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1. Avast For Mac
2. Antivirus For Mac
3. Avast Security For Mac Download

Picked by Macworld's Editors

Avast is available for PC, Mac, Android, iPhones and iPads, and even networked “smart devices” in your home. However, you’ll only need to deal with and learn how to use one program if you want to get Avast security on all devices – which is a time saver. And the ability to automatically update apps and software. Free Download avast 2019 offline For Mac - Avast loose Mac security presents very good antivirus safety totally free, and it throws in e-mail scanning on top. Sadly, this software program does not offer every other perks that you cannot discover elsewhere without spending a dime. Avast Mac Security (formerly Avast Free Antivirus for Mac) offers three shields, on-demand scanning and WebRep clients which are automatically (optionally) installed to Safari, Chrome and Firefox. I have Mac OS X 10.5.4 (Leopard) and Avast! Since 2 days Avast! Would hang very time update attempt is performed. It has to be force-quit to continue.

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• Avast Security Pro for Mac

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• Avast Free Mac Security

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Avast Security for Mac is free and protects against malware, malicious websites, and vulnerable Wi-Fi connections. For the highest level of protection, get protection against: For the highest level of protection, get protection against. Mac Security Troubleshooting. The following Mac Free Antivirus issues can be fixed with small changes to the program settings. Enable Beta Channel updates to have the latest antivirus engine updates protect your computer: In the Avast main screen click Account, Updates.

The big friendly “You Are Protected” green checkmark on Avast Security Pro’s home screen is certainly a plausible statement. The software is a rare breath of fresh air in a sea of anti-virus products that haven’t worked hard enough to keep up to date with current threats, or haven’t updated the interface to meet modern expectations of presentation and usability.

Avast is danged good at catching malware. AV Comparables says Avast detected 99.9 percent of macOS malware and 100 percent of Windows malware. In spot testing, the app did splendidly. Immediately on decompression of macOS malware from an encrypted archive, Avast detected it, deleted it, and notified me. It did as well with malicious files on the web, though it didn’t detect some items at the WICAR test site that require active local components to be dangerous. Siccing it on drives loaded with other anti-virus products, Avast found test malware I’d downloaded that had wound up in cached files that the anti-virus software on those volumes missed.

Note: This review is part of our best antivirus roundup. Go there for details about competing products and how we tested them.

Avast’s browser component, Web Shield, doesn’t seem to rely on plug-ins (there are none to configure), but uses the program’s kernel extension to check at a low level. It can be managed from the Avast app, and settings apply to all browsers.

If you’re interested in ransomware monitoring, you need to buy the Pro version ($59.99 for one year/one Mac; $69.99 for one year/three Macs; $99.99 for one year/10 Macs), which relies on folder-based ransomware monitoring. It marks the user Documents and Pictures folders as protected by default, and you can add more folders. By default, Avast allows any Apple and App Store apps to manipulate items in those folders, although you can disable those options. Any other app that tries to modify or delete anything in the shielded folders is blocked, giving you an option to whitelist it.

This is an effective way to protect most users’ critical files, but we prefer Sophos’s active monitoring approach, which looks for patterns of behavior and keeps files from being deleted than one that requires anointing folders. Still, it worked well in testing, and most users keep their most precious documents in a few locations. (Avast could expand the list to include a few more locations by default, too.)

Outside of core anti-virus features, the Pro version also offers a Wi-Fi Inspector. This is unique among anti-virus software we tested, and it looks for devices on a network engaged in malicious behavior. Other anti-virus software packaged with network monitors either whitelist local network activity, or treat it the same as any malicious Internet attacks. This seems aimed at helping users understand if they’ve joined a network, such as at a coffeeshop, that has compromised or attacking devices on it.

One negative is the soft but distinct upsell of Avast, which is sensible in its Free version, but not necessarily in a Pro. A Tools item on the lefthand navigation bar mostly displays other available products, like VPN service. A one-time message at installation might be acceptable, but mingling features and items for sale is too heavy-handed in a security product.

While you can create an account at Avast Software, it’s optional. Once created, you can use it to add machines to log in from the software for a computer to join the account. Unfortunately, the account provides no remote mangement or configuration, just reporting.

Bottom line

If you’re looking for a free anti-virus program, Avast is the best choice, edging out Sophos by providing more parity between free and paid version.

While we gave Sophos Home Premium and Avast Security Pro the same 4.5 mice rating, Sophos has a slight edge. The combination of active ransomware scanning makes it somewhat more superior to the folder-based method in Avast, while central configuration and remote control in Sophos can help for a disparate set of family or small-business users. We like Avast’s unique Wi-Fi threat detection, and its native app interface, where Sophos leans heavily on the cloud.

Version 13.4

• Avast Security Pro for Mac

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• Avast Free Mac Security

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(Last updated on July 9th, 2019)

Norton (also called Symantec) or Avast, which antivirus software is a better choice in 2019?

