mac. You can avoid adware by using a web protection module that blocks malicious websites, ads, and trackers, as well as an adware removal tool that removes annoying and potentially harmful adware from your Mac.
- Ransomware: Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts your files and demands a ransom to decrypt them, which can cause you to lose your important data or money. You can avoid ransomware by using a ransomware protection module that prevents unauthorized changes to your files, as well as a backup tool that allows you to backup and restore your files in case of a disaster.
- Phishing: Phishing is a type of malware that tricks you into revealing your personal information, such as passwords, credit cards, or bank accounts, by sending you fake emails or websites that look like legitimate ones, which can lead to identity theft or financial loss. You can avoid phishing by using a web protection module that blocks malicious websites, phishing, and spam, as well as a safe money feature that protects your online transactions from hackers and fraudsters.
