This lab separately tested the antivirus defenders using PUAs, potentially unwanted applications. Of course, all the products reached that level in the latest test.ĪV-Comparatives (Opens in a new window) certifies Avira for malware protection, with 99.6% protection against macOS malware, down from its 99.8% score in the previous test. Avira’s 17.5-point score is good enough to earn it the designation Top Product. And all the tested products earn six points for Usability, meaning they exhibited next to no false positives. It did manage the full six points for Performance, along with all competitors except F-Secure and Kaspersky. With six points available for Protection, Performance, and Usability, the maximum score is 18.Īlmost all the products I follow score six for Protection Avira misses that goal by half a point. ![]() The experts at AV-Test Institute (Opens in a new window) rate antivirus utilities on three criteria: how well they protect against malware, how little they impact performance, and how carefully they avoid interfering with usability by flagging valid programs as malicious. ![]() Avast One Essential for Mac, AVG, Bitdefender, Kaspersky, and Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac also show up in reports from both labs, but well over half the products I track don’t even have one lab result. Two of the independent antivirus testing labs I follow report on macOS products, and both have Avira on their test roster. For Mac antivirus, I necessarily rely heavily on the independent testing labs to know which products are the most capable. I don't have anything similar for the macOS platform, as my many hand-coded testing tools and my coding skills are both Windows-only. When evaluating Windows antivirus utilities for malware protection, I rely on a wide range of testing apps that I've coded and refined over the years. That’s not a big loss, as it’s a snap to drag the USB icon onto Avira for scanning. You can turn off the Real-time Protection system, but don’t do that! USB protection, meaning automatic scanning of any mounted USB drive, is unavailable unless you upgrade to the feature-complete cross-platform Avira Prime suite. You can adjust those schedules, or schedule additional scans, quick or full, on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.Ĭlicking Protection Options in the left-rail menu brings up a very simple page with two options: Real-time Protection and USB Protection. Out of the box, Avira schedules a weekly quick scan and a bi-weekly Smart Scan. On the MacBook Air I use for testing, a quick scan finished in less than a half-minute, and the full scan took 52 minutes, slightly longer than the current average of 41 minutes. However, Avira also offers Avira Free Security to Windows users, with significantly more features, so there’s really no reason to use the free plain antivirus on Windows. Note that this program is also available for free on Windows. Like AVG AntiVirus for Mac and Avast, it's totally free. As for Avira, you don’t have to pay one red cent. The most common pricing plan among products we've reviewed is $39.99 per year for one license and $59.99 for three. Norton goes way beyond the features offered by a simple antivirus utility. At the high end, Intego Mac Internet Security X9 lists at $99.99 per year to protect three Macs, and Norton 360 Deluxe for Mac asks $104.99 per year for five cross-platform licenses. There's a big range of prices for Mac-based antivirus support. It's Surprisingly Easy to Be More Secure Online Just as in the Windows edition, the rest of the window features oversized icons representing Security, Privacy, and Performance, with a button to run what Avira calls a Smart scan. But where the Windows product just has Status, Security, Privacy, and Performance down the left side, the macOS edition adds two or three submenu items below each. ![]() The main window features a simple menu down the left, like Avira Free Security. Avira Free Antivirus for Mac doesn't cost a thing, and it earns excellent scores in tests by the independent labs.Ī redesign a few years ago brought the macOS product closer in appearance to the Windows version. ![]() It’s not so bad, though, as you can get effective protection for free. Much as you may not like to hear it, you need antivirus protection on your macOS devices. Macs get hit by malware, even ransomware. It’s true that macOS is better secured and doesn’t have quite as many users, but that doesn’t mean it’s immune to attacks. Malware coders love Windows and Android because both have a big user base and imperfect security. How to Set Up Two-Factor Authentication.How to Record the Screen on Your Windows PC or Mac.How to Convert YouTube Videos to MP3 Files.How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill.How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad.How to Block Robotexts and Spam Messages.
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