Basic macOS malware protection at no cost
Windows Defender protects hapless users who fail to install antivirus protection. The XProtect feature in macOS just isn’t in the same league. You really need to install an antivirus app on your Mac, but you don’t necessarily have to pay for it. AVG AntiVirus for Mac is free, and while this bare-bones software doesn’t do much beyond taking care of basic antivirus tasks, it gets top scores from the antivirus test labs and aces our phishing protection test. If you’re willing to pay for a more robust antivirus, however, Bitdefender Antivirus or Norton 360 Deluxe both get top lab scores and offer security options well beyond the basics, making them our Editors‘ Choice winners.How Much Does AVG AntiVirus for Your Mac Cost?
As noted, AVG is completely free. Avast and Avira also offer free antivirus for macOS. However, like Avast, AVG is only free for noncommercial use. If you want to use AVG’s antivirus technology in a business setting, you must splash some cash for AVG Internet Security.
Commercial Mac protection from Bitdefender, F-Secure, Intego, and Webroot costs $49.99 per year for a single license. CleanMyMac, ESET, G Data Antivirus, and Trend Micro Antivirus go for about $10 less. In most cases, $10 above the single-Mac price gets you three licenses; another sawbuck raises that to five. With AVG’s free antivirus, pricing tiers are irrelevant.
Like Avast and CleanMyMac, AVG requires macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) or newer. If you’re a prudent user who always accepts operating system upgrades, this shouldn’t be a problem. However, if you’re stuck using an old macOS version, consider ProtectWorks or Intego Mac Internet Security X9. Intego supports macOS 10.9 (Mavericks) and later, while ProtectWorks goes all the way back to 10.6 (Snow Leopard).Getting Started With AVG AntiVirus
AVG’s Mac protection is free. You can download and install it without giving AVG your email address (though the app encourages you to create an account). After a quick installation and granting the typical permissions, it’s ready to protect your Mac.
AVG’s main window is a dark gray expanse with four large panels. Panels labeled Computer and Web & Email appear highlighted with a green-circled checkmark icon, meaning these two are active and available. Panels representing protection against Hacker Attacks and support for secure Payments are dimmed and have a lock icon. Clicking one of the locked panels triggers an invitation to purchase AVG Internet Security.
At the bottom, centered below these panels, is a button labeled Run Smart Scan. This launches a multipurpose scan that includes a quick scan for malware. A link near the bottom right corner brings up a menu of other available scan types, including a deep, full-system scan.
The Smart Scan has three parts: checking for virus definition updates, scanning likely locations for malware, and examining advanced issues. On my test system, that last scan warned of folders not protected against ransomware, network monitoring not enabled, and the possibility of DNS-based attacks.
