7+ Best Antivirus Software for Macs in 2018 (Free + Paid)

If you use a Mac for business, you need to keep it secure. Even if you use your Mac for personal use, if you do a lot of financial transactions online, you may still wish to protect your computer. Here's what you need to know about antivirus software for the Mac.

Thenumber of malware and virus attacks has increased in recent years. According toa recent McAfee Labs Threat Report, which researches and compiles threat statistics basedon a sample database, there were over 700,000 incidents of Mac Malware attacksin the fourth quarter of 2017 alone.  Thefindings were confirmed by a number of other antivirus software labs including Sophoslabs, which predicts significant continued efforts to infect Mac computersin the coming year.

To keep your computer from being compromised, antivirus software for your Mac can be an important part ofyour Mac security software. In this article we've rounded up some of the bestsecurity software for Macs, including both free antivirus software for Macs andpremium Mac security software.

Do MacsNeed Antivirus Software?

This is a complicated question and there's no one answer. 

Conventionalwisdom has long held the Macs are secure and don't need antivirus software. Many people would say that this is still the case. While it's true that historically Macs have been more secure than PCs, the risks for Macs are increasing.

Macs are more secure than PCs due to theirUnix-based operating system, which makes it more difficult for a virus to infecta Mac. Also, OS X 10.7.5 and later includes a default Gatekeeper securityfeature that's meant to keep users from downloading software from untrustedsites.

Butmalware is getting more aggressive—even for Macs. Some common type of threatsto  computers are:

• Ransomware.This malware keeps you from accessing your machine until you pay for access tobe restored.
• Adware.This causes unwanted and unwelcome advertisements to display on your computer.It may also include spyware.
• Spyware.This malware collects data by recording how you use your Mac. It can recordkeystrokes, track online activities, and at times even take control of yourcomputer.
• Phishing.This is an attempt to gather your personal data, often through a maliciouswebsite or an email scam.
• Cryptojacking.This new type of malware uses your computer without your permission to minecryptocurrency.
  

While attacks on Macs are still less common than attacks on PCs, some of these threats are now targeting Mac operating systems. A common way for a Mac to get infected is by downloading software thatcontains malicious code from an unverified or untrustworthy source. Even thoughthe newest versions of macOS have the Gatekeeper security feature that's meant toprotect you from downloading Malware and other malicious software, that featurecan be turned off or overridden. The effects of being infected by malware rangefrom a loss of use of your system to data loss to simply slowing your systemdown.

Withall this in mind, you should make your decision about whether to use antivirussoftware on your Mac carefully. In my opinion, if you're using your Mac to runa business where you store sensitive data that could be compromised, or if yourbusiness would suffer if your Mac became unusable, then it's better to be safe thansorry. The answer as to whether you need antivirus software is probably "yes."

BestMac Antivirus Software

Let'stake a look at some of the best antivirus software for Macs. Most of thesepackages will work well for solo professionals or small to medium businesses.Several of these software companies also offer security software for largerbusinesses.

Note: Many of these companies offer both Mac andWindows antivirus software, however, the focus of these overviews is on the Macsoftware.

Hereare the Mac Antivirus software packages that consistently receive high ratings:

1. Sophos Antivirus for Mac

Sophos offers antivirus protection software for both PCs andMacs. You can try the antivirus protection before you buy through a free trial.There's also a business level that includes firewall protections, secure Wi-Fi,and more. Plus, you can download free security for iOS or Android devices andother free tools.

Themost basic level, Sophos Home, includes heavy duty antivirus protectionincluding:

• Real-time antivirus
• Web protection from known malicious sites
• Remote management
• Advanced ransomware protection

There'salso support via chat and email. If you start with the free trial version,however, be sure to upgrade or choose another type of Mac antivirus protectionbefore the end of the trial period as some features expire when the trialperiod ends.

2. BitdefenderAntivirus for Mac 

Bitdefenderis another antivirus software company that offers virus software for Mac aswell as PC users. They also offer protection for Android devices as well asprotection for smart homes. You can also opt for a 30-day free trial period.

Thisantivirus software for the Mac uses a feature called Safe Files, which monitorsimportant folders, to prevent ransomware attacks. Another feature, called TimeMachine Protection, keeps malware from affecting your backups. It also promisesfast scanning that won't negatively affect your Mac's performance or speed.It's also designed to protect you from both malware, including made-for-Macmalware, and adware.

3. Kapersky InternetSecurity for Mac

Kapersky Internet Security for Mac antivirus software hassome nice features that could be useful to business owners and individualsalike. For example, it increases your system security when you're engaged inonline banking or making online security. This could be helpful for smallinternet-based businesses that rely on online transactions.

Inaddition, this Mac antivirus software claims to protect your identity byguarding your personal data—which is nice if you're worried about identitytheft. Other protections include blocking trackers, protection from dangerouswebsites and phishing attempts and more. Like many antivirus tools, it offers afree tool for the Mac—a virus scanner. And you can download a free trial ofthe software.

