5 Anti-Virus Programs That Will Protect Your Mac
Hey Everyone!
You should know Macintosh computers are as susceptible to viruses as Windows computers despite what many people think. There are a lot of Macintosh users out there, but it's still a Microsoft Windows world. With the abundance of Windows computers in the world, more viruses are created with Windows users in mind. Apple has grown in popularity in recent years which means viruses are being created for them. That's why it's important to keep up on basic security. Fortunately, there are many anti-virus programs created for the Mac. Here are the ones that I recommend you check out.
1. Bitdefender Virus Scanner. Bitdefender Virus Scanner features a host of scan options, allowing you to quickly perform in-depth scans of your entire system, or those targeting specific locations. If you grant it access, the streamlined program even provides an option for scanning critical locations - such as your Mac's launch agents and the entirety of your system library - thus allowing you to bypass lengthier scans when you're in a hurry. Moreover, it automatically updates with Bitdefender's hourly malware definitions prior to scanning, while providing a quick way for blacklisting locations from system scans.
2. Avast! Free Mac Security. Avast! Free Mac Security is one of the most popular security suites available because aside from its effectivity, Avast! is free for non-commercial use, providing on-demand tools for quickly performing full-system malware scans as well as sifting through specific email threads, attachments, and various web activities such as webpages, downloads, and Java scripts. Furthermore, it offers drag-and-drop scanning for individual files and phishing protection, along with the ability to scan external drives and attached volumes for potential infections.
3. Avira Free Antivirus for Mac. Avira Free Antivirus for Mac is equipped with standard spyware and adware protection, along with the ability to intercept harmful websites and block tracking.
Be reminded that Avira's interface is somewhat bulky, though it's easy to navigate. The app is lined with red-and-gray highlights and a left-hand navigational bar for viewing the status of your system, scheduling tasks, and viewing past quarantine history, among other options. Virus definitions are updated in a timely fashion as well, regardless of how long the initial updates might take to complete. It's resource heavy, but capable enough if you're looking for automation, scan history, and other advanced features.
4. Sophos Antivirus Mac Home Edition Sophos Antivirus Mac Home Edition offers all the basic utilities you've come to expect from quality antivirus software, and a whole lot more. The utility offers custom, on-demand, and scheduled scans for specified files, folders, and drives, along with additional tools for deleting and quarantining any software Sophos deems a potential threat. The software even incorporates a real-time protection features that will quarantine unknown files that are merely exhibiting suspicious behavior. Although the program has a tendency to scan lower than most, it's fairly lightweight, and non-obtrusively performs vital background tasks while barely exhausting your system's resources. Additionally, the malware definitions are constantly being updated, ensuring the program is never without the latest knowledge of potential threats.
5. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Mac. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. For a long time now, Windows users have been relying on Malwarebytes' free version, as a backup for always-on malware protection. If you're a Windows user, it's a great tool for scheduling deep-scans of your system. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Mac started as an adware-removing tool, but as of today, it's now a fully-fledged tool for protecting your machine against malware. You can guarantee that it's just as effective and reliable in MacOS as it is in Windows.
