And usability refers to refraining from flagging valid files or URLs as dangerous.Ī product can earn six points in each area, for a maximum possible score of 18.

Avoiding an impact on performance is important, as users may turn off an antivirus that causes performance problems. Protection against malware attack is essential, of course. Like most tested products, Avast received certification from AV-Comparatives for Mac antivirus protection.ĪV-Test Institute rates both Windows and macOS antivirus products on three criteria: Protection, Performance, and Usability. In the Windows malware test, just under half the tested products achieved 100% detection, Avast among them. Avast also scored 100% at detecting PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications), as did several others.

Still, two thirds of tested products reached 100%. Why? While a Trojan written for Windows wouldn't run on a Mac, the Mac could conceivably serve as a carrier.Īvast managed 100% protection against the Mac malware that AV-Comparatives hit it with. They also evaluate each product's ability to detect Windows malware. Two of the labs we follow, AV-Test Institute and AV-Comparatives, test Mac antivirus, and Avast participates with both.Įxperts at AV-Comparatives test Mac antivirus products using the latest macOS malware. Hence lab results are extremely important for my Mac antivirus reviews. Most of them don't carry over to the macOS platform. It took years to develop our hands-on tools and tests for Windows. But even if no test results exist, we can run our own hands-on tests using real-world malware and malware-hosting URLs. The best products earn top scores from all four labs. When reviewing a Windows antivirus utility, we report how it scores with four independent antivirus testing labs. A lock icon on that last item lets you know that, unlike under Windows, the ransomware feature requires an upgrade to Premium. Four large buttons across the bottom give access to Core Shields, Virus Chest, Wi-Fi Inspector, and Ransomware Shield. Its spacious main window features a status indicator at the top of a dark purple background, with a big scan button just below. This software looks a lot like Avast Free Antivirus on Windows. The free edition is strictly for noncommercial use in a business setting, you must pay up. On macOS, the Premium edition adds ransomware protection and real-time notification when new devices connect to your network. Avast Security Premium for Mac costs $59.99 per year for one Mac-specific license or $89.99 for ten cross-platform licenses. Like Sophos and Avira, Avast offers full antivirus protection for free.

Best security for mac instead of avast