If you want a Mac antivirus software that you can count on, Avast is a good pick. When I put it to the test, it scored 100% from 100 samples. But is Avast good for Mac? Yes, it provides enhanced security, if you have wondered whether Avast is safe.
Many people assume that Macs are less prone to attacks but the truth is, they are just as vulnerable as PCs, and here’s why. There are a growing number of new threats available on the market right now such as ransomware that target MacBooks because of their popularity.
This makes them more attractive to hackers. If you do not have antivirus, you will fall victim to these malicious people. Continue reading to learn why Avast is the best Mac security, but check out or review on the most reliable antivirus for Mac, as well. In addition, check out Avast's other strong points in our detailed review here.
Our recommendation: McAfee
We care about the security of your tech devices, so you should know that there is an antivirus program that continues to evolve and is a standard in the cybersecurity market. That program is McAfee! The integrated antivirus software optimizes for all-around security that a lot of antivirus programs are missing. It’s no wonder that government agencies and business enterprises rely on their programs! To check out the antivirus of one of the leading programs on the market, click here!
Why You Need Antivirus for Mac
Your Mac is not immune to cyber-attacks. Although this system is more secured than PCs because of the way it is designed, it can download apps or files from untrusted sources and this will install malware.
Also, the attackers are educated and tech-savvy hence are able to attack the MacOS software and iPhone Ios when they discover a vulnerability.
With these devices being expensive, criminals know that Mac users are wealthy and that’s why they have their sights on Apple products. They will be looking to steal their personal information such as social security numbers, bank account details, just to name a few.
Is Avast Good for Mac? –Best Mac Antivirus
No one tests Mac antivirus software as I do. During my tests, I identified Avast as the best Mac security. Avast security comes with tons of features such as real-time security, VPN, parental controls, among others. A password manager is also available. You can find out more about the best AV with VPN here.
This software offers excellent malware protection against all threats such as Trojans, viruses, spyware, ransomware, and even offers phishing protection for phishing attempts. And if you want to see how it performs against other antiviruses, here it is compared to Malwarebytes, while Comodo side-by-side review can be read here. Avira, on the other hand, is beaten by Avast by a few rounds.
Provides free and Premium Protection
Free Mac Antivirus
Avast is one of the best free Mac antiviruses we have on the market right now. With a download of this free antivirus, you will get antivirus protection against dangerous downloads, malware/threats, infected external drives, infected files and even malicious links.
This version of the software also comes with the following features; phishing protection, Firewall protection, ransomware protection, malware protection, a browser extension, email shields, and wi-fi intruder alerts.
Avast free antivirus will not only protect from malware but will remove them if your Mac system is already infected.
Its detection rate is high and will remove deeply rooted threats such as rootkits, viruses, etc. It is no wonder Avast’s premium and free antivirus software is world-class security, with great performance, and privacy for your Mac system and windows.
Alerts are also available to warn you in case you are about to enter malicious websites that looks like genuine ones.
This free Mac antivirus will also prevent you from opening dangerous email attachments and will block unsafe downloads for you.
Take this opportunity and install the best Mac security to learn how this free version works. Test all its features to determine if it's the right tool for you or not.
Premium Protection for Mac
If you want full malware protection for your Windows or Mac, it comes with a price. Security for Mac is a bit pricy when you purchase through their official site. This is unlike other antiviruses such as Total AV software, Trend Micro antivirus, and Sophos that have lower prices on their websites.
Total Cost
Avast premium security for Mac costs $69.99 per year on their site. This version comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee and you can pay using your credit or debit card and even PayPal.
Avast premium security is very affordable when you purchase on online sites such as Amazon. With the new price of below $50, your device/s with operating systems such as Windows 7, 8, 10, android, ios, Mac OS X, and macOS 10 will be protected. This includes your android phones, PC or laptop with windows, iPhones, Mac, and your tablets.
I recommend Avast premium security to anyone with a tight budget since this pricing package is affordable. It is able to support 5 devices with 1 subscription making it suitable for a family or business.
It has the following available features;
Parental Controls
This version of antivirus for windows and Mac comes with parental control to keep your kids safe online from malware such as viruses, etc. It’s a monitoring and protection tool that protects the device of your kid.
Use its settings to block offensive content.
Secure VPN
A VPN is available; you need this tool if you care about your privacy online. It hides your identity online so you can browse the internet anonymously. All your activities online such as banking, playing games, shopping, and even browsing will remain private from hackers, agencies, and ISP who try to steal your data in order to sell to a third party.
Keep these malicious people out with this privacy tool. You will also get alerts in case your personal data is leaked online so you can do something about it.
A Password Manager
This tool is also available; this version of security comes with a tool to manage your saved passwords. It can create a strong password for you and even offer a safe place called a digital vault to store them.
A Powerful Scanner
Various scans are available for Avast free Mac security or premium such as scheduled scan, full scan, quick scan, and custom scan. Its malware detection and scanner is superb; this is according to an AV test that was conducted in February 2020.
Do a scheduled scan if you want to run a scan on a specific time or date. A full scan will come in handy if you want to check your whole computer for malware such as virus, ransomware. Quick and custom scans take little time to complete as they check specific files or folders.
All these types of scans are available to detect and remove Windows and Mac malware.
Wi-fi Security
It is worth noting that this Internet security or Mac Antivirus software is a top choice for wi-fi security. Routers that provide wi-fi have become a target of cybercriminals nowadays. If you have not provided antivirus for this device, chances are, it can be hacked and used to steal information from you.
