Best antiviruses for Mac in 2024, reviewed by Digimagg

While Norton 360 Deluxe may not be the most budget-friendly choice for Mac protection, it excels in thorough malware scanning, real-time monitoring, and a global VPN. What sets Norton apart is its additional features, including dark web monitoring and the capability to erase personal information from data brokers. In our testing, full scans, though time-consuming, had the least impact on system performance compared to other Mac antivirus products in this evaluation. Norton 360 Deluxe's Quick Scan is quicker but exerts a heavier load on your system. Furthermore, in AV-Test's recent assessments, Norton's software achieved a flawless score in detecting and eliminating malware.

Norton 360 Deluxe includes various additional features such as SafeWeb browser extensions, a firewall, Norton Secure VPN, and a password manager. Although cloud storage is part of the subscription, it's worth noting that this feature does not function on Macs. Users can opt to add identity theft protection as an extra to their existing plan.

Bitdefender Premium Security for Mac delivers robust protection for your Mac, featuring swift scans with minimal system impact, an unlimited VPN, and a newly integrated cross-platform password manager. While it may lack some features present in the Windows version, the Mac edition ensures excellent security. Upgrading to the premium suite includes identity theft protection with up to $2 million in insurance coverage. Bitdefender's user-friendly interface makes it ideal for those new to Mac antivirus programs, and it can detect both Mac and Windows viruses.

With the AutoPilot feature and adware prevention, Bitdefender adjusts security settings automatically and offers helpful feature suggestions. In recent testing, including assessments by AV-Test and AV Comparatives, Bitdefender effectively halted both new and established threats, and it successfully prevented the installation of Potentially Unwanted Apps (PUA). Overall, Bitdefender stands out as a reliable choice for comprehensive Mac protection.

Intego Mac Premium Bundle X9 is a comprehensive suite of applications designed to enhance the security of your Mac. The bundle includes VirusBarrier X9, NetBarrier X9, Mac Washing Machine X9, Personal Backup 10.9, and ContentBarrier X9, offering features ranging from backup solutions to parental controls. Notably, the package does not include a VPN, but it can be added separately. It lacks a unified dashboard to integrate all these applications. In terms of performance impact, Full Scans had a substantial effect on system performance, while Quick Scans were more resource-efficient. Despite this, both scan types demonstrated impressive speed, with a Full Scan completing in less than two minutes and a Quick Scan finishing in just over two seconds.

Intego Mac Premium Bundle X9 features an animated firewall interface that visually illustrates data flow with color-coded arrows, leaving a positive impression. A distinctive aspect of this program is its ability to scan connected iPhones or iPads for malware through a USB cable, setting it apart from other Mac antivirus solutions. However, when compared to Bitdefender and Norton, Intego falls short in providing a comparable range of additional features.

Avast Premium Security delivers effective protection against malware, exhibiting only a minor impact on system performance during both scanning and idle periods. Notably, it doesn't necessitate the creation of an online account, and for those new to Mac antivirus, it offers one of the simplest interfaces. In our tests, Avast's Deep Scan, while comprehensive, had a lesser impact on system performance compared to Intego or McAfee but took an hour and a half to complete. On the other hand, its Smart Scan was significantly faster, examining the most likely infected files in less than a minute.

While Avast lacks browser extensions for safeguarding against malicious websites, its Web Shield features a database of hazardous sites and aids in avoiding duplicate websites utilizing DNS spoofing. Notably, it is compatible with any browser. Avast's Network Inspector meticulously assesses every Wi-Fi network you connect to, identifying potential vulnerabilities and backdoors susceptible to attacks. Additionally, users receive unrestricted access to the company's SecureLine VPN, which requires a separate installation.

McAfee Total Protection Premium proves to be the optimal choice when safeguarding multiple Macs or other computers, given its support for an unlimited number of users. The package includes a VPN based on TunnelBear's infrastructure and offers optional identity theft protection. Notably, Ransom Guard actively monitors for suspicious file alterations, creating backups if it detects any anomalies.While McAfee doesn't partake in third-party assessments from AV-Test and AV Comparatives for its Mac products, our independent testing revealed that no malware successfully evaded the program. The full scan incurred a moderate impact on system performance, lasting nearly two hours.

Although a quick scan is not available, users can opt for a custom scan of apps or a specific folder.In enhancing your cybersecurity practices, McAfee incorporates a Protection Score and provides a firewall for securing data transmissions to and from your computers. The company offers a money-back guarantee and unlimited VPN access; however, these features require enabling auto-renewal. Despite this, McAfee Total Protection Premium stands out as the top choice for individuals with extensive families and numerous systems to safeguard.

Trend Micro Premium Security for Mac offers a thorough and extensive malware check for Mac users, featuring browser extensions to prevent access to risky websites. Additionally, its ID Security feature provides a Personal Data Protection Score to enhance cybersecurity practices. Although lacking complete parental controls, the Website Filter effectively blocks content based on a child's age. The software's comprehensive scans, while time-consuming initially, become more efficient over subsequent uses. Notably, third-party evaluations from AV-Test and AV Comparatives showcase nearly perfect scores at 99% and 99.6%. Trend Micro Premium Security for Mac exhibits minimal system impact during both idle and scanning states in our tests.

Trend Micro Premium Security includes an unlimited VPN, while VPN Proxy One Pro must be downloaded separately and is not integrated into the main program. Despite lacking a firewall, password manager, and backup software, Trend Micro's suite is a cost-effective solution for Mac protection with minimal impact on system performance.

Sophos Home Premium for Mac is an economical choice for protecting Macs and other devices, offering three layers of protection with its Intercept X malware scanner. Unlike some competitors, it doesn't rely on browser extensions for protection against dangerous websites but blocks them directly. While Sophos' Mac products are not subject to third-party evaluations like AV-Test or AV Comparatives, our testing revealed that Sophos Home Premium effectively identified and addressed malware on our system. The scanning process, however, showed varying durations, with a Full Scan lasting over three hours initially, but Quick Scans improving to just over two seconds after subsequent runs.

Sophos Home Premium stands out among Mac antivirus programs, requiring users to utilize the company's online portal for initiating and scheduling scans and accessing other features. While this may not suit users with a weak internet connection or those preferring local control, the software offers cost-effective protection for multiple systems. However, it lacks certain features present in other Mac security software, such as a VPN, password manager, and firewall.