A passive form of virus protection for Mac, or any other platform, is the traditional virus scanner. There are two kinds of virus protection – passive and active. What Should You Look for in a Mac Antivirus? Protecting your system is worth shelling out a little bit of money, compared to the cost in lost files, lost productivity, or replacing your whole system if something does go terribly wrong. Free virus protection for Mac leaves a lot to be desired – and sometimes, especially when you choose options from less-reputable companies, can even introduce new vulnerabilities into your system.įurthermore, free programs offering virus protection for Mac and other platforms tend to have limitations, less-frequent definition updates and are less robust and effective than their paid counterparts. While free programs are tempting, if you’re serious about keeping your system safe, then you should choose a paid option.

There are both free and paid options available, with differing degrees of features, cost, and effectiveness at keeping threats at bay.

Should You Choose Paid or Free Antivirus for Mac? To keep your system safe and secure, it’s best to augment the native Apple security with good virus protection for Mac. But the steady growth of Mac use, along with comparable code in iOS and its widespread use in smartphones, has eroded some of this advantage and protection. Naturally, those who were focused on causing havoc or making a buck with illicit activities wanted to get the most for their work, so they targeted the Windows PC environment. One of the key benefits that Macs have enjoyed for a long time in this area is that they were the minority of users and systems out there. Malware, vulnerabilities from older programs, and innovative viruses and other threats are popping up all of the time. While Apple’s built-in security features are superior to those of Windows-based systems, and they do a good job of preventing many threats, they are not invincible. It’s a myth that Macs are immune to viruses and malware, so yes, virus protection for Macs is a very real thing. In addition to our comprehensive antivirus reviews, we've compiled answers to some of the most commonly asked questions to help you get started. Looking for an antivirus solution to protect your Mac? We've got you covered.

Most Commonly Asked Questions About Antivirus for Mac

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