Not even Macs are completely secure. In-depth tests of 10 macOS security suites reveal which provide the best protection.
macOS includes various mechanisms to block malware, but that doesn't mean it is 100 percent protected. For example, we have seen malware distributed with a valid Apple certificate. An additional defensive layer in the form of security software may save your Mac from falling foul of malware.
To help you pick from the available products, we're providing detailed results from the latest independent tests of 10 macOS security suites by AV-Test.org.
How the macOS anti-malware tools performed
The macOS security suites tested included:
- Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac 5.2 ($49.99)
- Canimaan Software ClamXav Sentry 2.12 ($40.45)
- ESET Endpoint Security 6.4 ($49.95)
- Intego Mac Internet Security X9 10.9 ($US39.99)
- Kaspersky Lab Internet Security for Mac 16 ($39.95)
- MacKeeper 3.14 ($95.40)
- ProtectWorks AntiVirus 2.0 ($42.99)
- Sophos Central Endpoint 9.6 (POA)
- Symantec Norton Security 7.3 ($84.99)
- Trend Micro Antivirus 7.0 ($49.95 for two Macs)
AV-Test macOS test results
| Detection rate of MacOS X malware | Detection rate of MacOS X potentially unwanted applications | Detection rate of Windows malware | False positives on demand/ during installation | |
| Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac | 100% | > 99% | > 99% | 0/0 |
| Canimaan Software ClamXav Sentry | 98.4% | > 90% | > 20% | 0/0 |
| ESET Endpoint Security | 98.4% | > 99% | > 99% | 0/0 |
| Intego Mac Internet Security X9 | 100% | > 99% | > 0% | 0/0 |
| Kaspersky Lab Internet Security for Mac | 100% | > 95% | > 99% | 0/0 |
| MacKeeper | 85.9% | > 90% | > 90% | 0/0 |
| ProtectWorks AntiVirus | 94.6% | > 85% | > 20% | 0/0 |
| Sophos Central Endpoint | 98.4% | > 95% | > 99% | 0/0 |
| Symantec Norton Security | 100% | > 99% | > 70% | 0/0 |
| Trend Micro Antivirus | 99.5% | > 95% | > 99% | 0/0 |
Next: Test results explained and final verdict
