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Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac does a great job recognizing and protecting against both Mac and Windows malware. It comes with parental controls and enough licenses to secure three computers and laptops.
We spent 300 hours testing Mac internet security solutions using 165 live Mac malware samples.
We watched how each program responded, with some internet security programs only stopping a few downloads while others immediately quarantined the entire folder before each individual threat could start downloading.
Avast Security (for Mac), Avira Free Antivirus for Mac, and Sophos Home Free (for Mac) are totally free for personal use, although Sophos technically limits you to three devices, macOS or Windows. The Best browser for Windows or the best browser for Android cannot be the best for Mac. MAC OS has grown to be among the most popular and most loved OS all over the world. Therefore to have an amazing experience you need to have the best browser for Mac for better browsing. Welcome to /r/Mac! We are reddit's community of Mac users, enthusiasts, and experts. Please submit or enjoy content, comments, or questions related to the Mac platform, be it related to the hardware or software that makes it up. A range of security features such as URL filtering, download protection and the 'do not track' feature have transformed mainstream desktop browsers such as Chrome, Internet Explorer and Firefox. In a sense all browsers could now plausibly claim to be 'secure' browsers for the average Joe. We searched each browser’s privacy and security settings for pop-up blockers, privacy browsers, whether search history could be cleared and if the browser saved our passwords. The best internet browsers have these tools and settings clearly marked and easy to find listed in setting folders.
After this initial step, we performed deep virus scans to see if the programs could find those threats missed during the download. We compared the threats we knew were released to those found by the Mac protection software and used these findings to determine a protection score.
Our own findings were compared to other test labs to assign an overall malware protection score to each Mac internet security solution.
We feel Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac is the best overall program because of its ability to hunt down and eradicate Mac and Windows threats alike.
It comes with several privacy and protection tools, plus three user licenses to protect multiple devices for a good price.
Best OverallBitdefender Antivirus for Mac
Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac does a great job recognizing and protecting against both Mac and Windows malware. It comes with parental controls and enough licenses to secure three computers and laptops.
Best Free AntivirusAVG Security for Mac
AVG Security for Mac is the best free Mac security software we tested, receiving the highest malware protection score of the programs at this price point.
Best for Multiple DevicesNorton Security Standard
Norton earned a perfect score for detecting Mac malware in our tests, and it is compatible with both Mac and Windows computers as well as iOS and Android mobile devices.
Product | Price | Overall Rating | Value | Test Results | Malware Protections | Privacy Tools | Minimum Number of Licenses | In-House Mac Malware Protection | Overall Mac Malware Protection | Windows Malware Detection | Ease of Use | Ransomware Detection | Antiphishing | Spam Filters | Personal Firewall | Secure Browsing | Vulnerability Scans | USB Scanning | Social Network Protection | Password Manager | Parent Controls | Secure Delete | Safe Banking Tools | VPN | Weekday Phone Support Hours (Eastern Time) | Weekend Phone Support Available | Live Chat |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac | View Deal | 4.5/5 | 9.8 | 9.8 | 7.3 | 7.5 | 3 | 99% | 99% | 80% | 80% | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | $ | ✓ | - | ✓ | 24/7 | ✓ | ✓ |
Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus | View Deal | 4.5/5 | 10 | 8.5 | 7.8 | 8.5 | 3 | 100% | 98% | 80% | 70% | ✓ | ✓ | - | ✓ | ✓ | $ | ✓ | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | $ | ✓ | 24/7* | ✓ | - |
Norton Security Standard | View Deal | 4.5/5 | 6.8 | 9.3 | 10 | 10 | 1 | 100% | 100% | 75% | 90% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | $ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | $ | 24/7 | ✓ | ✓ |
Avast Security for Mac Premium | View Deal | 4.5/5 | 7 | 9.5 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 100% | 99% | 95% | 80% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | 24/7 | ✓ | - |
Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac | View Deal | 4.5/5 | 7.5 | 9.3 | 8.5 | 9 | 1 | 100% | 100% | 95% | 80% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | 5am - 8pm* | ✓ | ✓ |
Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac | View Deal | 4.5/5 | 7.5 | 10 | 5.8 | 10 | 1 | 100% | 100% | 95% | 90% | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | ✓ | - | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | 24/7* | ✓ | ✓ |
AVG AntiVirus for Mac | View Deal | 4.5/5 | 8.3 | 9.3 | 8.5 | 6.5 | 1 | 100% | 99% | 95% | 90% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | - | - | ✓ | - | $ | 24/7* | ✓ | - |
F-Secure SAFE | View Deal | 4/5 | 9.8 | 6.8 | 8.5 | 9 | 3 | 87% | 82% | 100% | 75% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | ✓ | - | $ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | $ | 9am - 6pm | - | ✓ |
Sophos Home Premium | View Deal | 4/5 | 10 | 7.5 | 5.8 | 6 | 10 | 78% | 78% | 95% | 65% | ✓ | ✓ | - | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | - | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | - | 8am - 8pm | - | ✓ |
Intego Mac Premium Bundle X9 | View Deal | 4/5 | 6.5 | 9.3 | 7.3 | 6 | 1 | 97% | 98% | 0% | 80% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 9am - 5pm | ✓ |
Best Overall
Reasons to Buy
Great protection from both Mac and Windows threats
Comes with three user licenses
Reasons to Avoid
Doesn’t include a firewall
Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac$38.99
We are impressed with how well Bitdefender recognizes and blocks malware designed to attack Mac computers and laptops. As our test folder began downloading and opening infected files, Bitdefender quickly blocked most of the threats before they could get loose. These were taken care of quickly and permanently without even landing in the quarantine folder.
