- Avast offers several scans to improve your Mac's security. A full scan on the Apple MacBook Air 13-Inch that I use for testing took 14.5 minutes, just a hair over Intego's 14 minutes, and quicker.
- Avast AntiVirus for Mac Configuration for Apple Mail March 11, 2017 Solid State Drives – SSD Size and Pricing Guide March 7, 2017 Evernote – Apple iTunes Login on iOS iPhone iPad February 6, 2017.
- The best free antivirus for Mac Avast Security for Mac Avast Security for Mac is one of the most popular security suites available, and it’s easy to see why.
- Avast Security for Mac. Think different about Mac security. Download Free. Essential security. Premium security. 30-day money-back guarantee. Avast Security for Mac. Download Free Buy Pro. Your Mac is not immune to threats — yet. Our free Mac antivirus protects on 3 fronts.
- Set Software Update Server is a free utility for Mac OS which allows administrators to point a workstation to a local Apple Software Update Server without having to use the command line.
Download and installation
'Avast' is perhaps the worst of the whole wretched lot of commercial 'security' products for the Mac. It's worse than the imaginary 'viruses' you're worried about. Not only does it fail to protect you, it destabilizes and slows down your computer, and it sometimes or always corrupts the network settings and the permissions of files in your home.
What are the system requirements for Avast Security?
The system requirements for Avast Security and Avast Premium Security are:
- Apple macOS 10.14.x (Mojave), 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).
- 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.
- Internet connection (to download and register the product, for automatic updates of the program and virus database).
- Optimally standard screen resolution not less than 1024 x 768 pixels.
How do I download and install Avast Security?
To download and install Avast Security or Avast Premium Security:
- Click the link below to download the Avast Security setup file:
- Double-click the downloaded file
avast_security_online.dmg. - In the dialog that appears, double-click the Avast Security icon and follow the on-screen instructions.
- When installation is complete, click Close.
For detailed installation instructions, refer to the following article:
If you have purchased Avast Premium Security, activate your subscription by going to ☰ Menu ▸ Activate paid features and entering your activation code.
Do I need a subscription to use Avast Security?
No, a subscription is not necessary for the free version of Avast Security. After installation, Avast Security is ready to use. You can connect Avast Security to your Avast Account to benefit from the device management feature.
For additional features, upgrade to a paid subscription of Avast Premium Security. You must activate this product with a valid activation code.
How do I upgrade from Avast Security to Avast Premium Security?
To upgrade to Avast Premium Security:
- In your Applications folder, double-click the Avast icon to open the application.
- Click Upgrade on the main Avast Security screen.
- Follow the on-screen purchase instructions.
After purchase, Avast Premium Security automatically activates. If necessary, you can manually activate the product by going to ☰ Menu ▸ Activate paid features and entering your activation code.
How do I activate Avast Premium Security?
To manually activate Avast Premium Security:
- Open the order confirmation email you received after purchasing Avast Premium Security.
- Locate and copy the activation code from the confirmation email.
- In your Applications folder, double-click the Avast icon to open the application.
- Go to ☰ Menu ▸ Activate paid features.
- Type or paste your activation code into the text box, then click Activate.
To view the duration of your subscription, go to ☰ Menu ▸ My subscriptions. For detailed activation instructions, refer to the following article:
How do I connect Avast Security to my Avast Account?
After you download and install Avast Security, you can connect the product to your Avast Account to benefit from the device management feature.
To connect Avast Security to your Avast Account:
- In your Applications folder, double-click the Avast icon to open the application.
- Go to ☰ Menu ▸ Log in to Avast account.
- Enter your Avast Account credentials, then click Log In.
For detailed instructions, refer to the following article:
What is the difference between Avast Security and Avast Premium Security?
Avast Security is a free product that does not require a paid subscription to use.
Avast Premium Security includes additional features and requires a paid subscription. The additional features include Ransomware Shield and Wi-Fi Inspector.
Features
What is File Shield?
File Shield is the main layer of active protection in Avast Security. It scans programs and files saved on your Mac for malicious threats in real-time before allowing them to be opened, run, modified, or saved. If malware is detected, File Shield prevents the program or file from infecting your Mac.
What is Web Shield?
Web Shield is an additional layer of active protection in Avast Security. It scans data that is transferred when you browse the internet in real-time to prevent malware, such as malicious scripts, from being downloaded and run on your Mac.
What is Email Shield?
