Lifehacker Avast For Mac

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Lifehacker Avast For Mac 6,6/10 9231 votes

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You Need Malware Protection

You use all kinds of software every day, whether it's a browser to check your social media, a photo editing tool to make those pictures looks spiffy, or a word processor to write anything from a grant application to a poem. But there's another kind of software that uses you, for nefarious purposes. When software comes from the Dark Side, with malicious intent, we call it malware. Fortunately, you can enlist protective software to fight these evil forces, anything from a simple antivirus utility to a feature-rich security suite that takes care of all your devices.

Malware protection solutions come in all sizes. Despite the word 'virus' in the name, an antivirus utility actually aims to protect against all types of malware. Full-scale security suites expand protection to include such things as spam filtering and parental control. Some antimalware tools work alongside your main protection to provide added security against specific threats, such as ransomware. Before we explore the different types of protection available, let's look at just what they're up against.

What Is Malware?

The term malware is short for malicious software, and it refers to absolutely any program or process whose purpose is harmful, even criminal. The earliest widely known form of malware was the computer virus, the name for a program that infects other programs with its code, and replicates when the infected program runs. Many early viruses had no malicious payload; they just served to show off the coder's skills, or even to give a shout-out to a loved one. Because viruses were first, we still use the name antivirus for software that protects against all kinds of malware.

A virus spreads when someone launches the infected program; a worm spreads without any help. Worms have been around longer than the internet, with the first one, Creeper, hitting Arpanet in 1971. The infamous Morris Worm, released in 1988, was nominally intended to measure the extent of the nascent internet. However, due to a coding error it crashed thousands of servers and earned its creator a felony conviction.

Modern malware coders are way beyond the 'look at me!' attitude of those early virus writers. They're in it for the money—period—and there's not a lot of money in viruses and worms. Trojan horse programs can be more lucrative. This sort of malware appears as, and may even be, a useful program of some kind, but once you let it inside the walls of your computer, it turns loose a crew of nasties. They may send your personal and financial data to malware HQ, install additional programs to earn per-installation cash, or anything the coders can think of to monetize their control of your computer.

Trojans that transmit your private information are one kind of spyware. Other types of spyware focus on tracking your web-browsing habits, or the way you use your computer. Keylogger spyware tools record the keystrokes you type, hoping to hit pay dirt by capturing your passwords. Some anti-malware tools include components specifically devoted to spyware protection.

Another common threat is what's called a bot. Typically, the bot owner uses spam or drive-by downloads to infect many computers, and then sells the services of this herd of bots. Customers can contract with the bot-herder for tasks including bitcoin mining, distributing spam, or participating in a distributed denial of service attack.

The current alpha predator of money-making malware, though, is ransomware—specifically, encrypting ransomware. If this kind of attack hits your computer, you'll find that all your essential files have been encrypted. The perpetrator of the attack will gladly decrypt them for you—if you pay the ransom. Worst of all, even if you manage to remove the ransomware itself, your files remain encrypted. It's a nightmare!

Adware and Other PUPs

Most malware-fighting tools also handle removal of potentially unwanted programs—PUPs for short. In many cases, you must choose whether or not to remove these. They're not specifically malicious, but they may well be unwanted.

For example, you may have installed an ad-supported free utility without realizing just how invasive its advertisements would be. Or you may have clicked through screen after screen during one program's installation, without realizing that by doing so you agreed to install a boatload of other programs. And it's not uncommon for these programs to resist uninstallation. Companies like AppEsteem aim to eliminate these deceptive bundling practices, but if you've already been hit, you need some help to clean up the mess.

Basic Malware Protection

You absolutely need at least a basic level of protection for all of your devices, and that means an antivirus utility. As noted, despite the name these products do a lot more than fight viruses. They take aim at every kind of malware, and some of them do a great job.

But, you may ask, doesn't Windows 10 have antivirus built right in? It's true that Windows Defender is built into Windows 10, and it gained more responsibilities with the Creators Update. If you have no other antivirus, Windows Defender turns on automatically. If you install a third-party antivirus, it goes dormant. Windows Defender has been getting better scores from the independent labs, and in our own tests, but the best third-party antivirus products, both free and premium, score way higher.

What's the Best Free Antivirus?

Even though Windows Defender isn't the best, you may be reluctant to pay for antivirus protection, given that you can get it for free. As it turns out, quite a few companies offer free antivirus solutions, and some of them are quite good.

Most purveyors of free antivirus protection also offer a premium, paid edition. In some cases, the premium edition includes features not available for free, or offers VIP tech support. Others make the full range of features free for consumers, but require payment for business-related use. The best of these free antivirus utilities outperform all but the top for-pay competitors.

Malware Scan Types

You can launch a full antivirus scan of your computer at will, to root out any preexisting malware problems. Most also let you schedule a regular scan. But the first line of defense is on-access scanning. For some antivirus utilities, the minuscule access that occurs when Windows Explorer displays a file's details is sufficient to trigger a scan. Others wait until the file gets copied to disk, or until just before it executes. The main point is, your antivirus makes sure that no new malware can infest the computer.