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In this ultimate guide, we’ll compare Norton and Avast in a head-to-head and show you which of the two is a better pick.

In a rush? Take a look at the rundown below to find out which software wins in each category.

A Quick Rundown of Winners in Each Category

1. Features
Winner: Norton. Both Avast and Norton offer impressive feature-sets as part of their security suites, but Norton has an edge in this category.

2. Malware Protection
Winner: Winner. Norton performed slightly better than Avast in recent independent anti-malware tests.

3. System Performance
Winner: Tie. Both companies performed equally well when it came to the impact they put on computer performance; both software received perfect scores in two different performance evaluations.

4. User-Friendliness
Winner: Tie. Both software’s interfaces are user-friendly and intuitive.

5. Pricing
Winner: Norton. You can get more licenses for less money through Norton.

6. Customer Satisfaction
Winner: Tie. Both software have comparable customer satisfaction ratings.

Short Verdict

Norton is a better choice as it offers more security-related features and extra utilities in its security suites than Avast. Independent tests prove that both software are excellent in terms of the impact on system performance, but Norton offers better anti-malware security than Avast.

1. Features

The best antivirus suites come with all advanced features and utilities that not only bolster your digital security but also promote extra value.

First, let’s see what features Norton offer in its security suites.

Norton AntiVirus Plus is the entry-level suite offered by the company. This software provides excellent protection against all sorts of malware, plus there’s a smart firewall that protects your computer against unauthorized access and monitors your network against intrusions.

A full-blown password manager is also jammed into the suite; this allows you to store and organize your passwords, credit card details, and securely store other confidential information.

This suite allows you to protect 1 device (either a PC or a Mac), but you can add more devices.

Next up is Norton 360 Standard. It’s the company’s flagship product and offers one universal license that can be used to protect 1 PC and 1 Mac or mobile or tablet.

The 360 Standard suite offers everything that comes with the previous suite, along with 10 gigabytes of cloud data storage and the SecureVPN tool that protects your sensitive information when you are on public or shared WiFi networks. The SafeCam utility is also jammed into the suite; this utility blocks unauthorized webcam access and prevents hackers from spying on you.

Dark web monitoring features are included in the suite as well; these module monitors your personal information and alerts you if it is being used by someone else.

Next up is Norton 360 Deluxe. This suite has everything that comes with the previous suites, plus you get 50 gigabytes of cloud storage and protection for up to 5 PCs, Mac, and smartphones with a single license. There’s also a parental control module that could be very useful if you have children. It’s a good product if you want to get protection for all your family devices.

Finally, there’s Norton 360 Deluxe with LifeLock Select – the company’s top-tier antivirus suite. This package includes all the advanced features and utilities we discussed above, plus you get a full suite of identity & theft protection tools. These include dark web monitoring features, a finance protection scanner, a credit monitoring suite, and the LifeLock Identity Alert System.

These features will tell you if your personal information is being used in ways or patterns that don’t match up with your previous actions; this is a great way to know if you’re information is potentially being stolen by an identity thief. The credit monitoring tool keeps track of your credit score and lets you know if it suddenly drops, as this is a common sign of identity theft.

As part of this suite, you also get the Million Dollar Protection Package from Norton; if you become a victim of identity theft, you will be covered for the expenses you incur and money stolen as a result of the crime, but only up to a specific limit.

If you’re interested in Norton’s business-specific security products, click here for more details.

Now, let’s see how Avast compares to Norton in terms of features.

Unlike Norton, Avast offers separate products for Windows and macOS. First, we’ll cover the Windows-only products.

Avast Free Antivirus is the first security software that you can get from the company. You don’t have to pay anything to use it, of course, but it doesn’t offer much value in terms of advanced features and utilities; all advanced features and options are locked in the software. But the freeware does offer protection against different types of digital threats.

Next up is Avast Internet Security, another Windows-only suite. This suite offers excellent protection against all sorts of malware, along with a bunch of advanced features and tools that make it worthwhile. These include a smart firewall, the Anti-Spam utility, and the WiFi Inspector utility (protects your network against hackers and intruders).

The Sandbox mode feature allows you to run potentially dangerous files in a secure environment, without having to risk the rest of your computer to a malware infection.

The Real Site utility that guards against DNS hijacking and rerouting is also part of the software, along with a password manager and an email filter.

Another level up is Avast Premier. This suite offers all the features and utilities that come with the previous suites, plus some extra perks. These perks include a webcam shield that prevents hackers from spying on you, the Data Shredder utility that permanently shreds any sensitive files that you don’t want to be recovered after deletion, and the Software Updater tool (automatically updates all the software and makes you less vulnerable to attacks).

Finally, there’s Avast Ultimate — the top-tier package offered by Avast. It comes with everything that comes with the Premier suite, plus you get the useful SecureLine VPN tool that lets you surf the internet anonymously and access restricted content. Avast Cleanup utility, which is a great tool that will significantly improve the performance of your PC, is also part of the Ultimate suite.