There were a few viruses that snuck by Bitdefender because they were hidden in files designed to look legitimate. But after a deep scan, the program found them. Overall, this Mac internet security program was 99 percent effective at malware detection and protection in our in-house tests.
Another perk of Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac is it comes with a vulnerability scanner and a VPN. The vulnerability scanner looks for weak spots in your system, like outdated programs, and gives you solutions to fix them. This helps keep hackers and ransomware from sneaking in. The VPN makes you invisible online so adware, identity thieves and other snoops can’t see, track or log what you do online. And while most of the time browser history is used to create targeted ads, there are also keyloggers and other malware that can snatch this information to steal your identity.
Another perk of Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac is it comes with a vulnerability scanner and a VPN. The vulnerability scanner looks for weak spots in your system, like outdated programs, and gives you solutions to fix them. This helps keep hackers and ransomware from sneaking in. The VPN makes you invisible online so adware, identity thieves and other snoops can’t see, track or log what you do online. And while most of the time browser history is used to create targeted ads, there are also keyloggers and other malware that can snatch this information to steal your identity.
Best Free Antivirus
Reasons to Buy
Detects both Mac and Windows threats very well
Reasons to Avoid
Vulnerability scanner must be installed separately
AVG Security for Mac was 100 percent accurate at protecting our computer from Mac malware samples in our testing. When we started to download our test file, AVG quarantined the entire folder rather than let each individual file loose before stopping them. Most Mac security programs we tested weren’t this aggressive, so we were really impressed.
It also correctly identified and stopped 95 percent of the Windows malware we used in our testing. This is one of the highest scores we saw, and it’s a good indication you won’t accidentally send on a dangerous threat to your family or friends who use Windows computers.
This free Mac internet security program is one of the easiest to use. It didn’t require us to jump through too many hoops to get it downloaded or set up. Each tool on the AVG dashboard is represented with large icons that are red when they aren’t active. This makes the program easy to work with. AVG Security for Mac comes with spam filters, antiphishing tools and a vulnerability scanner to help secure other parts of your system from hackers.
This free Mac internet security program is one of the easiest to use. It didn’t require us to jump through too many hoops to get it downloaded or set up. Each tool on the AVG dashboard is represented with large icons that are red when they aren’t active. This makes the program easy to work with. AVG Security for Mac comes with spam filters, antiphishing tools and a vulnerability scanner to help secure other parts of your system from hackers.
Best for Multiple Devices
Reasons to Buy
Compatible with Mac, Windows, Android and iOS devices
Includes more security tools than most Mac programs
Reasons to Avoid
Doesn’t detect Windows threats on Mac devices very well
![Best browser security software Best browser security software](/uploads/1/2/6/0/126011928/211393485.jpg)
$49.99
Norton Security Standard is one of the few programs we reviewed that is compatible with multiple devices and operating systems without requiring a different module for each one. The same program you download to your Mac computer is the exact same program that is downloaded to Windows computers, iPhones and Android cellphones.