Avast Online security or anti virus comes with real-time protection to ensure your wi-fi networks are protected always.
Avast security has good Malware detection scores. Also, its Malware and phishing security are superb, just like Sophos home and Kaspersky Internet Security. During my test, it scans left no traces of malware.
It is no surprise that it has so many positive reviews online. There are many positive reviews about its phishing protection, malware protection, speedy installation, support for multiple devices, excellent monitoring tools, extension, just to name a few.
Is Avast a good Antivirus for Mac?
Just to be clear, Macs are not immune to malware. As I stated earlier, they can be hacked just like any other platform. Fortunately, Avast brings a lot of security benefits to its users and that is why I consider Avast as one of the top free Mac antiviruses in the market today.
Avast for business offers endpoint protection. It will safeguard your servers, system, and other devices such as Mac |
It has a web and email shield to block any phishing attempt. Its browser extension also offers good security |
Avast security offers a great service for Macs by protecting them against all types of malware and viruses |
This free anti virus software is available for anyone who wants to try it. It also supports multiple devices |
Has many tools to secure your home and business devices such as VPN, and many more |
Its scanner has 100% malware detection and removal rate, according to AV comparatives lab tests |
The Mac version does not slow down your system like other security solutions. It takes little CPU power to keep the antivirus app running in the background |
Avast free or premium keeps updating its database to improve its security for its users |
Is Avast Trustworthy?
Yes, Avast is trustworthy and the best antivirus software. It is highly effective for online security and protection against malware. Just like other great security programs such as Sophos, Avast free antivirus, and premium have a powerful engine that blocked most of the malware that I tested it with.
User privacy and security have become their new selling point. They have improved how they safeguard your privacy online with their tools such as VPN. Also, they have updated their privacy policy and cannot sell your data without your permission.
Real-time protection is available too. Once Avast installation is complete, you can be sure that it is working in the background to keep your documents and files safe from Mac and Windows malware.
Avast Security for Mac
Avast Mac security provides an all-round premium security solution for all users across the globe. The app comes with advanced features to protect system IOS and critical files from hacking and malware threats such as ransomware, Trojans, etc.
This antivirus protection will also enhance your Mac’s performance and you will not experience any system slowdown. For example, Avast cleaner is available and will close program/s or an app that is not in use so as to reduce CPU usage.
The installation of this online security or antivirus protection is simple. Visit their official site to get or download and install Avast. Make sure that the installation is complete by following their instructions.
Our recommendation: McAfee
Overall, the antivirus we mentioned in this article is decent, but you should know that there is a far more formidable option available on the market. That option is McAfee, with over 18.9 billion devices connected to this program, you can infer it’s quite a popular choice amongst the people. Used all over the world, having a complex security system has never been easier. To check out their line-up of security packages tailored to any device, click here!
Different Scans
Avast allows you to carry out different scans to keep your Mac system virus free. The available scans include;
- Custom scan
- Full system scan
- Quick scan
I am impressed with its custom scan because it is easy for me to check specific documents and files. These types of scans take less time to complete than a full scan.
Avast vs Other Security Software
Avast vs AVG
AVG is a big name in the industry, but has been mired with controversy. Despite AVG showing malware-like behavior, it is an effective anti-virus that certainly protects its users. AVG was actually purchased by Avast and is run as a subsidiary. Despite this, Avast is still noticeably better in most categories.
Avast vs Malwarebytes
Malwarebytes is a decent antivirus that gained popularity about 10 years ago. It became popular due to it having a pretty effective free version. While we don't compare free versions of the 2, we do compare Avast and Malwarebytes in this article, where we rule that Avast is the winner in the battle between 2 fairly strong antiviruses.
FAQs
1. Should I install Avast security on my Mac?
Installing antivirus software, like Avast, on a Mac is recommended to help protect the device from malware and other online threats. Avast is a trusted and well-respected security software provider and its products are available for free download. The software can be configured to run automatic scans of the computer and files, as well as schedule regular updates to keep the protection up-to-date.
2. Does Avast slow down your computer Mac?
Avast may slow down your computer Mac due to its resource-intensive nature. The antivirus software scans files and folders on your computer for potential threats, so it can take up more system resources than other programs. If you have a lot of programs running at the same time, or if your computer is already struggling to keep up with its normal tasks, Avast may make it even slower.
3. What is Avast security on Mac?
Avast Free Mac Security protects Macs from malware by unpacking Mac-specific file formats and scanning them for malicious content. Additionally, it uses its artificial intelligence system to train its software by incorporating lessons learned from its user base.
4. Can I trust Avast?
Yes, on the whole. Avast is an excellent antivirus software that offers a reasonable level of security protection. The free version includes a slew of features, but does not include ransomware protection.
5. Do I need antivirus for Mac?
Mac users may wonder if they need antivirus software. The answer is yes, for added security. While Macs are not as often targeted by malware as Windows machines, there are still risks to using them without protection.
Antivirus software for Mac scans files for viruses and other malware threats, and can also protect against phishing attacks. It’s a good idea to have antivirus protection for any device that is connected to the internet, including Macs.
There are a number of different antivirus programs available for Mac, so you can choose the one that best fits your needs. Some are free, while others offer premium features. No matter which program you choose, it’s important to keep it up-to-date so that it can provide the best protection possible.
