But which offers the best protection for your Mac? To figure that out, we’ve matched them up, head-to-head, comparing just how they rate in the main tasks of malware defense.Īntivirus and firewall protection form the core of most security suites, and it’s not uncommon for high-end antivirus utilities to include a firewall as a bonus. Both go significantly beyond simple antivirus protection. We’ve identified Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac and Norton 360 Deluxe (for Mac) as Editors’ Choice products in the realm of antivirus protection for macOS. A few companies arose with a Mac-only focus, but most of the Mac antivirus products you’ll find come from companies with a big presence in the more-lucrative Windows antivirus market, companies like Kaspersky and Norton. Security companies stepped up, adding protection for Macs to their product lines. Over time, as malware and even ransomware attacks took aim at macOS, it became clear that the myth of Mac invulnerability was just that-a myth. As for the Mac, one of Apple’s early promises was that Macs are safe: Unlike Windows devices, they don’t catch viruses. The need for antivirus protection has been evident since the very beginning of Windows.
