If you ’re looking for antivirus software system for your Mac , you might be drawn to the pleasingly intimate name McAfee , a well - rated cybersecurity solution that recently add up AI phishing spying to avail protect you from convincing scams .
While Apple includes some safeguards in macOS to serve keep your information unassailable , third - political party result often go further , bridging the platform divide to protect your Mac , iPhone , Windows PC , and Android devices with one subscription .
McAfee isone of the best antivirus solutionsfor Windows , but Macs run macOS and use M - series processor that are quite different from PC chips . I reviewed McAfee on my MacBook Air to try how well it integrates and how much protection it cater .
Tiers and pricing
McAfee offers several price level for Mac owners , but its free antivirus app only works on Windows . However , prices start at a very affordable $ 30 per year and a 30 - sidereal day free tryout , so you’re able to check that it suit your demand before committing .
There are somegreat free antivirus apps for the Mac , so you may get by without paying if you only need the basics . A subscription is usually worthwhile for more comprehensive aegis .
For lesson , an yearly $ 36 McAfee Essential subscription supports up to five devices running macOS , iOS , Windows , and Android . The $ 45 McAfee+ Premium design covers limitless twist and add an uncapped VPN , privacy monitoring , and social medium qui vive .
McAfee+ Advanced ( $ 80 ) and McAfee+ Ultimate ( $ 200 ) include identity theft insurance , ransomware reporting , financial monitoring , and more . It ’s important to observe that these are toll for the first class and refilling rates could be importantly higher .
McAfee syndicate subscriptions brood two adults with maternal controls to add devoid nipper accounts . The toll is less than bribe two personal plan , helping to reduce mathematical group costs well .
Design
McAfee+ Premium for Mac come with the McAfee Total Protection app . I download the DMG , unfold the installer , and give it the required license to protect my MacBook . The McAfee Total Protection app give a brief overview of the feature as it synced my account and condition for app updates .
McAfee dedicate a tour of the app , showing the at - a - glance protection status , how to activate more feature , and how to get help . I go through the list of trace at the top to empty the red warning status .
I selected the big blue clit to switch on the firewall , but it did n’t work . I suspected the macOS firewall was interfering , so I switched it off and attempt again with no succeeder . I cut that whole tone to answer it by and by with customer support .
McAfee Total Protection needed phonograph record access and this fourth dimension , the blue button worked , popping to the ripe section of System configurations to on/off switch switches for four McAfee apps . However , I only retrieve two of the four mentioned and something call in McAfee web Extension . I enabled all three and made another note to demand support about the two missing apps and the supernumerary extension .
I run a full scan , proceeding with apparatus while it continued to seek malware in the background . A note notify me the scan could take as foresightful as 48 hour . Next , I set up indistinguishability shelter , an online and dingy vane scan for my email speech , and switched on McAfee ’s virtual private web ( VPN ) . For some intellect , it defaulted to a host in Argentina .
I pick out a faithful location so my cyberspace speeding was n’t too slow , but the app crashed . I determine to restart my MacBook to get a clean start since I had multiple unexpected events . The leave out disk admittance toggles for GenUtility and VShieldScanner appeared . I switched them on and taste the VPN again . This time I was able to select the correct country without a crash .
Soon after , the computer virus scan finished , taking only half an hr to assert my MacBook ’s 256 GB home SSD was clean . With everything but the firewall work on , I try the help button . The help guide that open did n’t have any useful tips to fix the firewall result .
The app designing is squeamish , but I had several glitches during apparatus and ultimately , I had to make out to support to get everything working .
Features
McAfee+ Premium comes with a password manager , VPN , and identity element theft shelter , which are nice duplicate . However , the primary purpose of antivirus software package is to protect my information processing system and data from hackers and malware .
I can do spot checks to prove for obvious helplessness but main cybersecurity research science laboratory are more thorough . I checkedAV - Testand AV - Comparatives to see how well McAfee for Mac score .
unluckily , the newest tests were four years old . From 2018 to 2020 , McAfee Endpoint Security hit a staring six for protection with a pocket-sized girl in 2017 dangle the rating to 5.5 . That ’s supporting , but old tests are n’t really relevant to current threat .
If you want the assurance of rigorous third - party testing , Bitdefender for Mac has earn a nearly perfect recordfor the retiring seven years . Norton ’s Mac antivirus software is equally telling .
AV - Test had up - to - date information whenI reviewed McAfee ’s Windows app , showing a perfect protection ratingover the last four years . All signs hint McAfee+ Premium should pop the question authentic antivirus protection .
I usedWicar’smalware test internet site to get hands - on feedback on McAfee ’s strength on my MacBook . McAfee+ Premium ’s Total Protection app and WebAdvisor web browser extension successfully blocked all web browser exploits . The software package also detected and quarantined all infected downloads . That ’s 13 threats neutralized .
I also tested the VPN included with McAfee+ Premium . I mensurate around 200Mbps on most server , which is fast enough for range and downloads , but it might not be the skilful choice for streaming . I had a choice of 48 countries , but when I selected the U.K. , BBC ’s iPlayer still detected I was reach the website from another country .
Support
McAfee+ Premium include 24/7 support via live schmooze , so I jazz I could get further help to settle the problem I had with set up up the firewall . First , I searched for the response and witness a root that required installing an extension , remove McAfee Total Protection , and bulge over from the beginning .
I selected the chat button in the bottom right wing of McAfee ’s support centre and suffered for a moment with the chatbot before enquire for a man . I had to supply my score electronic mail and phone issue to go . An agent join immediately and asked how they could help .
Within a few minutes , McAfee support offered a much easier root . It turn out there was one more extension to enable . This vital step was n’t mentioned during setup and was buried three layer late in System options .
Unfortunately , the first agentive role stopped respond . I refreshed the page and someone else came on to avail . Perhaps switching on the extension disrupt my connexion . Overall , support was fast and helpful .
Privacy and security
McAfee ’s secrecy policy allows it to apportion some data with third - party advertiser . That said , I ’ve been on McAfee ’s inclination for three months and have n’t note any spam or advert tracking increase .
you’re able to useMcAfee’sopt - out petition form to stop apportion that data if it concerns you .
McAfee ’s interior security measure seems beneficial — I could n’t find any record of a McAfee data breach . Your personal and fiscal information should be safe from hack .
McAfee protects all your devices
McAfee+ Premium for Mac is a complete cybersecurity solution that includes malware bar and protection , a debauched VPN , a word manager , and more . The company has recently added AI enhancements to block test scams on mobile devices .
In my berth tests , McAfee protected my MacBook . Unfortunately , certificate researchers have n’t verified its effectuality in ongoing mental testing across a spacious range of threats .
I found a late support text file about the firewall setup trouble , so McAfee is aware of the issue . facility bugs should be resolved directly since it ’s the client ’s first introduction to the software .
I had doubts about McAfee ’s committal to the Mac at that mo . However , McAfee support quickly decide the problem and everything seemed good after that fixture .
cost - wise , McAfee is one ofthe best deals on antivirus package . Just watch out for price increase when it ’s time to renew .
For more options , check outour pathfinder to the better antivirus software , which sum up our reviews of several top cybersecurity solution .
