1. Computing

Video:Best Antivirus Software for Macs

with Nick Richards

Looking for some antivirus software for your Mac? This video from About.com will offer a couple suggestions for great antivirus software for Macs.See Transcript

Transcript:Best Antivirus Software for Macs

Hi, I'm Nick and today for About.com, I'm going to show you some of the best antivirus programs for Mac computers.

Do Macs Need Antivirus Software?

There is often a lot of debate as to whether Macs need virus protection, as Apple products have a reputation for being safe and secure. That said, it is also true that Macs are not completely invulnerable and a lot of people take the 'better safe than sorry' approach to virus protection. But which antivirus programs are the best?

Mac Antivirus Software: Norton Antivirus

One of the most well-known players in the antivirus game is Norton, by Symantec. Norton has a reputation for getting the job done and the same applies when it comes to Macs, offering full, quick and custom scanning features to suit your needs. 

There are three versions of Norton Antivirus, each offering a different level of protection. iAntivirus offers basic protection against spyware and other threats, but is free to download from the Mac App store, making it the ideal choice for those who only want the minimum level of protection. 

Norton offers two other options – AntiVirus and Internet Security – both of which offer stronger protection, at a higher price. You can download a 30-day free trial of either of these products from to official Norton website.

Mac Antivirus Software: Intego VirusBarrier X6

Intego VirusBarrier X6 is an award-winning antivirus software that is considered to be the best available for the Mac due to its features, effectiveness and ease of use. The only slight downside when compared to other anti-virus programs is the lack of online forum and live chat support, but that doesn't detract from the comprehensiveness of the software itself.

Mac Antivirus Software: BitDefender Antivirus

BitDefender Antivirus updates hourly in order to provide protection against even the most recent of threats. There are some features missing when compared to Intego's VirusBarrier, such as indentity theft protection and firewall, but it offers strong and stable security for any Mac computer.

Mac Antivirus Software: Kaspersky Anti-Virus

Kaspersky Anti-Virus is not as fast as its rivals and the Mac version is less comprehensive than its Windows counterparts. However, Kaspersky can deal with all serious threats such as worms and trojans as well as any other.

Of course, there are plenty of other competitors out there, including ESET Cybersecurity, F-Secure Anti-Virus and McAfee Virus Scan, but for the very best software available, it's hard to look beyond Intego's Virus Barrier.

For more software tips and tricks, visit compute.About.com

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