For Macs, there’s Avast Security for Mac. It comes in two versions, Free and Premium. The freeware only offers essential malware protection, while the Premium version has several advanced features and utilities that make it a worthwhile option, such as the WiFi Inspector and multi-layered ransomware protection.

Winner: Norton. Both Norton and Avast offer a comprehensive lineup of features as part of their security suites, but Norton’s offerings are more useful in today’s day and age.

2. Malware Protection

Let’s take a look at how Norton and Avast compare when it comes to protecting your computer against malware infections. To determine which is superior in this regard, let’s look at the recent unbiased lab tests from AV-Test and AV-Comparatives — two highly regarded independent organizations that regularly test and rank different antivirus software.

AV-Test’s recent evaluations were conducted in April 2019. All participating security software were tested on three different levels: Protection, Performance, and Usability.

During the Protection test, Norton scored a perfect 6 out of 6, showcasing its excellent malware detection capabilities.

Avast scored a slightly lower 5.5 out of 6 rating, which is a good score but not a perfect one.

AV-Comparatives is another well-known independent security software testing organization from Austria. They regularly conduct several exhaustive tests to evaluate the performance of various antivirus brands, but their main examination is the Real-World Protection test. In their recent report, both Symantec and Avast received the second-best ADVANCED award, which represents good defenses against all sorts of malware.

Winner: Norton. It’s a close call, but Norton takes this round due to better overall performance in recent independent anti-malware tests.

3. System Performance

There’s no doubt that anti-malware capabilities are important, but we can’t neglect system performance. Most top-tier antivirus programs out there put a negligible impact on system performance.

Let’s examine both software’s performance in this category.

In the Performance category of AV-Test evaluations, Norton scored a perfect 6 out of 6, which is an excellent score.

Avast also got a 6 out of 6 in this test, matching Norton.

AV-Comparatives’ performance test was conducted in April 2019. Both Norton and Avast took home the highest ADVANCED+ award in this evaluation.

Winner: Tie. Both companies performed equally well in two recent independent performance evaluations; neither software will slow down your system operations.

4. User-Friendliness

The user interface of an antivirus program should be intuitive and easy-to-use for everyone, including people who aren’t proficient in computer use.

First, let’s examine Norton’s user interface.

Norton’s user interface is sleek and simplistic; it’s also universal in nature, so there isn’t much difference between the desktop and mobile views. On the main view, there’s a big green check mark that lets you know if everything is okay. The checkmark will turn into a warning sign if there’s an issue and your attention is required.

The Quick Scan button on the main window allows you to initiate a scan with just one click. The time and date of your last scan is also there on the screen, as well as information regarding licenses and software updates.

At the bottom, there’re five rectangular tiles that can be used to access all the advanced features and options of the software. The links to Settings and Help pages are placed in the top bar.

Avast For Mac

Now, let’s see what Avast’s interface looks like in comparison.

Avast’s dark, modern-styled interface is intuitive and straightforward. If everything is okay, there will be a green checkmark in the center of the main. The checkmark will change to warning sign if there’s something wrong with your security. There’s also a button that lets you run a smart scan.

On the left side, there are four main categories that contain all the features and tools of the software. You can access all the major features and functions with just a few clicks.

Winner: Tie. Both user interfaces are intuitive and user-friendly.

5. Pricing

Another important consideration is pricing. After all, if something is not affordable, it’s likely that you won’t buy it.

Norton Antivirus Plus, the company’s entry-level premium suite, costs $39.99 per year for 1 device.

Norton 360 Standard lets you protect 2 devices for $49.99 per year. Norton 360 Deluxe can be used to protect up to 5 devices for $59.99 per year. Finally, Norton 360 Deluxe with LifeLock Select costs $99.99 per year for up to 5 devices.

Now, let’s see how much Avast charges for its protection.

Avast Internet Security, the first paid option from the company, costs $59.99 per year for 1 PC. Avast Premium costs $69.99 per year for 1 PC.

Avast Ultimate, the highest offering from Avast, costs $119.99 per year and gives you a license for 1 PC.

Avast Security for Mac, the company’s flagship product for macOS platform, comes at $59.99 per year for 1 Mac device.

Winner: Norton. Norton has a better pricing structure and gives you more licenses for less money, providing great value for money.

6. Customer Satisfaction

One final aspect we will consider is customer satisfaction.

Consumeraffairs.org is a great resource to see what the actual customers of both companies think of their products and services. The site collects genuine user reviews and averages them out into a 1 to 5-star score. Norton has a 1-star rating from this resource, indicating low levels of user satisfaction and poor customer service. Avast has a 3-star rating, which is an average score.

Let’s also check out the Better Business Bureau (BBB), which is another well-known review collection site. Both Norton and Avast have an A+ rating on the BBB, which is an excellent score.

Antivirus For Mac

Winner: Tie. Both Avast and Norton have comparable scores in this category.

Final Thoughts

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