Despite rumors, the relationship between Apple’s
desktop operating system and viruses is more myth than reality. Mac
users will continually tell you that third-party antivirus software
isn’t necessary, that the machines are downright insusceptible to the
infectious malware, spyware, and ransomware plaguing the Windows
ecosystem. It is true that there’s less viruses coded to target OS X
than Windows, but Apple’s operating system is far from invulnerable, and new threats appear regularly.
Fortunately,
there are many fantastic anti-virus programs designed to bolster an
already well-built system. Whether you’re looking to utilize the
ever-popular Avast, the graphical user interface of ClamXav 2, or the
balanced Avira, there’s more than enough freemium products on the market
to secure you’re computer from potential threats. Combine that with
a little caution, and you’ll have plenty of peace of mind.
Below are some of our favorite pieces of antivirus software.
Updated on 4-17-2015: This article has been updated since it was originally published to reflect recent software changes.
A few protection suggestions prior to installing antivirus software…
Stay up to date
— Keeping your Mac up to date with the latest software is never a bad
idea. Apple has always been keen to pinpoint potential threats, often
issuing incremental updates that address system vulnerabilities as
quickly as possible. Assuming you’ve opted for automatic updates,
install them as their notifications arise, or manual install the updates
from within the Updates panel located on the right-hand side
when viewing the main App Store window. Leaving updates unattended will
only risk your Mac to greater virus exposure.
Turn on your firewall — Although not for everyone,
turning on the firewall built into more recent versions of Mac OS X can
help secure network traffic is properly monitored and secure. If you’ve
haven’t done so already, navigate to the main System Preferences panel,
select the Security & Privacy option and click the Firewall tab located at the top of the window. Afterward, click the Turn On Firewall button, followed by the Firewall Options button, and specify any connection you wish to block by adding the application to the resulting list.
Encrypt your data — Mac
OS X may already secure important files on your behalf, but setting up
FileVault’s full disk, XTS-AES 128 encryption adds yet another level of
protection to your entire drive. It essentially prevents unwanted users
from seeing and copying your files, setting a master password for your
machine in the process and allowing you to specify which user accounts
are allowed to unlock the encrypted drive. To turn on FileVault,
navigate to the main System Preferences panel, select the Security & Privacy option and click the FileVault tab located at the top of the window. Afterward, click the Turn on FileVault button, note the recovery key — or allow Apple to store the password on your behalf — and restart your computer when prompted.
Exercise caution — It should go without saying, but be cautious when browsing the Web,
downloading email attachments, or otherwise engaging with unfamiliar
sources and content. There’s usually a good reason if your browser or
antivirus software doesn’t trust a certificate or attachment. Use your
brain and consider picking up the community curated Web of Trust extension
for your browser. The basic software functions as a review system for
various websites and links, providing users with up-to-date information
on whether the content in question is reputable or malicious.
Best free antivirus for Mac OS X
Avast! is like the blockbuster of antivirus software — minus the whole big-name budget. It’s easily one of the most, if not the most, popular antivirus software on the Web
given the program is loaded with a breadth of exclusive features that
have yet to find their way into most other antivirus software. The
program, free for non-commercial use, is quick and effective, providing
on-demand tools designed for full-system malware scans as well as those
for sifting through specific email threads, attachments, and various Web
activities (i.e. webpages, downloads, and Java scripts). Furthermore,
the software touts drag-and-drop scanning for individual files and
phishing protection, along with the ability to scan external drives and
attached volumes for potential infections.
The application’s
light-gray interface is straightforward and self-explanatory, featuring a
navigational pane on the left that consists of five primary buttons and
a real-time graph that aggregates shield activity and allows users to
quickly check the overall stats of their computer. Although the software
automatically updates and enables subtle, pop-up notifications by
default, users can easily turn off either feature if they prefer greater
manual control or wish to subdue the alerts entirely. The software
is also relatively lightweight, hovering around a paltry 750MB in size,
and tailored for Mac-specific malware. A built-in firewall or parental
controls would be nice, it’s tough to argue with more than 25 years of
service and a sprawling user base.
ClamXav
is not your typical antivirus software. The open-source software is
barebones and rudimentary in nature, designed as a graphical user
interface for the open source ClamAV antivirus engine, while still
boasting the same functionality you’d likely find in most paid antivirus
apps. The app can scan individual files or entire folders on-demand, on
access, or on schedule, subsequently detecting and quarantining both
Mac OS X and Windows-based malware swiftly and efficiently.