But how does it know? How does it tell that a program is malicious? The easiest method involves what's called a signature—a kind of fingerprint that identifies known malicious files. Early antivirus tools simply checked the numeric hash of entire programs against a blacklist. Malware coders responded to that by making threats polymorphic, so every victim received a slightly different file. And antivirus researchers in turn responded by making signatures more generic, so that all variations on a particular malware strain would still fit the profile.

But is there an end to the cat-and-mouse game between malware coders and antivirus researchers? Yes, quite possibly there is. The very definition of malware is software that performs some type of malicious action. Behavior-based detection systems don't check programs against a list of known offenders. Instead, they watch all unknown programs for malicious behaviors. This kind of detection works against any malware attack, even a brand-new zero-day exploit.

Emergency Malware Removal

There's always the chance that your antivirus might miss a very new, very virulent malware strain. You also may run into trouble when you try to install antivirus protection, because the malware already entrenched on your computer fights back. In either of those cases, you can call on the many free cleanup-only tools.

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is our current favorite in this realm. We've seen tech support agents for other companies call on Malwarebytes to get rid of infestations that thwarted their own product. It's not the only choice, though. Sophos, Symantec, and Emsisoft are among the others that offer similar free malware cleaners.

Most security vendors also offer a free rescue disk, typically in the form of an ISO file that you burn to a CD. Windows-based malware only works when Windows is running, after all. Booting from the rescue disk puts you in a different operating environment, typically a Linux variant, with a malware scanner built in. You may find the rescue scanner awkward and unfamiliar, compared to its slick, Windows-based cousin, but if it does the job, you can ignore its lack of polish.

Beyond Malware Protection

Antivirus is one kind of security for your computer, but there are many other possibilities. A firewall fends off hack attacks from outside, and prevents programs from abusing your network connection. If your email provider doesn't filter out spam, a local spam filter utility can help. Parental control software steers kids away from inappropriate websites and keeps a lid on their screen time. Rather than choose all these components separately, with the risk that they won't play nice together, many users opt for a security suite that integrates a variety of security components. Of course, malware protection is at the core of every such suite.

There are many other ways security software can protect your computer and your privacy. Backup is, in a way, the ultimate security for your important files. Even if a piece of space junk smashes your computer to smithereens, you still have your backed-up files. Cleaning up exposed data on your system, stuff that could reveal your habits, is another way to protect privacy. Password management helps you attain the goal of using a strong, unique password for every website. Most security companies offer a higher-level suite that adds many more security-related features. We call these feature-packed products mega-suites, to distinguish them from the basic, entry-level suites.

Protecting your privacy and security on your desktop or laptop computer is dandy, but what about your other devices? If your household teems with devices running Windows, Android, macOS, and iOS, you may want to consider a multi-device security suite. Protection for Windows and Android devices is the most important, as these are the big targets for malware attack. Even macOS devices have suffered crippling attacks, though they're not as common. And while iPhones and iPads are intrinsically safer, some security features, such as password management and URL filtering, are platform-independent.

You also need to think about protecting your data as it travels between your devices and the web. If you've connected to an unsecured Wi-Fi hotspot, another user (or the sneaky owner of the hotspot) could sift through your data stream. Using a VPN protects your data in transit, and has the added benefit of masking your IP address. More security companies are beginning to include a VPN component, though full access may require an additional subscription.

Ransomware Protection

As noted earlier, an antivirus with protection only against computer viruses would be absurd. In general, a product that only blocks viruses, or adware, or spyware, or any single malware type would be pointless. Ransomware, however, is another matter.

If your regular antivirus misses a brand-new Trojan and thereby lets some crook steal your credit card number, that's bad. But you can get a new card, and an antivirus update (or a remote remediation session with tech support) should wipe out the Trojan. But if the antivirus misses a ransomware attack, that's it. Your files are hosed, and removing the ransomware won't help. Because of that, we recommend a second line of protection against ransomware.

You may find that your antivirus or security suite has some degree of ransomware-specific protection built in. Some products simply ban unauthorized programs from making changes to files in certain protected folders. Want to edit a document with your word processor? No problem! But when ransomware comes knocking, it won't get in. Others add a layer of behavior-based ransomware detection, to catch anything that gets past the other malware protection layers.

What we find most interesting are the dedicated anti-ransomware tools that are starting to crop up. They work alongside your existing antivirus, with the sole aim of detecting the behavior of any ransomware that gets past other defensive layers. The free CyberSight RansomStopper is an Editor's Choice in this realm, as is Check Point ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware. While ZoneAlarm isn't free, it's certainly inexpensive.

What's the Best Malware Protection?

In the chart at the top of this article, we've identified 10 products that will definitely help keep malware far, far away from your computer. We made a point of including a variety of program types, from many different security companies.

Clearly these aren't the only products that you should consider. We've reviewed many dozens in different categories, and many of them are just as good as the ones in the chart. For a full list of all such programs that rated four stars (Excellent) or better, see the blurbs below. And if you don't have any malware protection yet, read the reviews, make a choice, and install it now.

