What is the best antivirus for mac

Today, the security and protection of our files and data has become a priority, and not only for professional or advanced users, but also for the ordinary user. Dozens, hundreds of threats are waiting every day to reach our computers camouflaged under unexpected pop-up ads, download files, emails, and more. And although the macOS operating system is the most secure that exists, it is possible that some of you need or simply want to have extra help. That is why today we will show you a selection with some of the best antivirus for Mac.

Index of contents

macOS and common sense

This time we are going to start with the most obvious, this being precisely what allows a large part of Mac users to not require the help of an antivirus and not even ask the question of "what is the best antivirus for Mac"

The macOS operating system has its own security and privacy tools, which makes it the safest operating system that exists against all types of computer threats. These tools are available in System Preferences → Security and privacy but, as I have already anticipated, they need the common sense of the user.

Access System Preferences on your Mac, select the Security and Privacy option, and click the General tab. At the bottom of this window you will find the section Allow apps downloaded from. This is an essential option to prevent our computer from being affected by malware hidden in certain applications.

Click on the padlock located in the lower left part of the window, and enter the user password of your device in order to make changes. Now make sure you only allow apps downloaded from the App Store. An exhaustive process of review and verification of the applications that will be put on sale is carried out in the Apple application store, so we can be almost 100% sure that everything will be fine if we get our applications from here.

Optionally you can check the App Store option and identified developers . This is a lower step in the security level that will allow us to install external apps, but will ask us for permission before running them. This will prevent applications from being installed without our permission on the computer.

As you can see, the level of security on a Mac is very high but, even so, there is some margin for error, especially if we opt for the second option, as is my case. That is why I have an additional help, CleanMyMac X.

CleanMyMac X

As extra help never hurts , in my personal case I have trusted the CleanMyMac X app for years . Developed by the MacPaw team, it is an optimization tool for Apple Mac computers, with a long history and great prestige, which also includes a special protection module.

Just open CleanMyMac, select the module for malware detection and removal in the left panel, and start a deep scan of all corners of your computer, including the external drives you have connected. It has a constantly updated malware database in such a way that, in case your computer has been infected, it will soon detect it and you can fix it.

CleanMyMac X is a paid application, but it is really complete and efficient. In addition, you can download a completely free trial version from its website, so you can check its effectiveness before releasing the paste.

Other of the best antivirus for Mac

What you have read so far is my personal experience. Making use of the tools integrated in macOS together with the application of common sense (not installing applications of types whose reputation you do not know, or that you do not know if they could have been modified until they reached you…) and a little extra help, have I've kept my Mac safe from intrusions for a decade, when I got my first apple computer. In fact, never in this time have I suffered the action of any malware, and I have made sure of it with CleanMyMac. But since my opinion is not a dogma of faith, I bring you below a selection with the best antivirus for Mac, so that you have a choice.

Total AV

Total AV is one of the best antivirus, not only for Mac, but it also has versions adapted for Windows and iOS and Android mobile devices. Its main functions include detecting and blocking malware in real time, blocking URLs identified as phishing, as well as tools to protect your identity online: antispyware and antiransomware.

In addition, with Total AV you will improve the performance of your Mac because it helps you eliminate junk files, identify duplicate files, increase battery life by reducing background processes, cleaning browser data to improve speed and security, or encrypting your browsing data through VPN, "making them anonymous and impossible to track or hack."

Scanguard

Another of the best antivirus for Mac that you can use on your computer is ScanGuard. You can purchase one, three or up to five licenses to keep all your Macs at home and in the office safe, and include all the options and tools it offers:

• Protection against ransomware, viruses, adware, Trojans, malware and spyware, all in real time. Anti-phishing protection. Web Browser Cleaner & Manager. Optimization tools that facilitate the freeing of disk space. Vault that stores and protects all your passwords 24/7 support and much more.

Avira

With a long history that goes back more than two decades, Avira is the product of a German company that already has "more than one hundred million users and a market share of ten percent". It is an easy-to-use tool whose complete characteristics keep your computer safe from threats. Among its main characteristics and functions we can highlight:

• Detection and deletion of all types of malicious software from your Mac: spyware, viruses, adware, etc. Detection and blocking of websites and downloads that have not been classified as safe and trustworthy. Anti-phishing function that blocks those fake web pages that have been designed to steal your information after sending an email. Constant protection in real time and in the background, without affecting at all the daily work on your Mac. Adware block. Encrypted web browsing through VPN Password manager that allows you to store all your passwords in complete security. Optimization tools and improvement of the performance for your Mac. Deep scan scheduling of both local and attached external drives.

McAfee

One of the most popular and well-known antivirus is McAfee. Who doesn't sound familiar to? And although it has lost some positions in the ranking of best antivirus for Mac (and in general), it continues to be one of the most reliable and easiest to use.

Compatible for both Mac and Windows and iOS and Android devices, McAfee offers protection features and functions very similar to those seen for Avira: blocking of websites and unreliable downloads, detection and removal of all types of malware (adware, spiware, virus), real-time protection running in the background, disk scan scheduling, VPN encrypted web browsing, optimization tools that improve the performance and speed of your Mac, etc.

Norton

Along with McAfee, another of the longest-running and most popular antivirus is Norton. Its latest version is Norton Security Deluxe , which replaces and improves the previous version of "Norton Antivirus for Mac" with functions such as the following:

• It scans email attachments and automatically removes any threats they may contain. It scans and removes suspicious download files, “even before they hit your hard drive.” It offers the Auto-Protect self - protection feature: constant protection on Real-time and background to be protected against any type of threat on the network. Attempt to "fix" infected files. Otherwise, it will quarantine you to try again later. Meanwhile, at any time, you can remove it. Comprehensive scan scheduling. Snooze function to postpone the scan for fifteen minutes to a whole day. Compressed files inspection. Simpler user interface. Vulnerability Protection function that "examines both text and image files as you download them to your computer to ensure they contain no harmful software. ”

Although Norton is a great antivirus for Mac, it is also necessary to know that it identifies completely harmless software as dangerous too often. Thus, Norton Security Deluxe could mark an application that we already had and that is completely safe, as a threat, leaving it unusable. This is one of the main complaints the Norton program receives.

And so far this selection of best antivirus for Mac. Along with the previous ones, there are many others such as BullGuard, Kaspersky Lab or Avast. Now it is you who must decide if you need any of these tools, and opt according to your own needs.