It
doesn’t handle email scans quite as fluidly and methodically as Avast! —
the detection system is often overly aggressive when it comes to
pinpointing potential threats — but it is capable of removing malware
from your mailbox and allows users to save their favorite scan locations
for quicker access. Also, although ClamXav is natively powered by the
ClamAV engine, those familiar with code can incorporate their own engine
build instead, adding substantial flexibility catered more toward
open-source aficionados than the everyday user.
The
program is also relatively light on resources, clad in a gray
minimalist interface that makes starting and halting scans a breeze, and
comes equipped with a tool known as “Sentry” that conveniently monitors
changes to specific files and folders opposed to your entire system.
The software’s biggest drawback, aside from occasionally sluggish scan
speeds, is easily how infrequent virus definitions update. Still, the
sheer level of flexibility ClamXav offers gives the software a slight
upper hand above its closed-source competition.
Related: Our quick-hit guide to password protecting a folder
If offering an entire history of Mac malware dating back to ’82
isn’t evident of a developer on top of its game, I don’t know what is.
Straddling the line somewhere between necessity and excess, Sophos
offers all the basic utilities you’ve come to expect from quality
antivirus software. 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 as a
potential threat.
The software even
incorporates a “Live Antivirus” feature that will quarantine unknown
files that are merely exhibiting suspicious behavior in line with that
of malicious threats — a tool that could potentially be seen as
overkill, but is a reassuring precaution all the same. Although the
program has a tendency to scan slower than most, it’s fairly lightweight
and non-obtrusively performs vital background tasks while barely
leeching or exhausting your system’s resources.
Despite
the notable feature set, Sophos manages to fit each facet of the
software within a compact, cocoa-based interface that looks and feels
like a native Mac app. Initiating a full-system scan can be done
directly from the top of main interface, while additional options for
more specific scans are discretely housed within a drop-down menu
located at the bottom of the window. Additionally, its malware
definitions are constantly being updated, ensuring the program is never
without the latest knowledge of potential threats. It’s one of the most
hands-off antivirus programs on the market, and as such, sits among the
best.
Bitdefender
Virus Scanner does not live up to its premium brethren, Bitdefender
Antivirus for Mac, in terms of scope or functionality. However, the
lightweight app remains a capable piece of software for those seeking
basic protection against Mac-based malware and its Windows counterpart.
It’s built upon the company’s award-winning, anti-virus engine and
features a host of scan options, allowing you to quickly perform deep
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 pressed for time. Moreover, it automatically updates with
Bitdefender’s hourly malware definitions prior to scanning, while
providing a quick means for blacklisting specific locations from system
scans.
Other hallmarks are limited, though. Bitdefender Virus
Scanner automatically tries to disinfect and quarantine suspicious files
it comes across, and though the feature is not unique to Bitdefener’s
offering, the software can also quickly search for malware within
various archives and file types (PDF, PKG, ZIP, RAR, etc.). Said
functionality is housed within a sleek window showcasing the three
scanning modes in addition to a sole Update button, too, the
latter of which can be used in lieu of automatic updates. It’s not the
most thorough, nor is its accompanying progress bar particularly
accurate, but sometimes simplicity is far more enticing.
Some
things, though not all, are worth the wait. Although German security
firm Avira took its sweet time regarding a Mac incarnation of its
beloved antivirus for Windows, the company built a Mac version that
remains completely free for all users — whether being utilized by
private consumers, professionals, or even multinational corporations.
The software strikes a nice balance between ease of use and quick access
to advance utilities, ultimately rendering basic system scans just as
simple to execute as those that are scheduled and file-specific. The
software is equipped with standard spyware and adware protection, along
with the ability to intercept harmful websites and block tracking, and
comes bundled with 5GB of online storage in addition to one-click
deletion of malicious files.
Unlike most
of the software on our roundup however, Avira is coupled with a
moderately-lengthy installation and update process that goes
hand-in-hand with the software’s heavy uses of system resources. It’s
certainly not a deal breaker considering the price of the software and
the many laudable aspects of the program, but it’s an unfortunate
downside nonetheless.
Avira’s interface
is also rather bulky, though easily understandable, 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 also periodically
updated in a timely fashion, regardless of how long the initial updates
might take to finish. It’s ideal for the less tech-savvy bunch, but
capable enough for those looking for automation, scan history, and other
advanced features.
Courtesy: digitaltrends