Editors' Note: We are aware of the allegations of Kaspersky Labs' inappropriate ties to the Russian government. Until we see some actual proof of these allegations, we will treat them as unproven, and continue to recommend Kaspersky's security products as long as their performance continues to merit our endorsement.

The Best Malware Removal and Protection Software Featured in This Roundup:

  • Avast Free Antivirus 2017 Review


    MSRP: $0.00

    Pros: Antivirus lab test results plentiful and positive. Excellent scores in our hands-on tests and antiphishing test. Network security inspector. Password manager. Many useful, security-related bonus features. Free.

    Cons: Password manager features limited. Some bonus features require separate purchase.

    Bottom Line: Avast Free Antivirus 2017 combines a great free antivirus with a surprisingly extensive collection of bonus features.

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  • AVG AntiVirus Free (2017) Review


    MSRP: $0.00

    Pros: Very good scores from many independent testing labs. Very good malware-blocking score. Decent malicious URL blocking score. Web security plug-in includes website rating and active Do Not Track.

    Cons: Poor score in antiphishing test. Initial scan slower than average.

    Bottom Line: AVG AntiVirus Free has a new look, and some new technology, but our hands-on tests and independent lab tests show that it's just as reliable as ever.

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  • Bitdefender Antivirus Plus Review


    MSRP: $39.99

    Pros: Outstanding scores in independent lab tests and our web protection tests. Multi-layered ransomware protection. Active Do Not Track. Password manager. Banking protection. Offers a virtual private network, or VPN. Many security-centered bonus features.

    Cons: Unlimited VPN access requires separate subscription. With all real-time protection disabled, ransomware-specific features missed one uncommon sample.

    Bottom Line: With outstanding antivirus test results and a collection of features that puts many security suites to shame, Bitdefender Antivirus Plus is an excellent choice for protecting your PC.

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  • Bitdefender Internet Security Review


    MSRP: $59.99

    Pros: Outstanding scores in independent antivirus lab tests and our web protection tests. Multilayered ransomware protection. Includes VPN. Full-featured parental control. File encryption. Webcam security. Many bonus features.

    Cons: Unlimited VPN access requires separate subscription. With antivirus disabled, ransomware-specific features missed one uncommon sample in testing. Parental control for iOS not fully functional.

    Bottom Line: Bitdefender Internet Security gets VPN protection and all the other security features from the company's excellent antivirus product, plus it adds webcam security, effective parental control, and more. It earns our Editors' Choice badge as a top entry-level security suite.

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  • Bitdefender Total Security Review


    MSRP: $89.99

    Pros: Award-winning antivirus. Many bonus features including VPN and ransomware protection. Premium Parental Control detects cyberbullying. Anti-theft for Windows, Android, and iOS. Optimization for Windows.

    Cons: Limited iOS support. Premium Parental Control costs extra.

    Bottom Line: If you want every imaginable security component in a single well-integrated package, plus a wealth of useful bonus features and cross-platform protection, Bitdefender's Total Security mega-suite is what you need.

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  • Check Point ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware Review


    MSRP: $1.99

    Pros: Successfully protects against real-world ransomware samples. Cleans up all ransomware traces in testing. Very easy to use.

    Cons: Not free like some competing products. Routinely allows (and then reverses) file encryption.

    Bottom Line: Check Point ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware remains one of the most effective ransomware-specific security tools we've tested. After a false start, it showed complete success against all our real-world samples.

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  • CyberSight RansomStopper Review


    MSRP: $0.00

    Pros: Detected and blocked all real-world ransomware samples, including samples launched at startup. Doesn't permit encryption of files. Free.

    Cons: Installation not complete until after reboot.

    Bottom Line: CyberSight RansomStopper offers free, dedicated ransomware protection, and it now handles ransomware that launches at Windows startup. It's a winner, and free.

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  • Kaspersky Anti-Virus Review


    MSRP: $59.99

    Pros: Perfect and near-perfect scores from four independent testing labs. Perfect score in our phishing protection test. Good scores in our malware-blocking and malicious URL blocking tests. Full-scale phone and live chat support.

    Cons: Bonus scans significantly overlap each other.

    Bottom Line: Kaspersky Anti-Virus sweeps the antivirus testing labs, with excellent scores across the board. It remains an antivirus Editors' Choice.

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  • Kaspersky Internet Security Review


    MSRP: $79.99

    Pros: Top-notch scores from four labs. Best antiphishing score. Firewall with powerful application control. Protection for macOS and Android devices. Automated security patching. Webcam protection. Many bonus features.

    Cons: Hard to find some settings.

    Bottom Line: Kaspersky Internet Security gets top scores from the antivirus testing labs. It comes with everything you'd expect in a suite, along with plenty of extras, and its components are consistently effective.

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  • Symantec Norton AntiVirus Plus Review


    MSRP: $59.99

    Pros: Excellent scores in independent lab tests and in our own tests. Includes online backup, spam filter, password manager, and other bonus features.

    Cons: First full scan unusually slow. Expensive. No multi-license pricing.

