There was a time when Apple's Macs were considered the more secure alternative to Windows, simply because malware specifically aimed at these systems was a pretty rare thing, thus posing a super-low risk for users in the Apple ecosystem. Mac cracked software.
Mac antivirus software isn't just about detecting the latest most deadly ransomware, or other high-risk threats. Most tools can also strip out adware and other potentially unwanted programs which. The best free antivirus platforms for Mac in 2020 By Jon Martindale October 17, 2020 If you're a Mac user, you probably love the sleek desktop experience and how easy it is to use and understand. Consider Mac antivirus software that comes with parental controls or web-content filters, like Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac or Sophos Home Premium. Then you have to figure out how much you.
Apple helps you keep your Mac secure with software updates. The best way to keep your Mac secure is to run the latest software. When new updates are available, macOS sends you a notification — or you can opt in to have updates installed automatically when your Mac is not in use. MacOS checks for new updates every day, so it's easy to always have the latest and safest version.
But as the security of Windows improved, the malicious actors out there also moved their attention to Apple computers, thus proving that virus infections don't always come down to just one operating system.
This is how security software for macOS has become a must-have, and many users found out the whole thing the hard way after struggling to get rid of malware or other security threats.
Just like it happens on Windows, however, choosing a powerful antivirus solution for a Mac isn't something that's so easy to do, and it's all because there are several vendors out there, and all claim they're offering the best you can get in the Apple world.
Needless to say, not everything is always as great as it sounds, and the engineers over at AV-TEST have tried to figure out what security products need a change by running comprehensive research that included the most popular antivirus solutions.
As per the organization's testing approach, all security products were evaluated for their performance in three different categories, namely protection, system performance, and usability. The tested products were awarded a maximum of 6 points per test in case of flawless performance, so overall, the top score for an antivirus product could have been 18 points.
'During August and September 2020 we evaluated 5 home user security products for MacOS Catalina. We always used the most current version of all products for the testing. They were allowed to update themselves and query their in-the-cloud services. We focused on malware detection, false positives and performance,' AV-TEST explains.
The tested products are the following:
- Avast Security
- Avira Antivirus Pro
- Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac
- NortonLifeLock Norton 360
- Trend Micro Antivirus
Surprisingly, most security products performed pretty well and received the AV-TEST certification, though only three of them scored the maximum points.
Avira, NortonLifeLock, and Trend Micro are the vendors whose security solutions received six points for performance, six points for protection, and another six points for usability, therefore getting a final score of 18 points.
On the other hand, Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac earned 5.5 points for protection, which lowered its score to 17.5 points. Avast Security scored just 5.5 points for protection and 5 points for performance, which means that its total score was just 16.5 points.
AV-TEST warned in a previous test that the number of malware aimed at Mac computers has improved substantially in the last decade.
'Older Mac users somewhat tend to shrug off the topic of malware protection for MacOS. One of the first counterarguments: 'Yes, but only a small number of viruses, Trojans and other threats are specially targeted to MacOS.' Perhaps that argument held water from 2008 to 2014, as up until that time, the AV-TEST database only counted 7,300 Mac malware samples. However: By 2016, there were already over 40,000, by 2018 over 80,000, and in 2020 there are now over 240,000 attackers for MacOS; time to beef up the defense,' the organization said.
But at the end of the day, keeping your data secure doesn't just come down to running antivirus software on a computer, but also to simple practices that could be at least as efficient as dedicated solutions in this regard. For example, not downloading attachments coming from untrusted sources or visiting websites that might serve malicious content are both recommendations that could help keep you protected whenever you go online.
We design Mac hardware and software with advanced technologies that work together to run apps more securely, protect your data, and help keep you safe on the web. And with macOS Catalina available as a free upgrade, it's easy to get the most secure version of macOS for your Mac.*
Apple T2 chip.
The next generation of security.
The Apple T2 Security Chip — included with many newer Mac models — keeps your Mac safer than ever. The Secure Enclave coprocessor in the Apple T2 chip provides the foundation for Touch ID, secure boot, and encrypted storage capabilities. Touch ID gives you a seamless way to use your fingerprint to unlock your Mac, fill passwords in Safari, and make purchases with Apple Pay. Secure boot helps ensure that you are running trusted operating system software from Apple, while the Apple T2 chip automatically encrypts the data on your Mac. So you can be confident knowing that security has been designed right into the architecture of your Mac, from the ground up.
Apple helps you keep your Mac secure with software updates.
Apple Antivirus Software Recommendations
The best way to keep your Mac secure is to run the latest software. When new updates are available, macOS sends you a notification — or you can opt in to have updates installed automatically when your Mac is not in use. macOS checks for new updates every day, so it's easy to always have the latest and safest version.
Protection starts at the core.
The technically sophisticated runtime protections in macOS work at the very core of your Mac to keep your system safe from malware. This starts with state-of-the-art antivirus software built in to block and remove malware. Technologies like XD (execute disable), ASLR (address space layout randomization), and SIP (system integrity protection) make it difficult for malware to do harm, and they ensure that processes with root permission cannot change critical system files.
Download apps safely from the Mac App Store. And the internet.
How to get more space on my macbook. Now apps from both the App Store and the internet can be installed worry-free. App Review makes sure each app in the App Store is reviewed before it's accepted. Gatekeeper on your Mac ensures that all apps from the internet have already been checked by Apple for known malicious code — before you run them the first time. If there's ever a problem with an app, Apple can quickly stop new installations and even block the app from launching again.
Stay in control of what data apps can access.
Apps need your permission to access files in your Documents, Downloads, and Desktop folders as well as in iCloud Drive and external volumes. And you'll be prompted before any app can access the camera or mic, capture keyboard activity, or take a photo or video of your screen.