Email Shield is an additional layer of active protection in Avast Security. It scans your incoming and outgoing email messages in real-time for malicious content such as viruses. Scanning applies only to messages sent or received using a mail management software (email clients, such as Mail, Microsoft Outlook or Mozilla Thunderbird). If you access your web based email account via an internet browser, your Mac is protected by other Avast Security shields.
What is Ransomware Shield?
Ransomware Shield, available in Avast Premium Security, secures your personal photos, documents, and files from being modified, deleted, or encrypted by ransomware attacks. This feature automatically secures your Pictures and Documents folders and allows you to specify which other folders you want to protect from untrusted applications. Additionally, you can specify which applications are allowed to modify the files in your protected folders.
What is Wi-Fi Inspector?
Wi-Fi Inspector, available in Avast Premium Security, is an active protection component which continuously monitors your network and connected devices for threats.
What is the Virus Chest?
The Virus Chest is a safe place for storing potentially harmful files, completely isolated from the rest of the operating system. Files inside the Virus Chest are not accessible to any outside process, software application, or virus.
For more information about the Virus Chest including how to send files to the Avast Threat Labs, refer to the following article:
Avast For Mac And Apple Update Server Status
How do I run a scan?
To run an Avast Security scan:
- In your Applications folder, double-click the Avast icon to open the application.
- Click
…(three dots) next to Run Mac Scan. - Click Run Mac Scan or Scan Now on the tile of the scan you want to run.
You can run a quick scan of the most vulnerable areas of your Mac, or a thorough scan of the whole system, or quickly scan a particular folder or removable drive, or create and schedule your own scans.
For more information about each type of scan as well as scan settings, refer to the following article:
General settings
How do I check which version of Avast Security is installed?
To check which version of Avast Security is installed on your Mac, go to ☰ Menu ▸ Settings and select the General tab. The version number is displayed at the top of the screen.
How do I exclude files or websites from scanning by the Core Shields?
To set an exclusion for a Core Shield:
- In your Applications folder, double-click the Avast icon to open the application.
- Go to ☰ Menu ▸ Settings and select the Core Shields tab.
- Click Add Exceptions under the shield you want to set an exclusion for.
- If you are adding an exclusion for File Shield, select the file and click Open. For Web Shield and Email Shield, specify the server and service, then click Add.
For detailed instructions on how to set exclusions for Core Shields, refer to the following article:
How do I exclude files or folders from the pre-defined scans?
To set an exclusion for one of the pre-defined scans:
- In your Applications folder, double-click the Avast icon to open the application.
- Go to ☰ Menu ▸ Settings and select the Scans tab.
- Click Add Exceptions under the scan you want to set an exclusion for.
- Select a file or folder, then click Open.
For detailed instructions on how to set exclusions for the pre-defined scans, refer to the following article:
Troubleshooting
What does the status message 'Unable to scan' mean in scan results?
The status message 'Unable to scan' means that the file could not be scanned, possibly due to an encrypted ZIP archive or because the files are currently in use. The status does not mean that there is anything wrong with the file, only that it is not available for scanning.
What does the status message 'You are in passive mode' mean?
If you see the status You are in passive mode, you need to manually allow Avast Software extensions on your Mac. For detailed instructions, refer to the following article:
What should I do if I'm unable to browse the web or use other software on my Mac?
Avast Security shields detect and block suspicious files, dangerous websites, and unauthorized connections. In some cases, a Core Shield may cause connectivity issues. If you are unable to use online software or browse certain sites, use the troubleshooting steps below to determine if a shield is causing the issue:
- In your Applications folder, double-click the Avast icon to open the application.
- Click Core Shields.
- Click the ON (green) slider above File Shield and perform your original action (for example, if you were unable to access a certain site, try to access the site again).
- If the connectivity issue persists, click the OFF (red) slider to turn the shield on again, then repeat the above steps for each shield.
When you determine which shield is causing the connectivity issue, you can set an exclusion for a certain file, site, or mail server by using the steps in the following article:
How do I uninstall Avast Security?
Avast Security cannot be fully uninstalled by dragging the application to the Trash. To uninstall Avast Security:
- In your Applications folder, double-click the Avast icon to open the application.
- Click Avast in the menu bar, then select Uninstall Avast Security from the context menu.
- Click Uninstall.