    Bottom Line: Symantec Norton AntiVirus Plus gets impressive scores in independent lab tests and our own hands-on tests, but it's expensive and doesn't offer volume pricing. If you want Norton protection, you're better off with one of Symantec's suite products.

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  • Symantec Norton 360 With LifeLock Select Review


    MSRP: $149.99

    Pros: Includes LifeLock identity theft mitigation. No-limits VPN. Excellent security protection. Supports Windows, macOS, Android, iOS. Virus protection promise.

    Cons: Expensive. Security protection limited on iOS devices. No parental control for macOS.

    Bottom Line: In addition to providing thorough cross-platform security, Symantec Norton 360 with LifeLock Select aims to help you recover from the crippling effects of identity theft.

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  • Webroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus Review


    MSRP: $39.99

    Pros: Perfect score in our malware protection test. Very good antiphishing score. Ransomware protection. Light on system resources. Fast scan, tiny size. Advanced features.

    Cons: Limited lab test results due to unusual detection techniques. Missed one unique hand-modified ransomware sample in testing.

    Bottom Line: Tiny, speedy Webroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus keeps a light touch on your system's resources. It aces our hands-on malware protection test, and can even roll back ransomware activity.

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  • McAfee AntiVirus Plus Review


    MSRP: $59.99

    Pros: Protection for every Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS device in your household. Good scores in hands-on tests. Perfect score in antiphishing test. Includes new ransomware protection and PC Boost, plus many bonus features.

    Cons: Ransom Guard missed one hand-modified ransomware sample. PC Boost web speedup works only in Chrome. Mac edition less feature-rich than Windows or Android. Still fewer features for iOS.

    Bottom Line: A single subscription for McAfee AntiVirus Plus lets you protect every Windows, Android, macOS, and iOS device in your household. It's quite a deal, and the current edition adds some new and useful features.

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  • Symantec Norton 360 Deluxe Review


    MSRP: $99.99

    Pros: No-limits VPN. Top scores in our malware protection and malicious URL blocking tests. Hosted storage for online backup. Powerful, self-sufficient firewall. Supports Windows, macOS, Android, iOS. Virus protection promise.

    Cons: Security protection limited on iOS devices. No parental control for macOS.

    Bottom Line: In addition to cross-platform security, hosted online backup, and a ton of security features, Symantec Norton 360 Deluxe gives you a no-limits VPN and full-featured parental control system that would cost plenty by themselves. It's a high-security bargain.

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  • Avast Pro Antivirus 2017 Review


    MSRP: $39.99

    Pros: Excellent scores in our hands-on tests. Good scores from independent labs. Wi-Fi inspector. Password manager. Numerous useful, security-related bonus features. Pro-only Sandbox and Real Site features.

    Cons: Password manager features limited. Some bonus features require separate purchase. Pro-only features don't merit the price.

    Bottom Line: Avast Pro Antivirus 2017 offers the same wealth of features as its free edition, and not a lot more. It's an excellent product, but for most people the free version will suffice.

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  • Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition Review


    MSRP: $0.00

    Pros: Same core antivirus protection as for-pay Bitdefender. Excellent scores from independent testing labs. Good scores in phishing and malicious URL blocking tests. Free.

    Cons: Lacks some advanced malware protection layers found in commercial antivirus.

    Bottom Line: Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition includes the same core antivirus technology found in the commercial Bitdefender Antivirus, focusing on the essential task of antivirus protection with minimal add-ons.

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  • Check Point ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus+ Review


    MSRP: $0.00

    Pros: Antivirus protection licensed from Kaspersky. Tough, effective two-way firewall. Free. Bonus features.

    Cons: No antivirus lab test results. Lacks some antivirus features. No protection for malicious or fraudulent websites. Behavioral detection tars good and bad programs in testing. Personal data protection fails in testing.

    Bottom Line: Check Point ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus+ combines Kaspersky-powered antivirus with an effective firewall, but it lacks protection against malicious and fraudulent websites, and some of its bonus features don't work.

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  • Check Point ZoneAlarm PRO Antivirus + Firewall Review


    MSRP: $39.95

    Pros: Advanced firewall. Antivirus licensed from Kaspersky. Unusual phishing protection. Includes useful bonus tools.

    Cons: No independent antivirus lab results. Firewall upgrades too advanced for average user. So-so scores against malicious and fraudulent websites in our testing. Phishing protection only in Chrome.

    Bottom Line: Check Point ZoneAlarm PRO Antivirus + Firewall offers advanced features not found in the free edition, but those features are too advanced for most users. In addition, it earned mediocre scores in our hands-on antivirus testing.

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  • Emsisoft Anti-Malware 2017 Review


    MSRP: $39.95

    Pros: Excellent scores in our malware blocking and malicious URL blocking tests. Good scores in lab tests. Effective behavior-based detection can even spot ransomware. Clean, simple user interface.

    Cons: So-so score in our antiphishing test. Behavior-based detection warns about both valid programs and malware.

    Bottom Line: Hence the name, Emsisoft Anti-Malware focuses on the core task of keeping your PCs free of malware. It does a good job, and with a clean, simple interface, it looks good too.