This Mac internet security program comes with a personal firewall, a vulnerability scanner, spam filters and a password manager that works on every device. The parental controls can also be used on both computers and mobile devices to block dangerous content from your children and limiting how much time they spend online. On top of blocking internet threats from downloading to your computer, Norton warns you if a site is dangerous. If you enter a website’s URL in the address bar, Norton displays a warning message before letting you continue. When using a search engine, Norton will put an icon next to each result letting you know if the site is safe to visit. The biggest drawback of Norton Security is its price. It costs more for a single license than most other internet security programs, with several competitors offering multiple licenses for cheaper.
Reasons to Buy
Designed specifically for Mac computers and laptops
Reasons to Avoid
Intego is specifically designed to work on Mac computers and works with Mac operating system programs like Finder, Mail and Safari.
Intego Mac Premium is a bundle of programs that includes VirusBarrier, ContentBarrier, NetBarrier and WashingMachine. You don’t have to use each of these programs, but together they provide you with ultimate security with Mac virus protection, parental controls, a personal firewall and a system scrubber. If you plug your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch into your computer, Intego scans them and clears any threats so malware can’t be passed on to your computer. It also monitors incoming email messages for any spam or phishing schemes. The only drawback we saw is Intego doesn’t recognize Windows malware that sneak onto Mac computers very well. While these threats won’t affect your computer, they can be accidentally passed on to Windows users.
Reasons to Buy
Reasons to Avoid
$59.99
One of the best features of Avast Security is it works alongside other antivirus and internet security programs without a problem.
This means if you already have a good Mac security solution, but would like a second layer of protection, or double firewalls, you can use Avast. Avast recognizes when it needs to run in the background, or if it should step up and become the first line of defense without you having to play too much with its controls. Avast Security for Mac Pro also has some extra tools that aren’t found with other security software, like a VPN, system scanner and password manager. So, you can download and use Avast for just those features. Avast does a great job detecting and protecting against Mac malware, but it also does a decent job blocking Windows threats, too, so you don’t accidentally pass them on to PC users.
Why Trust Us
For over 15 years we have been researching and testing internet security software. We devote hundreds of hours each year to physically downloading, using and testing dozens of the most popular Mac internet security programs to learn which are the best.
We know the ins and outs of the industry by forming relationships with leading internet security experts, subscribing to news outlets and blogs that alert us of any new breaches or threats, so we can ensure the products we recommend are safe when you need them.
Before we start testing, we look to industry experts to ensure that our testing methodologies represent true user experiences, are ethical and will provide us with enough data to evaluate each program fairly. Some of these experts are professional hackers that are hired by companies to look for vulnerabilities and understand how malware works and the best defenses against it. Others are the system analysts of companies, including the healthcare industry, where keeping tabs on systems and updating security measures are important to the sensitive information kept on them. We also refer to the standards set by the Anti-Malware Testing Standards Organization, or AMTSO, and the testing methodologies and results of other testing laboratories, including AV-Test and AV-Comparatives.
How We Tested
We started our testing of Mac internet security software by downloading and opening a folder of 165 malware threats. We watched how each program responded, with some internet security programs only stopping a few downloads while others immediately quarantined the entire folder before each individual threat could start downloading. After this initial step, we performed deep virus scans to see if the programs could find those threats missed during the download. We compared the threats we knew were released to those found by the Mac protection software and used these findings to determine a protection score. Our own findings were compared to other test labs to assign an overall malware protection score to each Mac internet security solution.
We ran another to see how well Mac antivirus programs detect and remove Windows threats. Even though Windows malware doesn’t affect Mac computers, these viruses can accidentally be sent through email, USB drives or other file sharing methods and infect a Windows user when the infected file is opened. This wasn’t given as much weight as Mac malware detection, but it is still an important point to consider.
Our final test was to look at the extra security and privacy tools included with each program. Internet security programs for Mac should include more protections than standard antivirus software. Some tools we specifically looked for were a personal firewall, parental controls, password managers and vulnerability scans. These are the most important tools, beyond malware detection, that you need to stay protected online. Some programs include features designed to shield important information while you bank or shop online, and others look at links and files shared on social media pages and let you know if any of them are dangerous. A handful of programs include a VPN that makes you invisible online so browser history can’t be recorded, tracked or used to create targeted ads.
Do you need virus protection on a Mac?
Most of the virus and ransomware attacks you hear about target Windows machines, but there has been a steady increase in malware designed to attack Mac computers and laptops, too. In fact, we used test files with over 160 threats developed only for Mac devices as part of our evaluation of the best internet security software for Mac.
