Review: BitDefender Antivirus for Mac Is a Top Pick

BitDefender is one of the best choices in antivirus software for Mac users

Monsters in the screen
Paul L Dineen / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Updated October 02, 2016

In the past, Mac users could take comfort in the fact that the majority of viruses and other malicious bits of code were targeted to Windows users; however, those days are gone. When it comes to compromising your system and accessing your sensitive information, bad guys want to get into a Mac user's computer as much as a Windows user. Mac users need to defend themselves against malware, and several solutions are available to serve this need.

Pros

  • Excellent defense against malware
  • 24/7 tech support
  • Low impact on system performance
  • Simple to use
  • Detects both Mac and Windows malware

Cons

  • None

Description

  • Real-time virus protection
  • Scheduled, quick, and full system scans
  • Quarantine feature

Requirements

  • BitDefender Antivirus for Mac works on Intel-based Macs running OS X 10.8.5 or later. You need 400MB of disk space and have at least 1GB of RAM.

BitDefender Antivirus for Mac Review

BitDefender is at the top of the heap when it comes to antivirus protection software. It has a great design and is easy to use. BitDefender Antivirus for Mac's features includes realtime on-access virus protection with the ability to perform full system virus scans, quick scans of critical system areas, as well as scheduled scanning. It also offers useful features such as extensions for popular web browsers that can help alert you to questionable sites in search results and phishing risks.

The quarantine feature in BitDefender Antivirus for Mac safely isolates suspect infected files for forwarding to the BitDefender Antivirus Lab for analysis.

BitDefender Antivirus for Mac provides automatic signature updates to ensure virus protection is always up-to-date. 

BitDefender for Mac Cost

BitDefender for Mac offers two subscriptions: $39.95 for a one-year license for one Mac and $59.95 per year for up to three Macs.

 This includes free tech support for the duration of the license period. 

BitDefender has a good track record for detecting and preventing viruses and other forms of malware and it will help keep your Macintosh system free from malware. But it doesn't just detect and stop malware designed for Macs—it also detects and stops Windows-targeted malware as well. Why is this important to a Mac user? If you're a Mac user who also has a Windows system or lives with someone who does, it prevents the Windows malware from contaminating and spreading to other Windows machines around you. 

The Bottom Line

BitDefender for Mac is one of, if not the, best antivirus software available on the market. Matching minimal system impact with exceptional malware detection, BitDefender for Mac should be at the top of your list when considering antivirus software for your Mac. 

Of course, the best protection does come with a cost, but BitDefender's price is comparable to its competition. You can find "free" antivirus software out there, but its support and its protection are very likely behind what BitDefender provides.

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