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  • ESET NOD32 Antivirus Review


    MSRP: $39.99

    Pros: Very good scores from independent testing labs. Good scores in our hands-on tests. HIPS component blocks exploits. UEFI scanner finds malware in firmware. Comprehensive device control. Avast premium cleanup.

    Cons: So-so phishing protection score. Device control too complex for most users.

    Bottom Line: ESET NOD32 Antivirus gets good scores in lab tests and our own tests, and its collection of security components goes far beyond antivirus basics.

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  • Kaspersky Security Cloud Review


    MSRP: $89.99

    Pros: Protects up to 20 Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices. Includes security, parental control, password management, VPN, and much more. Online dashboard manages security. Low per-device cost.

    Cons: VPN requires separate subscription to unlock all features. Password manager lacks advanced features. Requires many separate installations.

    Bottom Line: Kaspersky Security Cloud is a security system that lets you install and manage top-notch security on up to 20 PCs, phones, and tablets at an impressively low per-device price. Its an Editors' Choice for cross-platform security.

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  • Kaspersky Total Security Review


    MSRP: $99.99

    Pros: Excellent scores from four antivirus labs. Comprehensive parental control. File encryption and shredding. Password manager. Backup system. Cross-platform protection. Tons of bonus features.

    Cons: Pricier than the competition. Lacks hosted storage for online backup.

    Bottom Line: Kaspersky Total Security offers nearly everything you could want in a security suite: Award-winning antivirus protection, a strong firewall, comprehensive parental control, local and online backup, file encryption, and more.

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  • McAfee LiveSafe Review


    MSRP: $99.99

    Pros: Security suite or antivirus protection for all devices in your household. Offers 1GB of encrypted cloud storage with biometric authentication.

    Cons: Use of security questions renders encrypted storage vulnerable. Personal Locker not compatible with macOS or with iOS 11. Parental control weak and awkward.

    Bottom Line: If you need encrypted cloud storage and multiple password manager profiles, McAfee LiveSafe can help. If not, stick with McAfee's entry-level suite or standalone antivirus.

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  • McAfee Total Protection Review


    MSRP: $99.99

    Pros: Cross-platform security for all devices in your household. Comprehensive identity theft protection and remediation. Safe Family parental control. Five licenses for True Key password manager. File encryption.

    Cons: Encryption weakened by use of simple security questions. Antivirus lab scores better, but still not tops. Parental control could use some work.

    Bottom Line: McAfee Total Protection offers excellent security and password management for all your devices, and parental control for all except Macs. The suite's comprehensive new identity theft protection system is an enticing extra.

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  • Sophos Home Free Review


    MSRP: $0.00

    Pros: Very good scores in our hands-on tests. Decent antiphishing score. Remote management. Free.

    Cons: No test results from independent labs. Parental content filter ineffective. Slow full scan.

    Bottom Line: Sophos Home Free gives consumers antivirus protection built for business, including remote management, but no testing labs vouch for its accuracy.

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  • Sophos Home Premium Review


    MSRP: $60.00

    Pros: Good scores in our hands-on tests. Protects against ransomware, keyloggers, and exploits. Remote management for up to 10 PCs or Macs. Inexpensive.

    Cons: No test results from independent labs. Advanced features require uncommon tech expertise. Parental control and webcam protection limited.

    Bottom Line: Sophos Home Premium expands on basic antivirus with protection technology forged in the company's Enterprise-level products, but doesn't have lab results to verify its efficacy.

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  • StartMail Review


    MSRP: $59.95

    Pros: Can send encrypted email to any recipient using Q&A authentication. Easily enable industry-standard PGP encryption. Subscription comes with two companion accounts. Can create disposable or custom email aliases.

    Cons: No plug-ins to ease use with email client programs.

    Bottom Line: Using a free webmail account can cost you in privacy. With the deceptively simple StartMail service, you can send encrypted mail to anyone.

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  • The Kure Review


    MSRP: $19.99

    Pros: On reboot, restores your PC to a clean, malware-free state. Exempts personal folders from being wiped. Ransomware recovery proved effective in testing. Live-chat tech support built in.

    Cons: Malware can act freely until eliminated by reboot. Doesn't offer 24-hour tech support.

    Bottom Line: When your PC has The Kure installed, you can wipe out malware just by rebooting. Your own documents aren't affected, and it even has the ability to reverse the effects of encrypting ransomware.

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  • TrackOFF Basic Review


    MSRP: $34.95

    Pros: Foils websites that track your online activity using fingerprinting. Actively detects tracking attempts. Can clear cookies and other browser traces. Includes anonymous search.

    Cons: Doesn't encrypt network traffic. Can't stop your ISP from gathering and selling information.

    Bottom Line: Modern websites quiz your browser to generate a fingerprint that uniquely identifies you, so they can track your actions. If you're concerned about privacy, use TrackOFF to foil the fingerprinters.