For detailed uninstallation instructions, refer to the following article:
- Avast Security 14.x for Mac
- Avast Premium Security 14.x for Mac
- Apple macOS 10.14.x (Mojave)
- 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)
Besides the World’s most popular antivirus for Windows, Avast is offering a comprehensive antivirus for Apple Mac OS X (Macintosh). The product is called Avast Free Mac Security 2018 (version 11) and same as the Windows version it’s completely for free. It doesn’t even require the registration, so you can just download, install and use it without any hassle.
While some Mac users are still questioning the need for the antivirus/security software on OS X, we definitely recommend have Avast installed as the number of hacker attacks on Mac users is rising rapidly.
Avast for Mac Key Features & Benefits
- Award-winning antivirus engine with 100% detection rate (according to the independent test by AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives)
- Real-time protection with 3 layers (File System Shield, Mail Shield, Web Shield)
- Automatic streaming updates of the virus definitions
- Excellent performance – very low on system resources
- Simple and intuitive user interface
- Completely for free – no registration required
Avast for Mac Free Download & Installation
Avast for Mac is unfortunately not available on iTunes or App Store. But you can simply download Avast Free Mac Security using the link below:
From the Official Avast Servers
After you finish the download you can proceed with the installation. The installation process is really easy and doesn’t require any technical skills:
- Close the Safari browser, locate the setup file called ‘avast_free_mac_security.dmg‘ and run it
- Confirm the Avast License Agreement by clicking on ‘Agree‘
- You can customize the installation by clicking on ‘Customize’, click on ‘Install’ to start the installation
- If prompted enter the administrator name and password
- Once the installation is complete, you should get the confirmation screen
Please note it’s heavily recommended to uninstall any other antivirus/security software from your Mac before installing Avast.
Avast Security Pro for Mac – Is it worthy to pay extra?
Besides the free version of Mac antivirus, there is also a premium one called Avast Security Pro for Mac. The pro version offers two extra features
- Wi-Fi Alerts – This feature will immediately notify you if someone connects to your Wi-Fi network. This helps you to keep hackers/neighbors out of your network.
- Ransomware Shield – Ransomware shields keep your personal data from being encrypted without your permission.
For these, you need to pay for the premium version which costs $59.99 per year. Is it worthy? We would say yes as ransomware on Mac is on the rise and Avast offers solid protection against it.
Avast for Mac User & Experts Reviews – What others are saying?
Avast Free Mac Security is also really popular among the users and technical experts. It is by far the most downloaded Mac antivirus/security on Download.com with more than 4.5 million downloads! While other competitors don’t have even half a million (Sophos 247k, Avira 80k, Norton 30k, Kaspersky 12k, McAfee 11k, Eset 9k).
Avast Free Mac Security is the most downloaded antivirus for Mac with more than 4.5 million downloads
Also, the user reviews on Download.com are very positive. Avast Free Mac Security 2018 has 4.5 stars (out of 5) from 1,641users.
Avast for Mac is doing really well also in the independent tests. It has been certified with 100% detection rate by the German laboratory AV-TEST. Same results were measured also by the Austrian laboratory AV-Comparatives.
According to Tom’s Guide, Avast Free Mac Security was better in detecting viruses than the other paid solutions: ‘it was better at malware detection than all three of the paid antivirus solutions we reviewed‘.
Avast Download For Mac
Avast for Mac System Requirements – Will it run on your Mac?
Minimum system requirements are quite easy to comply and really nothing special. Avast Free Mac Security will run even on the older MacBooks (Air/Pro) and iMacs:
- OS X Version: Apple Mac running macOS 10.9 (Mavericks) or newer
- Processor: Intel-based Mac computer with 64-bit processor
- Memory: 128 MB RAM or above (1 GB RAM or higher preferred)
- Free space: 500 MB minimum hard disk free space
Avast for Mac Uninstall – How to remove it from your Mac?
If you decide to uninstall Avast Free Mac Security from your Mac, there is nothing special you would need to do compared to any other Mac application. To remove it simply follow the instructions below:
- Close Safari browser and open Avast by going to ‘Finder’ » ‘Applications’ and double-click on the Avast orange icon
- Open ‘Avast Mac Security‘ in the menu bar at the top-left, select ‘Uninstall Avast‘ and confirm (you may need to log in as an administrator)
- Wait and the uninstall process to finish and Avast Free Mac Security is completely removed
Unfortunately, there is no removal tool or uninstall utility for Mac. Avast Uninstall Utility (AvastClear) is available only for Windows.