We found the best Mac antivirus software specifically designed to protect Mac systems for you and gathered them all on this list. You will, therefore, need specific Mac antivirus software that’s designed to work with the unique demands of macOS, which is where we come in. The macOS operating system is Unix-based, which is sandboxed so it can be challenging for viruses to do any real damage.
Get the best antivirus for Mac (alongside the best Mac VPN ). You don't want to pick up that new MacBook Pro, only to have it crippled by a cyber attack.
This means that malicious programs targeting Macs and MacBook Pros are becoming more common and the risks are increasing. Considering the sheer amount of Mac and MacBook owners across the globe, there’s an enormous potential target out there that is irresistible to hackers and cybercriminals. The first is the main ClamXav application, which scans the volumes you identify.That’s not necessarily true. Independent lab AV-Test Institute does a similar impact test, and found that ClamXav only added 8 seconds to the recorded average (66.1 seconds) when copying a 26.6 GB set of files. My iMac still swiftly booted up in under a minute, and unzipping a large folder of video files was handled with ease.ĭuring this second test, I did notice that the first unzipping took an egregiously long time, but I couldnt tell if this was a foible of ClamXav Sentrys scanning or OS X. This is a welcome addition to ClamXav, but the lack of integration is problematic. When it detects a change, it quietly runs a scan in the background. This application lives in the menu bar and looks for changes on the locations you specify. If you want that kind of protection, youll need to separately configure ClamXav Sentry.
Once the engine is installed, youll have to run a quick update of your virus definitions before ClamXav is ready to use. Its a really neat feature, but also one I couldnt imagine the average person using.
If you want, you can install any other virus-detection engine, or even build your own. This is one of the most unusual aspects of ClamXav: The ClamAV engine is developed and maintained by a completely different group.ĬlamXav is a graphical user interface to make ClamAV easier to use. Just download the older, free version from the developers website and then drag ClamXav to your Applications folder. This does have a marked effect on how fast applications operate in the virtual environment, so your experience may differ from mine. Its always a good idea to use the latest version of softwareespecially security softwareso use at your own risk.Īlso, please note that the version currently available in the Apple App store (2.6) is much older than the one reviewed here (2.7.5). Ill be reviewing the new version of ClamXav soon, but Im splitting off this review of version 2.7.5 for the benefit users unwilling, or unable, to pay for the new version of the software. Clamxav Review Free Antivirus ApplicationĪ long-available and free antivirus application, ClamXav says that it will defend your Mac from all harm.Ī new always-on, always-watching ClamXav Sentry application does a lot to modernize the app, but a counterintuitive interface and low independent lab scores make it hard to recommend.įrom version 2.8 on, ClamXav is being offered for 29.95 for a non-commercial license and distributed by Canimaan Software Ltd. That same user has probably gone looking for Mac antivirus, and almost certainly stumbled across the famous Mac security app ClamXav. Clamxav Review Free Antivirus Application.