Contrary to popular belief, the operating system from Apple is just as vulnerable to malware as Microsoft Windows. The fact is that the Windows platform is more widespread, so many virus creators develop their malicious software specifically for it.
Apple’s operating system is not perfect, which makes it an object of close attention of cybercriminals. Therefore, Mac owners should think about their security and install a reliable antivirus program.
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Top-Rated Free Antiviruses for Mac
Fortunately, there are many useful, and most importantly, free security solutions that can counteract not only known threats, but also various new viruses, unwanted adware, and cryptographers. Here is a selection of the three best free antivirus software for macOS.
CleanMyMac X for Mac
It won’t be an exaggeration to call CleanMyMac X one of the most well-known programs among all those that are designed to clean macOS, with its latest edition following a new, enhanced cleaning algorithm. CleanMyMac X represents a powerful application for cleaning, optimizing, and protecting your Mac. Many Apple users wonder, “Is CleanMyMac X safe?”. And it surely is, being number one program fighting with Mac-oriented viruses. With the help of this reliable tool, you can run a quick system cleanup, delete and update applications, eliminate malicious software, find and get rid of files of all sizes, and view the detailed display of your computer’s memory.
Sophos Antivirus Mac Home Edition
Sophos Antivirus Mac Home Edition represents a full-featured free antivirus that allows you to check files, folders, and hard drives. It also offers a set of additional options for deleting and quarantining any software that the virus scanner considers a potential threat. This antivirus also provides real-time protection that blocks and quarantines any suspicious files. Although the scanning process is quite slow, this virus protection software runs silently in the background and uses very few system resources.
Sophos developers managed to “squeeze” all the extensive functionality into a reasonably compact interface. You can launch a full system scan directly from the main menu. Besides, you can quickly set exceptions using other menus. The malware signature database is continuously updated so that the antivirus can detect even the newly created threats.
Avira Free Antivirus for Mac
Avira is a top-rated antivirus for Windows, which is now also available for macOS. This virus protection program shows off excellent functionality. Still, if you want a comparison of the Mac version of antivirus with the version for Windows, the first one will seem much more manageable in use. With Avira Free Antivirus, you can check the entire system, as well as some of its elements or individual files. This free virus scanner regularly ensures that your system is protected from various viruses, spyware, and other dangers. Most importantly, all Avira processes are fully automated.
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Mac
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware or MBAM represents a free comprehensive antivirus program favored by many owners of Windows-based computers. It is an excellent tool for in-depth scanning, which thoroughly checks the entire system. Although the Mac version of MBAM was initially offered as a tool for removing unwanted advertising software, over time, the application has become a full-fledged malware protection tool. Malwarebytes Company has done a great job of making the Mac version as effective as MBAM for Windows.
Antivirus is easy to use. Open the program, click “Scan,” and the results will be displayed on the screen right away. Similar to the Windows version, the version for Mac owners does not provide real-time protection and is more suitable for deep scanning.
Disadvantages of Free Antiviruses for macOS
The main drawbacks of free virus protection programs are as follows:
- The protection level offered by free antivirus programs is lower than that of their paid versions. The price for not having to pay for your virus scanner is a hidden gathering of information about the work of antivirus software and intrusive advertising of extended commercial versions of the program.
- Free security tools do not have proper web protection, which is very important in current conditions when using online payments, social networks, and Internet technologies.
- Free antiviruses do not guarantee highly reliable protection from viruses. If there are problems with computer viruses or leaks of personal information, you will have nowhere to complain. You will not be able to recover damages for the breakage of electronic components or failure of the operating system due to improper operation of the antivirus program.
- When using free antivirus software, you will not be able to contact technical support services to solve complex issues with virus infections.
All in all, it is up to you which version of antivirus for macOS to use. Yet, it is essential to be aware of all the pitfalls of a particular option.