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  • Trend Micro Antivirus+ Security Review


    MSRP: $39.95

    Pros: Excellent scores in our antiphishing and malicious URL blocking tests. Many good scores from antivirus labs. Multi-layered ransomware protection. New Pay Guard protects online transactions. Many bonus features.

    Cons: Poor score in our hands-on malware protection test. Slow full scan. Ransomware protection uneven. Banking protection doesn't kick in automatically. Spam filter works only with Outlook. No multi-device licensing.

    Bottom Line: In addition to effective malware protection, Trend Micro Antivirus+ Security offers layered protection against ransomware, a firewall booster, protection for online banking, and more.

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  • Trend Micro Internet Security Review


    MSRP: $79.95

    Pros: Excellent scores in our antiphishing and malicious URL blocking tests. Hardened browser for online banking. PC optimizer. Social media privacy scanner. Many useful bonus features.

    Cons: Parental control easily foiled. Spam filter only works with Outlook. Poor score in hands-on malware protection test. No firewall.

    Bottom Line: Trend Micro Internet Security adds many useful components to the already rich feature set of Trend Micro Antivirus+ Security. If its strengths match your needs, it can be a winner.

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  • Trend Micro Maximum Security Review


    MSRP: $89.95

    Pros: Excellent scores in our antiphishing and malicious URL blocking tests. Many useful bonus features. Comprehensive Android security. Protection for macOS beyond the basics. Unusually rich iOS support.

    Cons: Parental control easily foiled on some platforms. Poor score in hands-on malware protection test. Some problems with social media privacy scanner.

    Bottom Line: Trend Micro Maximum Security offers protection for your Windows, macOS, Android, or iOS devices, though you get a richer set of features on Windows and Android.

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  • VoodooSoft VoodooShield Review


    MSRP: $19.99

    Pros: Prevents non-whitelisted programs from launching when computer is at risk. New machine-learning tool flags malware. Checks blocked files against 57 antivirus scanners. Free edition for consumers.

    Cons: Could possibly whitelist malware running prior to installation. Flagged some legitimate programs as suspicious, some as malicious.

    Bottom Line: VoodooShield takes a whitelist approach to antivirus protection, but without getting in the user's way. A new machine-learning component brings it closer to the abilities of a standalone antivirus.

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  • Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Complete Review


    MSRP: $79.99

    Pros: Excellent antivirus protection. 25GB hosted storage to back up and sync files. Tune-up tools for macOS and Windows. Full-featured Android security. Light on system resources. Fastest scan.

    Cons: Password manager features limited. Few independent antivirus lab results. Secure deletion tool does no data overwriting at its default level.

    Bottom Line: Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Complete adds backup, tune-up, and secure deletion for your Windows and macOS devices. If you don't need spam filtering or parental control, this suite is a good deal.

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avast! Free Antivirus for Mac version 9

Editor Rating: Good (3.0)

  • Pros

    Certified by one independent testing lab. Free. Speedy full scan. Network security scanner. Password manager. Website rating. Active Do Not Track.

  • Cons

    Poor scores in phishing protection test. Password manager includes only basic features. SiteCorrect feature did not work in testing.

  • Bottom Line

    Avast Security (for Mac) delivers effective malware protection along with unusual bonus features. It tanks our antiphishing test, but this free utility is still worth a look.

For years, Mac users basked in the mystique of virus-free computing. It wasn't true, alas, and as time goes on we see more and more Mac-specific malware attacks. The situation may not be nearly as bad as for Window or Android, but prudence still dictates that you install antivirus protection on your Macs as well. Avast Security offers Macs protection against malware along with advanced features including a password manager and a network security scanner, all for a cost of exactly nothing.

Installation went quickly, though I did find I had to separately activate the password manager and the Online Security browser extension from the Tools page. You'll also find Avast's SecureLine VPN on that page, but it's not free like the others. When you click to activate, you get a choice of signing up for $2.99 per month or starting a 30-day trial.

SEE ALSO: The Best Free Antivirus Protection for 2019

The product's spacious main window features a large status indicator centered in an otherwise-empty white region, with a menu down the left side. It's a very different appearance from Avast Free Antivirus on Windows, which uses pops of purple and green on a dark gray background.

Pricing and OS Support

Like Bitdefender and Kaspersky, Avast supports macOS versions back to 10.9 Mavericks. If you have an antique Mac that for some reason can't even run Mavericks, consider ESET Cyber Security (for Mac), ProtectWorks, or ClamXAV (for Mac) all of which support versions from 10.6 (Snow Leopard) on. At the other end of the spectrum, Avira, Trend Micro, and Symantec require macOS 10.11 (El Capitan) or better.

Like Sophos and Avira, Avast offers full antivirus protection for free. Avast Security Pro (for Mac) costs $59.99 per year for one license or $69.99 for three. The Pro edition adds ransomware protection and real-time notification when new devices connect to your network. The free edition is strictly for non-commercial use; in a business setting, you must pay up.

Good Malware Protection Scores

When reviewing a Windows antivirus utility, I report how it scored with four independent antivirus testing labs. The very best products earn top scores from all four labs. But even if no test results exist, I can run my own hands-on tests using real-world malware and malware-hosting URLs.

