If the website downloads an exe file, then you are safe because Mac OS X cannot run exe, as they are the file type for windows PC's. If the virus was also made to work on a mac and is in.app format, then it may infect your computer, but I'm pretty sure that it would ask you for your permission to run the file if it did thanks to apple's security in Mac OS X. Apple macOS 10.13.x (High Sierra), Apple macOS 10.12.x (Sierra), Apple Mac OS X 10.11.x (El Capitan), Apple Mac OS X 10.10.x (Yosemite), Apple Mac OS X 10.9.x (Mavericks). Intel based Mac computer with 64-bit processor. 512 MB RAM or above (1 GB RAM or higher preferred). 256 MB minimum hard disk free space.
The last decade has served up plenty of lessons around taking digital security too lightly. For years, threats targeting the Windows operating system have grabbed the headlines, leaving the impression that other operating systems are immune to commercial, opportunistic threats.
The modern Mac OS is based on a solid architecture, with built-in security features that do a pretty good job fending off malware. But the explosive growth of the web and our dependence on cloud services has changed the security landscape completely. Platform-focused threats are now complemented by web-borne attacks trying to gain control of your cloud services.
On the malware side, while it’s true that Windows computers are more susceptible to attacks due to their popularity, the increase in malware families specifically designed for Mac is higher in 2017 than in the previous five years combined. Security experts – and sometimes Apple - warn Mac users not to rely on the operating system for security alone, as prevention is always the wiser approach.
Cyber criminals are getting better at hiding malware from users and security agents. They’re not in it for the notoriety, like they used to be in the good old days. Now they are in it for the money. Hackers are no longer writing poor-quality malware, but instead designing hostile, complex, malicious software programs which takes advantage of users’ blind spots to sneak in, by either working around the operating system defenses, or by tricking the user into voluntarily installing them.
Some of the notorious threats that have taken Mac users by surprise are CoinThief, a Mac Trojan that goes for Bitcoin wallets after infiltrating computers, or the devastating Flashback Trojan that infected more than 600,000 devices worldwide. And new threats, such as ransomware, are being perfected as we speak, designed to extort money from victims all over the globe. In March 2016 Apple had to fight KeRanger, the first ransomware designed for Mac. Avast free trial for mac.
Before you hit the road, fasten your digital seatbelt
When talking about online security, one of the most important misconceptions is that anti-virus programs only protect against known viruses, and the number of such viruses is so small that you should hardly bother. In reality, an anti-malware solution designed for Macs cover all the attack avenues: They include anti-phishing, anti-adware, anti-spyware, anti-ransomware, and other layers of security to keep your Mac running only the software or apps that you have authorized.
Modern threats targeting Macs are silent: they can run in the background for years without showing any sign of trouble. Aggressive adware that stealthily profiles you and casually serves banners might not look like a big deal for the uninformed—but they leak out your private information, from browser habits to contacts or browsing history, without you even knowing. Other websites take advantage of your processing power and silently use it to mine digital currency at the expense of your computer’s performance and reliability. This, in turn, wears down your hardware and increases your electricity bill.
Are all security solutions made equal?
If you’re concerned about the security of your Mac device and want to get an anti-malware solution installed, make sure you don’t fall into a trap. Fake malware protection applications are out there for all platforms, from Android to Windows to Mac.
Choose a security solution that provides certified 100% detection, such as the Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac.
Best Mac AntivirusKaspersky Internet Security for Mac
Avast premier 2018 key. Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac's top-shelf malware detection and barely there system impact make it the best antivirus solution.
Best Free Mac AntivirusAvast Free Mac Security
Avast Free Mac Security's malware-squashing proficiency, negligible performance impact and included password manager make it the best free option.
Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac
Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac offers top-shelf malware detection and protects files from ransomware.
After evaluating eight free and paid antivirus products, we've chosen Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac ($40 per year) as the best antivirus for Mac. It had a nearly invisible impact on system performance, and it caught all malware. https://turbogenius.weebly.com/download-avast-premier-with-license-for-mac.html.
Avast Free Mac Security is our favorite free option, as it provided nearly perfect malware protection and an easy-to-use interface with an imperceptible performance hit.
You do need an antivirus program on your Mac. Recent years have seen more Mac malware and adware than ever before, from Trojans to targeted attacks, supply-chain attacks like the XcodeGhost attack and even encrypting ransomware.
MORE: Best Antivirus Software and Apps
Latest Security Alerts and Threats
— Google pushed out an emergency patch for its Chrome browser for Windows, macOS and Linux after a vulnerability was found that could let a malicious website take over a computer. ADVICE: Copy and paste 'chrome://settings/help' into your Chrome address bar to make sure your browser is updated to version 76.0.3809.132.
