The laboratory experts at AV-TEST examined 12 MacOS solutions for home users and business users in terms of their protection, performance and usability. Many of the packages demonstrated their quality and reliability.

Great antivirus for mac. It also was pretty much the only anti-virus that was worth anything. You can mix and match any of ESET’s premium solutions, to ensure that your online browsing, banking and shopping at home or on the move – on your laptops/notebooks or Android devices – is. While Mac-specific vulnerabilities and threats don’t make news headlines as often as other devices, they’re certainly not immune to attacks. That’s why it’s important to equip your Mac with antivirus that stays on top of emerging viruses and malware and why we.

Protection for MacOS

12 packages for home and business users put to the test.

The Mac world is more and more in the focus of malware authors. In June 2018, newly-recorded malware for MacOS has already been tallied at 37,000 samples – and thus approaching the entire 2017 level of 43,000 samples. While this represents fewer cases than in the Windows world, the number is in fact 100 times higher than Mac experts predicted even a few years ago.

8 products for home users, 4 solutions for business users

Among the 12 tested security solutions for Mac OS High Sierra are 8 for consumers and 4 for corporate users.

Solutions for home users:

Avast Security
Avira Antivirus Pro
Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac
F-Secure Safe
Intego VirusBarrier
Kaspersky Internet Security
Symantec Norton Security
Trend Micro Antivirus

Solutions for business users:

Bitdefender Endpoint Security for Mac
McAfee Endpoint Security for Mac
SentinelOne Next Generation Endpoint Security
Sophos Central Endpoint

Home and business users have a wide variety of excellent and certified protection software to choose from

' tabindex='0'>Protection for MacOS

Home and business users have a wide variety of excellent and certified protection software to choose from

8 out of 12 protection solutions examined detected all malware samples without exception

' tabindex='0'>Protection for MacOS – the detection rates

8 out of 12 protection solutions examined detected all malware samples without exception

Flashback was so successful, new variants of it are constantly cropping up

' tabindex='0'>TOP 5 malware for MacOS

Flashback was so successful, new variants of it are constantly cropping up

By the end of 2018, the number of new malware will more than double compared to 2017

' tabindex='0'>MacOS malware development

By the end of 2018, the number of new malware will more than double compared to 2017

Protection for MacOS – the detection rates

MacOS malware development

All security packages were examined on identical iMacs running MacOS High Sierra 10.13.3. The products were evaluated in terms of their protection, performance and usability. In each category, the laboratory awards a maximum of 6 points. Thus, the top score is 18 points. The products for consumer users from Bitdefender, Intego, Symantec and Trend Micro achieved this score. In the category of corporate solutions, the products from Bitdefender, McAfee and SentinelOne attained the best result.

Antivirus Mac Free

In the test, each solution was required to detect, block or delete more than 500 of the very latest attackers. In the case of the products for home users, 6 out of 8 packages tested detected 100 percent of the malware samples. Only Avira and F-Secure had minor detection problems.

With respect to solutions for business users, Bitdefender and Sophos managed to achieve the 100 percent mark. The endpoint packages McAfee and SentinelOne followed close behind with 99.8 and 99 percent detection.

In everyday scenarios, many protection packages run in mixed networks and exchange data with Windows. That is why the laboratory tested the detection of Windows malware samples in a non-rated supplemental test. Among the consumer packages from Bitdefender, Kaspersky Lab and Trend Micro, the rate was nearly 100 percent. Regarding corporate solutions, the packages from Bitdefender, McAfee and Sophos reached similar high results.

In a second non-rated supplemental test, it was determined how well the solutions detected so-called 'potentially unwanted applications' – or PUA for short. While these programs do not cause any damage, they do exhibit peculiar behavior. This includes tools with lots of advertising, ambiguous messages or even strange privacy statements. Some manufacturers see no direct threat in PUA, which is why they also do not classify them as dangerous. Among the packages for home users, Avast, Avira, Bitdefender, Kaspersky Lab, Symantec and Trend Micro detected over 2,500 PUA 95 to 99 percent.

Concerning solutions for corporate users, Bitdefender, McAfee and Sophos unmasked PUA at 90 to 99 percent.

Going easy on client PCs

A security solution constantly has to work in the background, monitoring processes and scanning files. Most solutions perform their work without slowing down MacOS – but not all. In the test category of performance, the lab examined how heavily each individual package affects the speed of the system. For the measurements on a reference system, numerous applications were launched and operations performed. In addition, files were copied locally and into the network. All the times required for the routines were written down and served as parameters for comparison. Afterwards, all the respective steps were repeated with active security solutions.

For consumers, the security packages from Bitdefender, Intego, Symantec and Trend Micro put their best foot forward and received a maximum 6 points as a result. Kaspersky Lab still managed to achieve an excellent 5.5 points. Avira and F-Secure slightly slowed down the system and only achieved 5 points. Avast slowed down MacOS too heavily: only 4 points.

For corporate products, the solutions from Bitdefender, McAfee and SentinelOne demonstrated that their effects on system performance are hardly measurable: 6 points. Only the package from Sophos caused a dip in performance in the client, which led to a reduction to 5 points.

Protected the Mac in the test in all categories without errors – this earned the maximum 18 points

' tabindex='0'> Antivirus Solutions For Mac

Bitdefender Antivirus

Protected the Mac in the test in all categories without errors – this earned the maximum 18 points

The package for home users worked without a glitch – 18 points

' tabindex='0'>Intego VirusBarrier

The package for home users worked without a glitch – 18 points

The client-server solution excelled in the test with the highest achievable point score

' tabindex='0'>McAfee Endpoint Security

The client-server solution excelled in the test with the highest achievable point score

In the test, the business solution reached a top score with 18 points

' tabindex='0'>SentinelOne Next Generation Endpoint Security

In the test, the business solution reached a top score with 18 points

Intego VirusBarrier

SentinelOne Next Generation Endpoint Security

High degree of reliability, no false alarms

If protection packages overreact, a normal application program can be quickly labelled as a threat. False alarms like these are unsettling to consumers and possibly lead to downtime costs in companies. That is why the lab examined the following: dozens of applications were installed under each installed security solution. In addition, over 4,000 benign programs had to be scanned in the false positive test.

Hats off to the results: All security programs – for home and business users – performed their routines without one single false alarm. Thus, the lab consistently awarded the maximum 6 points.

Well-armed in case of emergencies

More and more Mac users are opting to stay on the safe side and using security software for MacOS. The current statistics on malware g

8 products for home users, 4 solutions for business users

Top detection for most solutions

Antivirus Mac Free

Going easy on client PCs

High degree of reliability, no false alarms

Well-armed in case of emergencies