Even with the great security measures that come standard with Mac computers and laptops, there are several Mac viruses that slip by. And we noticed that even with safe browsing extensions enabled in Safari and Chrome, Mac malware typically wasn’t tagged and stopped before downloading like Windows threats were. Several of the threats were packaged in a way that looked like legitimate add-ons or Mac programs. Often it wasn’t apparent it was malicious until we reached the very last file in the folder and watched the havoc happen.
Even if your Mac is never infected with a virus, you can download files with Windows malware lurking in them without knowing. When passed along in email, USB storage devices or even posted online, Windows users can become infected with these threats. The best Mac internet security programs can detect and remove Windows threats along with Mac viruses keeping you and your friends, family and coworkers safe from malware. Evernote.
How do I clean viruses from my Mac?
We found the hardest part of manually removing viruses from Mac machines was tracking down the infected file because often it looked like a legitimate folder or program. There are a few websites that list common threats, where they are typically located and how to recognize them. But this can turn into a long, complicated task. Software, like Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac, tracks down these threats for you, and will automatically delete them so you don’t have to deal with them at all. In fact, we found that Bitdefender was one of the best at being able to recognize the difference between the threat and a legitimate file while others had to ask us to double check them before permanently deleting them. And other programs left some of the threats alone because they were so well disguised as genuine folders.
Some antivirus software developers offer free virus scans on their websites, including F-Secure. However, most of these simply tell you if your devices are infected and the names of these threats. A few will tell you where they are located, and the majority require you to still manually remove them. Overall, we highly recommend investing in an internet security program compatible with your Mac to help you, first prevent infection in the first place, and with locating and removing threats if they do sneak in.
How much does Mac internet security cost?
Mac Internet Security software costs on average between $60 and $90, with the best programs including multiple user licenses so you can protect between three and 10 devices at once. These solutions often come with mobile protection so both your mobile devices and your home computers and laptops are protected. Internet security software is a step up from basic Mac antivirus programs that cost about $50 for a single license and don’t include the same number of protection tools as Mac internet security software.
What is the best antivirus for Windows 10?
After months of testing antivirus software using live malware samples, we learned that Bitdefender is the best antivirus solution for both Mac and Windows computers. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus, the Windows 10 version of the software, also comes with a VPN, file shredder and password manager. One of the best features of Bitdefender in both the Mac and Windows versions of the program is its secure delete. This function scrubs stopped and captured malware from your computer without leaving any trace of the threat behind. This prevents the malware from infecting your computer after it has been quarantined or even deleted.
![Free internet browsers for mac Free internet browsers for mac](https://cdn4.techworld.com/cmsdata/features/3401503/yandex-browser_thumb230.jpg)
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2019 is also the best value for Windows antivirus software. It comes with more security tools that other antivirus program and with a minimum of five user licenses that let you secure several Windows computers at once for a decent price.
Related Product Reviews
The best browser for your Mac is the one that comes with your Mac. Safari is faster and more energy efficient than other browsers. Handy tools help you save, find, and share your favorite sites. Built-in privacy features help keep your browsing your business. Apple Pay in Safari lets you shop safely and simply. And Safari works with iCloud to let you browse seamlessly across all your devices.
Privacy and security aren’t just something you should hope for — they’re something you should expect. That’s why features to help protect your privacy and keep your Mac secure are built into Safari.
Intelligent Tracking Prevention.
Remember when you looked at that green mountain bike online? And then saw annoying green mountain bike ads everywhere you browsed? Safari uses machine learning to identify advertisers and others who track your online behavior, and removes the cross‑site tracking data they leave behind. So your browsing stays your business. And now Safari keeps embedded content such as Like buttons, Share buttons, and comment widgets from tracking you without your permission. We know you’ll like that.
Fingerprinting defense.
When you browse the web, the characteristics of your device can be used by advertisers to create a “fingerprint” to follow you online. Safari now thwarts this by only sharing a simplified system profile, making it more difficult for data companies to identify and track you.
Private Browsing.
When you use Private Browsing, Safari doesn’t remember the pages you visit, your search history, or your AutoFill information. You can also use DuckDuckGo, a built-in search engine that doesn’t track you, to make your web searches private, too.
Sandboxing for websites.
Sandboxing provides built-in protection against malicious code and malware by restricting what websites can do. And because Safari runs web pages in separate processes, any harmful code you come across in one page is confined to a single browser tab, so it can’t crash the whole browser or access your data.
