March 22, 2025

When we talk about viruses, antivirus and security, we always refer to Windows. And it is that Microsoft’s operating system is the most widely used in the world, and therefore, it is also the most attacked by hackers. Most of the viruses that are created are designed for Windows. However, there are a few that are either cross-platform (increasingly), or are designed to attack other operating systems, be it Linux or macOS, Apple’s operating system. And it is that, although for years it has been said that there was no virus for Mac, this is totally false.

MacOS, just like any other operating system, can easily fall into the clutches of hackers. All it takes is a bit of enabling and a virus, trojan or malware in general to infect the system.

There are several cases of malware for macOS that has jeopardized the security of a large part of the users of this operating system. There have been worms that have infected entire networks of Mac computers, Trojan horses that have allowed hackers to remotely connect to computers, and even various ransomware that have made users see how their Mac files did not exist for them. viruses, ended up encrypted.

It is true that Mac is more secure than Windows. However, it is not virus free . For this reason, the main security firms have versions of their antivirus designed to protect users of the Apple operating system from threats that may endanger their security.

And just like in Windows, there are antiviruses that are good, and others that are better to avoid.

The best antivirus to protect macOS

Not all antiviruses offer us the best protection for our computer. Just as not all consume the same resources. This is something we have been seeing forever in Windows, and therefore it also applies to macOS antivirus.

Antivirus for free

We can download and install the following antivirus for free and they will be able to protect our Mac computer from all the threats that are hidden in the network.

Sophos Home Premium

Sophos Home Premium

This is one of the best-known antiviruses used to protect our Apple computers. It has one of the most advanced antivirus engines that we can find within this type of software, and it is capable of protecting us, in real time, from all threats. It has a free version (sufficient for most users) and a paid version with additional security modules, such as protection against ransomware.

We can download this antivirus from the following link.

Avast Free Mac Security

Avast for Mac

Avast is one of the best known free antivirus on Windows. And, of course, it has its own version to protect macOS users. This security program is capable of protecting our Mac computer from the main threats that hide on the network. In addition to its antivirus engine, Avast is capable of protecting us from malicious email and auditing the security of our Wi-Fi. If we pay for the Premium edition, we can also be even more protected thanks to its anti-ransomware shield.

We can download this free antivirus from its website.

Avira Free Antivirus

Avira Free Antivirus macOS

Among the best-known antiviruses, Avira is also one of the most popular. Among its main features we must highlight that it is a very light antivirus that does not slow down our PC, it is very easy to use, so that we can scan the PC with a single click, and, of course, very effective, since it is capable of detecting 100% of the malware available for macOS.

We can download Avira for Mac from here.

AVG Antivirus

AVG Antivirus macOS

Although AVG is owned by Avast, we will also find this antivirus available to protect macOS users. The truth is that there is not much to say, since it shares the engine, functions and characteristics with Avast.

We can download this antivirus from its website.

Malwarebytes

Malwarebytes for macOS

Because not all the threats that can endanger our Mac are viruses, there are also other security solutions specialized in protecting us from malware. And one of the most popular is Malwarebytes. This security program, which is also available for Windows, allows us to protect ourselves from threats that other antiviruses don’t detect. They also allow us to eliminate adware and unwanted programs that can endanger our PC. It is a very fast and light program, so we will not notice that it is running on the PC.

We can download this anti-malware for free from the Malwarebytes website .

Paid antivirus

In addition to the previous free antivirus, we are also going to find a good variety of paid antivirus that will allow us to better protect ourselves from all the threats that are hidden on the network.

Oar

Air Antivirus

Airo is an antivirus developed exclusively for macOS. This security software offers one of the best protections against all types of malware and computer threats that could endanger our security. It has a powerful real-time analysis engine, in addition to protecting us even from lesser-known threats thanks to its powerful artificial intelligence system.

We can buy this antivirus from here.

Target Mac Internet Security

Target Mac Internet Security

This is another of the most popular commercial antivirus for macOS that we can find. It has a powerful virus analysis engine that, together with its frequent updates and the cloud, we will be able to be safe and protected at all times. It also has versions for iOS that, if we use an iPhone or an iPad, will allow us to be protected at all times.

We can download this antivirus from this link.

Bitdefender Antivirus

Bitdefender Antivirus Mac

Bitdefender is already one of the best-known security firms in other ecosystems, such as Windows. And, of course, it has its own security software for Mac. This program is capable of protecting us in real time from all viruses, malware, and even ransomware. It also has protection modules against adware, a VPN connection for private browsing and even controls Time Machine backups to avoid disappointment.

We can buy this antivirus from its main website .

Norton 360

Norton 360

Norton is also another of the best-known brands when it comes to protecting a computer. Unlike other antiviruses, which have specific editions for each operating system, the Norton 360 subscription allows you to protect any PC or device with the same security solution, whether it is a Windows PC, a Mac or a mobile. It has a powerful antivirus engine, as well as a series of shields with which we can be protected from all threats.

We can download Norton 360 from this link .

Kaspersky Internet Security

Kaspersky Mac

Of course, we couldn’t forget about Kaspersky either. This is another of the best-known antivirus within Windows and, if we are familiar with it, we can also use it to protect macOS. It has a real-time analysis engine that protects us from threats before they run on the system, as well as offering us a wide variety of shields with which to protect ourselves even from invisible threats.

We can buy this antivirus from here.

ESET Cyber Security

ESET Cyber Security

ESET Cyber ​​Security is ESET’s security solution to protect Apple computers from computer threats. This security software offers antivirus protection against the most common threats, as well as having shields that allow us to forget about malware in general and phishing. A very light antivirus that, in addition to good security, does not slow down the computer.

We can download this security software from this link .

Trend Micro Antivirus

Trend Micro antivirus for macOS

For those who are not looking for complications, Trend Micro for Mac offers excellent protection against all kinds of threats without complications. This security software is capable of blocking threats that reach us through malicious websites, stops viruses, protects our privacy, and helps us avoid scams and fraud that we may come across. In addition, it has a shield that will allow us to protect our security and our data while we browse the web.

We can buy this antivirus from this website .

And an antivirus for companies?

In addition to the above alternatives, security companies also offer antivirus for companies that use macOS. These antiviruses usually work differently from home antiviruses. These are installed on a central server and it scans client computers for any threats.

The most important that we can find within this category, and that will offer us outstanding security and protection, are:

  • Falcon
  • McAfee Endpoint Security for Mac
  • Sophos Endpoint
  • ESET Endpoint Security
  • Bitdefender Endpoint Security

Any of the above antivirus can run on a server and help the entire company to protect all computers (whether they are Mac or use another operating system) without the need for complicated configurations, and all remotely controlled by the technician the company.

About Author

Doctor Apple

Doctor Apple is a professional in his field. He has extensive experience in technical reviews. He is an advanced user of Apple technology. He has an iPhone, MacBook, Magic Mouse, Apple Watch, iPad, Air Pods, iMac and some other accessories from Cupertino in his arsenal.