Antivirus recommendation?

[joshuawhite929]

For those that think that the mac doesn't need antivirus, you can stop reading now.

For everyone else, I am using Catalina and I am growing tired of kernel panics from Norton which still uses kernel extensions. There has got to be a better way. Malwarebytes seems to work, but I am not clear that it is a replacement for traditional AV software. Can anyone please recommend a solution that works?

 

[saudor]

Universities tend to recommend sophos but honestly, malwarebytes is all you need. The traditional virus isnt as common these days. Most rather do nasty stuff like keylog, show affiliate advertising, and crypto mine

Above all, backups are king. If something nasty does happen, you're better off restoring than running some antivirus and hoping it's gotten rid of it completely.

 

[ProTruckDriver]

I have been running Malwarebytes Premium for years now without any problems. Anyone that does run into a problem can post on the Malwarebytes for Mac Forum and the Developer Thomas Reed will help solve the problem. HTH

 

[AppleSmack]

For those that think that the mac doesn't need antivirus, you can stop reading now.

For everyone else, I am using Catalina and I am growing tired of kernel panics from Norton which still uses kernel extensions. There has got to be a better way. Malwarebytes seems to work, but I am not clear that it is a replacement for traditional AV software. Can anyone please recommend a solution that works?

Free, scans when you remember to tell it to:
Malware bytes free
Bitdefender free

Free, scans on file access:
Avira
Sophos

Paid, scans on file access:
Bitdefender
Kaspersky
Malware bytes premium

Wouldn't allow McAfee or Norton anywhere near my computers.

Personally, I'm using Bitdefender paid, and very happy with it.

 

[TechRunner]

Another vote for Malwarebytes. It's all I've used on my Macs.

 

[ProTruckDriver]

Wouldn't allow McAfee or Norton anywhere near my computers.

I have never used McAfee on my PC or Mac computers. As for Norton there are too many unanswered threads in the Norton for Mac Forum that are locked. Also there were posts on the Apple forum for anyone using a Mac, stay away from Norton.

 

[Bazza1]

Its probably worth checking out both the AV-Comparatives and AV-test websites for their independent test results and reviews. They've both updated their tests in the last month or so. Bear in mind they list products alphabetically, not by quality of their service.

For the longest time, I used the free Avira product and was pretty happy with it (though neither site has tested it in awhile), but a recent opportunity to get the well-rated Bitdefender on sale has me trying it out. Seems to be working well.
And, once a month or so, I run Malwarebytes Free, too. Belt and suspenders, I guess.

 

[pldelisle]

None. Any user paying attention to what he does on its computer, especially a Mac, doesn't need an antivirus. Been 8 years I'm on Mac without AV and got absolutely nothing.

 

[AppleSmack]

None. Any user paying attention to what he does on its computer, especially a Mac, doesn't need an antivirus. Been 8 years I'm on Mac without AV and got absolutely nothing.

Using AV is often required by client contracts and business insurance. If a claim was made against you, "someone on the Macrumours forum told me I don't need one" wouldn't get you far.

If you use your mac for personal use only, fair enough if you choose not to believe in AV.

 

[bousozoku]

I only use Malwarebytes Premium, after years of using Sophos. Being able to detect dangerous behavior is more important now that typical malware is too predictable, and easily eradicated.

Some of the others handle Windows malware on Macs, but if you don't exchange a lot, you shouldn't have to worry.

 

[chabig]

Using AV is often required by client contracts and business insurance.

Tell them you use XProtect.

 

[AppleSmack]

Tell them you use XProtect.

Lol, go for it!

 

[Euroamerican]

Occasionally scan with Malwarebytes, but only once found anything that was even close to be a virus. It was more like a weirdly permissioned script, but I could be remembering that incorrectly.

What I DO do is keep various free or 30-day demo versions of AV software installed on my Windows VMs in Fusion. They are for test purposes in case Windows users call me, asking for operational advice.

I am really only worried about accidentally passing something along in a folder full of files that I'm moving around for coworkers or friends.

 

[gallico916]

Another vote for MalwarteByts Premium

 

[me55]

I've been using ESET Cyber Security, has good ratings and no noticeable performance impact.

 

[NastyNatex]

Another vote for Eset. In my opinion its simply the best. I have noticed most corporate offices pcs and macs are using Eset more lately.

 

[39air1]

For those that think that the mac doesn't need antivirus, you can stop reading now.

For everyone else, I am using Catalina and I am growing tired of kernel panics from Norton which still uses kernel extensions. There has got to be a better way. Malwarebytes seems to work, but I am not clear that it is a replacement for traditional AV software. Can anyone please recommend a solution that works?

I use MalwarteByts Premium but not even sure its needed any more macOS has its own antivirus/anti malware built into it and I wish remember what its called,My Conclusion ; Old habits are hard to break

 

[ProTruckDriver]

I've been using ESET Cyber Security, has good ratings and no noticeable performance impact.

Another vote for Eset. In my opinion its simply the best. I have noticed most corporate offices pcs and macs are using Eset more lately.

I had my eye on ESET for Mac.
Which Version of ESET are you's running, Cyber Security or Cyber Security Pro?

 

[hobowankenobi]

Employer switched about 2500 macs from Symantec to Sophos. While not perfect, if you must run AV, Sophos is pretty good. Is is less of a resource hog overall, and is likely more useful than Symantec ever was for Macs. Even the free Home use is pretty good, although lacking the most important defense: malware.

I just read today that the current version can cause issues with soon-to-be-released MacOS 11...but that is because of changes Apple made, and should get sorted soon.

 

[philosopherdog]

Anti virus on macs is a scam.

 

[ProTruckDriver]

Anti virus on macs is a scam.

Just curious, Why?

 

[NastyNatex]

I had my eye on ESET for Mac.
Which Version of ESET are you's running, Cyber Security or Cyber Security Pro?

Endpoint Security on my work mac and Cyber Security Pro on my personal.

 

[chabig]

Just curious, Why?

The better question is why anyone would trust a third party to do operating system security than the experts who built the system?

 

[Tech198]

For those that think that the mac doesn't need antivirus, you can stop reading now.

For everyone else, I am using Catalina and I am growing tired of kernel panics from Norton which still uses kernel extensions. There has got to be a better way. Malwarebytes seems to work, but I am not clear that it is a replacement for traditional AV software. Can anyone please recommend a solution that works?

Ideally, if you stick to reliable sites & downloads, you shouldn't have any problem.

 

[webbga]

Safety is the first order, but things happen. When I got my new desktop MAC in early 2016 I wound up with Mackeeper and I have no idea how. I swear I did not download it. It took Malwarebytes to locate and remove all of the attending junk files from my system.

More than once I have gone to a site I use on a regular basis and all of the sudden a bunch of files will start downloading into my download file. These are not junk sites, but they were infected by hackers. Point - an ounce of prevention is a good thing.