FileVault 2 encrypts your data.
Best vfx software for mac. With FileVault 2, your data is safe and secure — even if your Mac falls into the wrong hands. FileVault 2 encrypts the entire drive on your Mac, protecting your data with XTS-AES 128 encryption. And on Mac systems with an Apple T2 Security Chip, FileVault 2 keys are created and protected by the Secure Enclave for even more security.
Designed to protect your privacy.
Apple Antivirus Software
The most secure browser for your Mac is the one that comes with your Mac. Built-in privacy features in Safari, like Intelligent Tracking Prevention, help keep your browsing your business. Automatic strong passwords make it easy to create and use unique passwords for all the sites you visit. And iCloud Keychain syncs those passwords securely across all your devices, so you don't have to remember them. You can also easily find and upgrade any weak passwords you've previously used (and reused and reused and reused).
Automatic protections from harmful sites.
Safari also helps safeguard you against fraudulent websites and those that harbor malware — before you visit them. If a website seems suspicious, Safari prevents it from loading and notifies you. And when connecting to unencrypted sites, Safari will warn you. So everything you need to browse without worry is right at your fingertips.
But at the end of the day, keeping your data secure doesn't just come down to running antivirus software on a computer, but also to simple practices that could be at least as efficient as dedicated solutions in this regard. For example, not downloading attachments coming from untrusted sources or visiting websites that might serve malicious content are both recommendations that could help keep you protected whenever you go online.
We design Mac hardware and software with advanced technologies that work together to run apps more securely, protect your data, and help keep you safe on the web. And with macOS Catalina available as a free upgrade, it's easy to get the most secure version of macOS for your Mac.*
Apple T2 chip.
The next generation of security.
The Apple T2 Security Chip — included with many newer Mac models — keeps your Mac safer than ever. The Secure Enclave coprocessor in the Apple T2 chip provides the foundation for Touch ID, secure boot, and encrypted storage capabilities. Touch ID gives you a seamless way to use your fingerprint to unlock your Mac, fill passwords in Safari, and make purchases with Apple Pay. Secure boot helps ensure that you are running trusted operating system software from Apple, while the Apple T2 chip automatically encrypts the data on your Mac. So you can be confident knowing that security has been designed right into the architecture of your Mac, from the ground up.
Apple helps you keep your Mac secure with software updates.
Apple Antivirus Software Recommendations
The best way to keep your Mac secure is to run the latest software. When new updates are available, macOS sends you a notification — or you can opt in to have updates installed automatically when your Mac is not in use. macOS checks for new updates every day, so it's easy to always have the latest and safest version.
Protection starts at the core.
The technically sophisticated runtime protections in macOS work at the very core of your Mac to keep your system safe from malware. This starts with state-of-the-art antivirus software built in to block and remove malware. Technologies like XD (execute disable), ASLR (address space layout randomization), and SIP (system integrity protection) make it difficult for malware to do harm, and they ensure that processes with root permission cannot change critical system files.
Download apps safely from the Mac App Store. And the internet.
How to get more space on my macbook. Now apps from both the App Store and the internet can be installed worry-free. App Review makes sure each app in the App Store is reviewed before it's accepted. Gatekeeper on your Mac ensures that all apps from the internet have already been checked by Apple for known malicious code — before you run them the first time. If there's ever a problem with an app, Apple can quickly stop new installations and even block the app from launching again.
Stay in control of what data apps can access.
Apps need your permission to access files in your Documents, Downloads, and Desktop folders as well as in iCloud Drive and external volumes. And you'll be prompted before any app can access the camera or mic, capture keyboard activity, or take a photo or video of your screen.
FileVault 2 encrypts your data.
Best vfx software for mac. With FileVault 2, your data is safe and secure — even if your Mac falls into the wrong hands. FileVault 2 encrypts the entire drive on your Mac, protecting your data with XTS-AES 128 encryption. And on Mac systems with an Apple T2 Security Chip, FileVault 2 keys are created and protected by the Secure Enclave for even more security.
Designed to protect your privacy.
Apple Antivirus Software
The most secure browser for your Mac is the one that comes with your Mac. Built-in privacy features in Safari, like Intelligent Tracking Prevention, help keep your browsing your business. Automatic strong passwords make it easy to create and use unique passwords for all the sites you visit. And iCloud Keychain syncs those passwords securely across all your devices, so you don't have to remember them. You can also easily find and upgrade any weak passwords you've previously used (and reused and reused and reused).
Automatic protections from harmful sites.
Safari also helps safeguard you against fraudulent websites and those that harbor malware — before you visit them. If a website seems suspicious, Safari prevents it from loading and notifies you. And when connecting to unencrypted sites, Safari will warn you. So everything you need to browse without worry is right at your fingertips.
Find your missing Mac with Find My.
Free Mac Antivirus
The Find My app combines Find My iPhone and Find My Friends into a single, easy-to-use app on Mac, iPad, and iPhone. Find My can help you locate a missing Mac — even if it's offline or sleeping — by sending out Bluetooth signals that can be detected by nearby Apple devices. These devices then relay the detected location of your Mac to iCloud so you can locate it in the Find My app. It's all anonymous and encrypted end-to-end so no one — including Apple — knows the identity of any reporting device or the location of your Mac. And it all happens silently using tiny bits of data that piggyback on existing network traffic. So there's no need to worry about your battery life, your data usage, or your privacy being compromised.
Keep your Mac safe.
Even if it's in the wrong hands.
All Mac models with the Apple T2 Security Chip support Activation Lock — just like your iPhone or iPad. So if your Mac is ever misplaced or lost, the only person who can erase and reactivate it is you.
macOS Security