Protection from harmful sites.
Safari helps protect you against fraudulent Internet sites and those that harbor malware — before you visit them. If a website looks suspicious, Safari prevents it from loading and warns you.
More secure passwords.
Safari works hard to make sure your passwords are robust and unique by automatically creating and storing strong passwords for you. Once stored, your passwords will autofill across all your Apple devices. And in Safari preferences, you can see any passwords that have been used more than once and easily update them. Security has never been so user friendly.
The fastest way to browse on a Mac. And faster than any Windows browser, too.
With a blazing-fast JavaScript engine, Safari is the world’s fastest desktop browser, outperforming both Mac and PC browsers in benchmark after benchmark on the same Mac.1
JavaScript performance using modern ECMAScript 6 syntax1
Safari vs. Windows 10 browsers
JavaScript performance on advanced web applications1
Safari vs. Windows 10 browsers
Safari vs. Windows 10 browsers
Safari vs. Windows 10 browsers
Browse longer. Watch more.
Safari is optimized specifically for Mac, so it’s more efficient than other browsers on macOS. And Safari plays HTML5 video — the format used by your favorite streaming services — whenever it’s available. So you can browse the web for up to four hours longer and stream video for up to two hours longer than on any other browser.2
web browsing compared to Chrome and Firefox
streaming video compared to Chrome and Firefox
Stop auto-play videos.
Safari prevents unexpected and unwanted videos with audio from automatically playing while you browse. Just click the play button if you want to view them. Have a favorite site where you always want videos to play? Use per‑site settings in Safari to enable media auto-play.
Security For Mac Free
Your Mac has always been the perfect place to sit down and do some serious online shopping. And it’s an even easier and more secure place to pay using Apple Pay in Safari. Look for Apple Pay on your favorite shopping sites, then complete your purchase with Touch ID on your iPhone or MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, or by double-clicking the side button on your Apple Watch. Your credit card details are never shared when you use Apple Pay, and your transactions are protected with industry-leading security.
Not only does Safari come on every Mac, it comes on all your iOS devices. And thanks to iCloud, your passwords, bookmarks, history, tabs, and Reading List are always up to date no matter which device you’re using.
The best browsing experience.
Features in Safari help you surf smarter and easily manage and share what you find.
Safari tabs. Turn on website icons in tabs in Preferences to easily see what you have open. Pin your favorite sites and they’ll reappear in tabs every time you open Safari. You can also mute the audio on any tab right from the Smart Search field. Perfect for stopping the music without having to hunt for where it’s coming from or, if you prefer, silencing all the audio from your browser at once.
Antivirus For Mac
Per-site settings. Personalize your browsing experience in Safari with settings for individual websites, like page zoom level, location services, and content blockers. So each website appears just how you like it.
Reader. Always on. Automatically use Safari Reader for every web article that supports it, so you can read without ads, navigation, and other distractions. Customize your view by selecting your font size and style, and choose Sepia and Night themes.
AirPlay web video. Play video from a web page to your TV with Apple TV — without showing everything else on your desktop. Just click the AirPlay icon that appears on compatible web videos and you can watch your video on the big screen.
Picture in Picture. Float a video window from Safari over your desktop or a full-screen app. Play the video in any corner of the desktop and resize it to see more or less of what’s behind it. So you can watch videos while you browse photos. Or catch up on your favorite show while you catch up on email.
Safari suggestions. With Spotlight built into every Mac, you’re never far from the information you want. As you type in the Smart Search field, you’ll see Safari suggestions from sources like Wikipedia, news sites, Maps, iTunes, movie listings, flight status, weather, stocks, and sports.3
Share menu. Share anything you come across on the web without leaving Safari. Just click the Share button, then choose how you want to send it off. Use Mail, Messages, or AirDrop or add it to a note. Tweet or post to Facebook and even include comments and locations.
Developers
Deep WebKit integration between Mac hardware and macOS allows Safari to deliver the fastest performance and the longest battery life of any browser on the platform, while supporting modern web standards for rich experiences in the browser. WebKit in macOS Mojave adds optimizations and support for additional web standards that enable even richer browsing experiences.
Extensions
Best Browser For A Mac
Safari Extensions are a great way to bring new features to Safari. Customize your browsing experience by adding your favorite extensions from the Mac App Store.