It took years to develop my hands-on tools and tests for Windows. Most of them don't carry over to the macOS platform. Hence lab results become extremely important for my Mac antivirus reviews. Two of the labs I follow, AV-Test Institute and AV-Comparatives, test Mac antivirus, and Avast participates with one of them.

Experts at AV-Comparatives test Mac antivirus products using the latest macOS malware. They also evaluate each product's ability to detect Windows malware. Why? While a Trojan written for Windows wouldn't run on a Mac, the Mac could serve as a carrier.

Avast managed 99.9 percent protection against Mac malware. That's very good—better than most. However, Bitdefender and Kaspersky exhibited 100 percent protection. In the Windows malware test, Avast detected 100 percent of the samples. Most competing products also took 100 percent. However, Webroot only caught 75 percent, and Intego Mac Internet Security X9 got just 18 percent. Like most tested products, Avast received certification from AV-Comparatives for Mac antivirus protection.

Having one certification is good; having two is better. Bitdefender, Kaspersky, and Sophos are among the products that received certifications from both labs for Mac malware protection.

Scan Choices

Avast offers several scans to improve your Mac's security. A full scan on the Apple MacBook Air 13-Inch that I use for testing took 14.5 minutes, just a hair over Intego's 14 minutes, and quicker than the 18 minutes required by Avira. The average for recent products is 24 minutes, so Avast proved quite speedy. Norton is the current speed champ, completing a full scan in 10 minutes.

There's a separate scan for removable volumes, though you can configure the full scan to include them. I scanned a thumb drive containing my Windows malware collection and found that it quarantined 85 percent of them. For comparison, Avira detected 82 percent of these, while Sophos Home (for Mac) wiped out every single one.

There's no predefined quick scan, which makes sense given the speed of the full scan. The custom scan settings confused me, though. As with the full scan, you can add file locations to exclude from scanning, and configure it to scan Time Machine backups. But the full scan's settings include those options, and also let you include removable volumes and network volumes, while the custom scan's settings do not. Puzzling.

You can schedule a daily, weekly, or monthly scan if desired. Settings for a scheduled scan include two additional choices. You can set it to skip scanning if your device is running on batteries, and you can have it wake from sleep if necessary, to perform its scheduled scan. Avira Free Antivirus for Mac not only offers scheduled scanning, it defaults to a weekly scan with no effort on your part. Sophos skips scheduled scanning, relying instead on real-time protection.

Network Security Scan

The final scan choice doesn't look for malware. Rather, it collects information about all the devices on your network and flags any security problems. On my own network, the scan finished in just under three minutes.

The scanner correctly reported that my main router has an open port that could theoretically become a point of attack. It's true that the port is open, as my ISP uses it to run remote diagnostics when necessary. But that function requires a key that only the ISP has.

More interestingly, it found serious problems with a network storage device (fortunately, one that I'm not currently using). Not only does this device have numerous open ports, it's vulnerable to a buffer overrun attack. Avast advised updating the firmware; I just unplugged it.

The report also serves as a list of everything that's connected to your network, identifying each by name and type. It's similar to the output of Bitdefender Home Scanner. With both products, I found devices with names like unknown6542990b6483—not much help! Bitdefender includes an option to edit the name and type, and it remembers your edits in subsequent scans. I'd like to see that ability in Avast.

Excellent Phishing Protection in Chrome and Firefox

In the Windows realm, one thing that differentiates Avast's premium product is better protection against phishing sites, those fraudulent sites that imitate secure sites and try to steal your login credentials. The free Windows edition scored very poorly, while the premium edition did an extremely good job. Based on initial round of testing, the Mac product's phishing protection, both free and Pro, seemed to match that of the free Windows product, meaning it's not very good.

I learned later that Avast's phishing protection is not fully functional in Safari. The developers are working on making it completely browser-independent. In the meantime, they advise using Chrome or Firefox. Norton was also having problems during my original test, so I tossed those results and started fresh.

My phishing protection test uses URLs reported as fraudulent, but not yet verified. Typically, these are only a few hours old. That's important, because phishing sites are ephemeral. Once they've been identified and blacklisted, the fraudsters just create new ones.

I simultaneously launch each URL in Safari on the Mac and in a browser protected by long-time antiphishing champ Symantec Norton Security Premium. I also launch each in Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer, relying on the browser's built-in protection. If any of the five browsers throw an error message, I discard the URL. A true phishing fraud masquerades as a secure site and tries to capture your login credentials. Any URL that doesn't match that profile also gets junked.

I've written a Windows-based tool that handles launching URLs and capturing results. On the Mac, I copy and paste each URL into Safari and manually record the result. When I have enough data, I dump the five reports into Excel for comparison.

The malefactors that perpetrate these phishing frauds are clever. They're always devising new techniques to get past security software. That being the case, I report results not as hard figures but as the difference between the product under test and the others.

