Years ago, Mac systems were said to be the safest ones in the world because no one could get inside. There were no malicious scripts or viruses designed for them. In 2008, Apple came out with a shocking announcement – antivirus programs and software are required for a good functionality. In other words, the Mac systems have been broken in.
These days, Mac users should be more careful while surfing the net because viruses, malwares, trojans and other online threats for Mac have increased a lot, and are just around the corner waiting for the perfect time to infect their systems.
As a new Mac user especially, you should be very careful and vigilant when browsing online. If you want a complete internet safety, then you should have your computer protected with antivirus and/or internet security software. It is the best thing you can do for your Apple-based system.
Companies which produce virus and malware protection tools for Mac have been dedicated in creating applications that would efficiently protect your OS X from all types of infections. If you check the current market, you will notice that there are tons of antivirus programs to choose from. Some are paid and some can be installed on your system free of charge.
Here are the top 5 antivirus apps for Mac:
1. Sophos Anti-Virus for Mac Home Edition (Free)
This is the downgraded version, but contains full support program. It constantly runs virus definition updates and regularly checks new files to make sure that they are totally devoid of infection. If you want to run a full system scan, then you should run the software manually.
More information about Sophos Anti-Virus for Mac Home Edition.
2. ClamXav (free)
The original ClamXav program is somewhat difficult to use since you have to manually scan your files and regularly run virus definition updates. However, with the new ClamXav software the virus definition updates run automatically. It is suitable to use on both Intel-based Macs and PowerPC.
More information about ClamXav.
3. Norton AntiVirus for Mac ($49.99 yearly subscription)
Norton is one of the most effective antivirus programs for Mac and Windows. The latest version performs automatic update definition. It also automatically scans new files and attachments. So you would be at peace knowing that your computer is protected against various forms of infections. However, most internet security experts highly recommend using Norton Internet Security for Mac ($69.99 yearly subscription) as it offers two way firewall protection. It also offers file encryption as well as browser and network monitoring. It is compatible to use with both Windows and Mac OS X. It is also compatible with Intel-based Macs as well as PowerPC.
More information about Norton AntiVirus for Mac.
4. BitDefender Antivirus for Mac ($39.95)
If you want your system to be protected from phishing, then this antivirus program is the perfect choice. The antiphishing protection is available for both Firefox and Safari browsers. It significantly protects your personal as well as financial information. This antivirus tool is only compatible with Intel-based Macintosh systems.
More information about BitDefender Antivirus for Mac.
5. Kaspersky Security for Mac ($24.95)
This software is definitely worth your money because it has the ability to detect threats for both Mac and Windows. Mac users are anxious of the fact that their Mac computers are not resistant to infection at all. Each Mac computer has a built in protection (XProtect), but hackers nowadays have been successful in disabling XProtect updates. If you are a Mac user, you want your computer to be protected even more, and the best way to do it is by using Kaspersky software. Mac-style interface, advanced parental controls, and using local and cloud-based information resources for protection are among other features of the software.
More information about Kaspersky Security for Mac.