4. Norton by Symantec 

Choosebetween a wide variety of Antivirus for Mac options. And because this is thecompany that also markets LifeLock identity theft protection, you can purchasea bundle that includes identity protection. Other bundles include Antivirussoftware and Norton Wi-Fi Privacy—software you can use to protect your privacywhen using public Wi-Fi. You can also download a free trial if you'd like totry the antivirus protection before you commit to it.

TheBasic level package doesn't seem to include Mac Antivirus protection, so thelowest level protection you can go with to protect your Mac would be the Standard level. Even atthat level you get real-time protection from threats like ransomware andviruses. A nice benefit is that Norton offers a guarantee that they'll help keepyour device virus-free or give you a refund.

5. Avast Securityfor Mac

Avastoffers some of the best free antivirus software for Macs as part of theirEssential security download. With the free antivirus software, you getanti-malware security, web and email shields, and a Wi-Fi security scan. So, ifyou're on a limited budget, don't even think about not protecting your Mac.

Avastalso offers premium pro security software for Macs, which includes all of the featuresof the free antivirus software for Macs and adds Wi-Fi intruder alerts and aransomware shield. With the Wi-Fi intruder alerts, you'll be notified when anunauthorized person accesses your network. The ransomware shield protects yourphotos and files from being attacked.

6. ESET CyberSecurity for Mac

Anotherhighly-ranked Mac Antivirus software comes from ESET. You can choose fromvarious levels of Mac antivirus protection, but the most basic level includesMac antivirus and antispyware protection as well as protection from ransomware.It also includes cloud-powered scanning. In addition to Mac and Windows antivirusprotection, they also offer security for Android devices.

Aplus for this Mac antivirus software is that all three products for the macOSinclude free support. Free 30-day trials for some products is also available. 

7. TrendMicro Antivirus for Mac

WithTrend Micro you can choose between two levels of antivirus protection forMacs—the most basic level is pictured above. The basic level includesprotection from ransomware, email scams, and fixes/optimizes your system. Italso secures your privacy on social media.

Themaximum-security package includes all of the above, plus it manages yourpasswords and secures your mobile devices. If you're not sure which one is foryou, you can download a free trial version.

8. McAfee InternetSecurity for Mac

McAfeeInternet Security for Mac includes the following antivirus protections:

• Malwareprotections
• Checkwebsite safety ratings with SiteAdvisor
• Identityprotection
• Protectionfrom phishing schemes
• Firewallprotection
• Repairsand removes threats from files without damaging the file

Plus,you get a 30-day money back guarantee and access to free support. Like manyantivirus software packages, McAfee offers some free Mac Antivirus tools youcan download including a Crypto Ransomware File Decryptor tool and Lock ScreenRansomware tool.

Howto Keep Your Mac Secure

MacAntivirus software is just the first step in keeping your computer secure.Whether you're using your Mac for personal use or business use, yourinformation is important. The following actions can help your Mac to be moresecure:

1.  Make Regular Backups

Backimportant information up regularly. Also, store backups securely—cloud storagecan be a good option. 

2. Create Strong Passwords

Makesure to follow good password creation guidelines. Avoid using passwords thatcan be easily guessed such as the name of a family member or the street youlive on. Also, don't use the same password for every login. Make sure that yourpasswords use upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols. Finally,change your passwords regularly.

3. Use Two-step Verification

Whereit's available use two-step verification. Two-step verification requires you toprovide more than just a password to access your information. Typically, you'llbe sent a code through email or text message after entering your password. 

4. Don't Connect to Unsecure Networks

It'sbecoming popular for Wi-Fi to be available almost anywhere. But not all ofthose public Wi-Fi connections are secure. Even worse, criminals sometimes setup fake Wi-Fi hotspots in public locations for the sole purpose of gatheringyour information.

5.Keep Software and Operating System Updated

Softwareand operating systems are updated for a reason. Sure, sometimes it's tointroduce new features, but often the main purposes of updates is to patchsecurity vulnerabilities. If you don't update your OS and software, you couldbe leaving yourself open to a cyber-attack.

6. Only Download Software from Trusted Sources

Makeuse of the macOS Gatekeeper security feature, don't bypass it. Be cautious about downloadingsoftware from companies you've never heard of—even if the software is free.Likewise, be careful about clicking on links in emails you receive. Look for reviewson the software that you're planning on downloading to see what experiencesothers have had with it. If the software checks out, make sure that the websiteyou're going to load the software is the legit site and not a fake. 

7. Use Antivirus Software for Macs

This whole article has been on the importance of using Macantivirus software to keep your Mac and your information safe. So, mentioningthe importance of using antivirus software again might seem a bit redundant—butI'm going to do it anyway. Even though Macs are more secure than PCs, as we'vediscussed, they're not totally secure. Plus, various types of malware attacksagainst Macs are on the increase. So, if you've been under the impression thatyour Mac doesn't need antivirus software protection, it may be time to rethinkthat notion.

Conclusion

Inthis article, we've explored the importance of protecting your Mac. We'veshared some of the best antivirus software for Macs. We've even listed some Macantivirus software that's free of charge. There's no reason to let your Mac gounprotected any longer.