Avast For Mac Free Download

Tested using Safari's incomplete phishing protection, Avast's detection rate lagged Norton's by 32 percent, and Norton itself was having a bad day. All three browsers soundly drubbed Avast. When I retested using Chrome, Avast tied with Norton and beat the detection rates of the three browsers. That's impressive. Of the Mac security products I've tested, only Bitdefender did better, beating Norton by 5 percentage points.

While phishing is browser-agnostic, phishing protection is not. Bitdefender beat Norton by 5 percentage points, but its Windows cousin more than doubled that gap. Even Symantec Norton Security Deluxe (for Mac) didn't detect many frauds that its Windows edition caught.

Site Rating and Do Not Track

Like McAfee AntiVirus Plus (for Mac), Avira, Trend Micro, and several others, Avast marks up results in popular search engines with green for safe, red for dangerous, and gray for unknown. You can click to vote a page up or down. Simple!

Clicking the Online Safety toolbar button displays the status for the current page. It also lists all the elements on the site that can track your online activity, including analytics, social media, ad trackers, and more. By default, it doesn't do anything, but you're free to block any tracker or category. Websites are free to ignore the official Do Not Track header sent by your browser, but Avast's active Do Not Track feature has teeth. Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac offers a similar active Do Not Track feature.

Digging into the settings for Online Safety reveals a hidden gem: SiteCorrect. If you mistype a site name, this feature offers to change to the correct name. You can even set it to automatically make the fix, with no prompt. However, in testing, I couldn't tease it into action. I tried pyapal.com, pcmga.com, whitehous.gov, wallmart.com, and many others, with no reaction from SiteCorrect.

Basic Password Manager

Like Avast's Windows antivirus, this product includes a password manager. Where the Windows product invites you to install on Android, the Mac one suggests adding password management to your iPhone. On Windows, the password manager is integrated with the antivirus; under macOS, it's a separate app.

There's no limit on the number of devices, and you can sync your passwords between them all, macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android. Avast doesn't keep your passwords in the cloud. Rather, it uses your Avast account to authorize syncing data that's stored locally on your devices.

Once you've enabled syncing on a device, that device becomes an authenticator for adding more devices. The new device displays a numeric code, and the existing device gets a notification with the same code. If the numbers match, just click to approve. What if you lose all your devices? On installation, Avast sends an email with a recovery link; don't lose that email!

Lifehacker Avast For Mac Review

On each of your devices, you create a master password to protect the local password stash. The master passwords need not be the same, but who'd want the confusion of making them different? Avast offers advice on creating a strong password, with a color-coded line representing the strength of what you've typed. It's not easy to get all the way to green, but Avast doesn't require it. In fact, it accepted 'Password' as a master password.

Avast Free Mac Security Review

Avast offers browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. When you log in to a site, the extension offers to save your credentials. If you come back to the site, it fills your saved credentials. Clicking the key icon in one of the fields brings up a menu showing all the credentials you've saved. And it handles two-page logins like what Google uses.

Avast doesn't use the typical menu of logins attached to its toolbar button. Rather, you click the button and launch the main application. Unlike the Windows edition, this is a separate app, not integrated with the main antivirus. Its main window is seriously tall and skinny, like something you'd find on a smartphone, and you have only limited control over its size. Clicking an item opens its details, with a link to open the site itself.

You can also use the password manager to sync and share secure notes between your devices. These are simple, unformatted text snippets, suitable for saving such things as locker combinations and non-digital passwords.

The left-rail menu offers simple icons to manage passwords and secure notes, and one to bring up the password generator. By default, it generates 18-character passwords using all character types. You can set the length anywhere from four to 30 characters using a slider.

Avast analyzes the strength of your master password when you first create it, but not when you update it. Avast Pro Antivirus on Windows can analyze your passwords, flagging any weak or duplicate ones. The free Windows edition used to include this feature, but it was recently enhanced and redefined as a Pro-only feature.

This password manager handles all the basic tasks and no more. Fancy features like secure sharing, two-factor authentication, and password inheritance aren't here. But you do get it along with the antivirus, at no charge, so if it does enough for you, go ahead and use it.

Worth a Look

Avast Security For Mac Download

AV-Comparatives certified Avast Security as an effective Mac antivirus. Impressively, it offers a network scanner and password manager, features often reserved for full security suites. On the other hand, the password manager handles basic functions only—nothing advanced. And while Avast earned great stores in my hands-on antiphishing test, that function currently works well in Chrome and Firefox, but not Safari. But the pros outweigh the cons. If you're looking for free Mac antivirus protection, give it a try, along with Sophos and Avira, and see which you like best.

Avast For Mac Review

For truly top-notch Mac security, you'll need to lay out some cash. Our Editors' Choice products in this realm are Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac and Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac. Both received certification from two labs. Both scored well in our hands-on antiphishing test. Bitdefender's AutoPilot mode means you can set it and forget it. And Kaspersky goes above and beyond feature-wise, with full-scale parental control, protection against webcam peeping, a network attack blocker, and more.

Avast Security (for Mac)

Bottom Line: Avast Security (for Mac) delivers effective malware protection along with unusual bonus features. Phishing protection only works well in Chrome and Firefox, but this free utility is still worth a look.