— Apple patched a security hole that let you -- or a malicious website -- jailbreak an iPhone and install any kind of app, including potential malware. (This is not among the flaws that let several websites infect any iPhone.) ADVICE: Make sure your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch is updated to iOS 12.4.1.
— Spammers have been sending emails to inject scam or malicious messages in regular people's Google Calendar pages. ADVICE: Follow our instructions to stop phony Google Calendar notifications from happening to you.
How We Tested
To find the best antivirus for Mac desktops and laptops, we evaluate ease of use, interface and performance impact, we installed each AV program on the same Late 2013 MacBook Pro with Retina Display running macOS 10.12 Sierra. It was powered by a 2.6-GHz Intel Core i7 processor and had 8GB of RAM and 70GB of data stored on a 512GB SSD.
We conducted our own tests in July and August 2017 based on how much each antivirus product affected our laptop's performance. To do this, we used our custom OpenOffice benchmark, which matches 20,000 names and addresses in a spreadsheet. We measured how long it took to run a quick scan and a full scan while the laptop crunched numbers in the background.
We assessed how easy each program was to use and the number of useful extra features it offered (including free add-on software). To gauge how effective each package was at stopping malware, we used the results of evaluations conducted in May 2017 by AV-TEST, a well-regarded independent product-testing lab in Germany, and results from other tests conducted in July 2017 by AV-Comparatives, a similarly well-respected firm in Austria.
Best Mac Antivirus
Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac
Reasons to Buy
Minimal system impact
![Is Avast Necessary For Mac Osx Is Avast Necessary For Mac Osx](/uploads/1/2/6/6/126611220/826374712.jpg)
Reasons to Avoid
Kaspersky Internet Security is the best antivirus for Macs because it offers both the lowest system impact and some of the best malware-detection rates recorded. It even provides extra security features, including parental controls and options to lock down your webcam and stop websites from tracking your browsing activity. If you're willing to pay to protect your Mac from malware, Kaspersky Internet Security is the best option available.
Best Free Mac Antivirus
Avast Free Mac Security
Reasons to Buy
Excellent malware protection
Password manager included
Reasons to Avoid
Avast Free Mac Security caught 99.9 percent of all malware, packs in a password manager, barely leaves a smudge on system impact and doesn't charge a dime. If only it caught 100 percent of malware, as Kaspersky did.
Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac
Reasons to Buy
Ransomware protection
Parental controls
Reasons to Avoid
$38.99
Avast Os X
Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac is one of only a few solutions we tested that offers perfect malware detection. Further, its modern, streamlined interface places on-demand scans front and center. Bitdefender has dropped from first place, though, because its system-impact scores don't match the flawless marks posted by Kaspersky.
Norton 360 Deluxe
Reasons to Buy
Reasons to Avoid
Noticeable system impact
Norton 360 Deluxe may offer excellent protection, but it charges more (after the first year) than its competitors do, without offering as many perks. Norton AntiVirus Plus offers similar protection for a single Mac, but with fewer perks. Still, both have always-on-call customer support.
AVG Antivirus for Mac
Reasons to Buy
Free
Reasons to Avoid
Comparatively high background impact
AVG Antivirus for Mac
If you're looking for the best antivirus for Mac without having to pay, AVG AntiVirus for Mac is not too shabby, with its 99.9 percent detection rate and easy-to-use design. Unfortunately, other free competitors provide extras (Sophos with parental controls, Avast's password manager) that AVG does not.
Best for Families
Sophos Home
Reasons to Buy
Remote manageability
Low system impact
Reasons to Avoid
With Sophos Home for Mac's simple interface and low system-performance impact, you'll barely realize the program is shielding you until you need it. Anyone with young children at home will find Sophos' parental controls useful, as they allow for remote scans and checks, and let you block sites by category. Sophos even keeps a log of when users try to reach banned pages. Avast for mac blocking internet. This program's major drawback, though, is its lackluster malware-detection rate.
Avira Free Antivirus for Mac
Reasons to Buy
Solid malware protection
Reasons to Avoid
Is Security Software Necessary For Mac
Once our favorite, Avira Free Antivirus for Mac is no longer the best antivirus for Mac. That's because it is a hair shy of perfection in its malware detection, and fell behind in system-performance testing, earning some of the higher performance impacts recorded.
McAfee Antivirus Plus
Reasons to Buy
Familiar user interface
Reasons to Avoid
Unproven detection rates
McAfee® AntiVirus Plus
Is Flash Player Necessary For Mac
While McAfee's unlimited licenses mean you can support a whole family of Macs (and PCs and Android devices, too), this program's lack of special features (for a paid version) make it hard to recommend. Further, we don't have malware-detection testing scores for McAfee, so its protection powers are unproven.