Although virus issues are not as serious a concern on Macs as they are on Windows, the ease of use and efficiency of the Windows version bodes well. Avast! Antivirus provides pretty much most of the functionality you get in the Windows version but of course with the added bonus that it has a slicker OS X style interface.

However, be warned that as with many virus checkers, its not very clear how to uninstall it so make sure you have something like AppZapper to get rid of it if you choose not to keep it. avast! Antivrus for Mac is very easy to use and follow allowing you to scan in realtime or scan drives individually for problems and errors. Scanning is fast and efficient and you shouldn't experience any hang-ups.

However, you may notice that your Mac slows down a bit and is even unresponsive at times while Avast! is running. It does tend to consume CPU at time and there may be added processes that Avast! for Mac runs that cause this.

If you want to make sure potentially virus carrying mail attachments are scanned, then you must ensure this option is checked in system preferences. However, its only available for Apple Mail so there's no support for other big mail clients such as Thunderbird and Entourage. However, the biggest difference from the Windows version is that its not free for individual users. You can however buy licenses from one to three years.

Its debatable whether a Mac still really needs an anti-virus checker but if you are thinking of using one, avast! Antivirus does have a very good pedigree on Windows although unlike the latter, its not free.

Download avast! Free Antivirus for Mac 7.0.38446 in Softonic

When I was a Windows user, of all the big anti-virus apps out there, the one that I got along with most was McAfee. It just seemed to do it's job with less fuss and intrusion than Norton or any of the other big ones.

McAffee VirusScan is even more stripped down and does a straightforward job. However, be warned that to uninstall it, you have to use the uninstaller that is bundled with the download or that can be downloaded from Softonic. If you simply drag and drop it to the trash, you'll be left with lots of annoying virus scan processes on your system that will cause all kinds of issues in the future.

If you get over the rather lengthy installation process, then McAfee VirusScan (formerly known as McAfee Virex) is a no fuss and quick virus checker. I've never had any virus problems on my Mac so far but a tool like this can never hurt. McAfee VirusScan isn't a real-time virus checker - rather it does one of scans of files you're worried about simply by dragging and dropping them into the interface. This is useful if you've received a file and are unsure whether it's safe to open.

Simply drag your file into the McAfee VirusScan and it will scan it instantly. For some reason, it seems to hide the results away in a little box underneath the drag and drop target but you can expand it by clicking the arrow. I'm sure if it does detect a virus, there is a much clearer warning of the result. There are very few configuration options but it does allow you to schedule automatic scans at specific times during the week which can target specific files. This is handy for targeting a download folder for example, or to prevent the need to scan your whole system.

McAfee VirusScan is updated regularly automatically and if you no need to check a virus definition, it takes you straight onto it's online database.

McAfee VirusScan is an effective tool for anyone that just wants to scan a one off file and doesn't need a real time scanner - just beware of the uninstallation process!

Download McAfee VirusScan 9.2 in Softonic

The first thing to note is that, generally, Macs don't need anti-virus software, although there has been an increased threat in recent years. In fact, until recently, Apple claimed that Macs do not need anti-virus software at all although they have quietly dropped that in light of recent outbreaks.

The second thing to highlight is that Norton AntiVirus for Mac is very heavy on your CPU, as it runs lots of background processes and it may slow down your Mac. Norton AntiVirus can also be overzealous about threats and flag things that may be dangerous on PC but probably aren't on a Mac.

Most recently, Norton AntVirus for Mac has been updated to work on both Lion and Mountain Lion but it's still a hefty package. Version 11 of Norton AntiVirus still works on OS X 10.4-10.6. The good thing is that both versions update at least once a day to stop late-breaking threats and it extends to scanning IM clients for suspicious attachments.

Be aware that removing Norton AntiVirus for Mac can also be tricky, although Symantec publishes full instructions.

Norton AntiVirus is a very heavy anti-virus solution for Macs but if you can handle the sluggishness, its worth a try.

Download Norton AntiVirus for Mac 12.4 in Softonic

We Know Macs Better Than Our Competitors Intego has built Mac software from the ground up for OSX since 1997. Other companies cram Mac features into their existing Windows platform. Trust your antivirus protection to Intego and our Mac-specific suite of utilities. Protects Your iOS Devices Intego VirusBarrier 2013 scans your iOS devices whenever they’re plugged into your computer to make sure that no infected files that you received via email will pass onto your Mac or Windows machines.

Our award-winning VirusBarrier app, designed for home users, keeps your Mac free of all varieties of malware and even safeguards against Windows threats so you don’t pass infected files onto others.

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As the popularity of Macs increases, it's inevitable that they will become the target of viruses and although the risk is still small, you haven't got much to lose by installing a free virus checker like ClamXav.

ClamXav is a free virus checker which can perform full system scans or analyze specific folders. The latest release has seen a much improved interface mainly due to the move away from Java and to Objective-C. Installation of ClamXav is a bit lengthy as it also requires installing the ClamAV engine which also requires a script (included in the installation file) to remove it.

The interface of ClamXav is simple and straightforward. You can schedule automatic system scans to be performed regularly, by setting the day of the week and hour at which you want ClamXav to start its analysis. It's obviously best to schedule full scans while you're not using your Mac because as with most virus checker, it can slow down your system somewhat. In fact, scanning in general is very slow with ClamXav although for checking individual files it's fine. Probably the best way to use ClamXav is via the "Sentry" which makes ClamXav monitor for changes in individual files and folders rather than performing slow regular system scans.

If you use it sparingly, ClamXav is a pretty good free virus checker with a regularly updated database although speed is not its forte.

Download ClamXav 2.3.4 in Softonic

VirusBarrier Express provides free protection from viruses, Trojan horses and other types of malware including Windows malware so its safe to accept files from Windows users. VirusBarrier Express doesn't provide realtime protection though - it can only be run manually on any file, folder or volume on your Mac.

You can repair infected files via and easy to use GUI although there's also a command-line tool which allows administrative users to scan and repair files. The interface is slick and simple enabling you to schedule scans, blacklist trusted files and folders and it's regularly updated with new virus definitions.

VirusBarrier Express is handy for checking the odd file now and again although its not suitable for those seeking realtime protection.

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The new version of iAntivirus features specific protection for iPhoto and iTunes files as well as Facebook walls to keep you protected from online fraud. It features a simple “carousel” interfaces that lets you use two fingers in Lion to swipe between your home folder and full system and other scanning options.

iAntivirus for Mac also ensures that you are protected from Windows threats too if you're working in a virtual environment. Unlike the Windows version however, there is no background scanning or on-access scanning. It also prompts you with pop-ups where you want to scan when performing manual scans because of Apple's sandboxing restrictions in OS X.

iAntivirus is a bit of a resource hog and can consume 100% of your CPU when you perform manual scans although OS X may distribute this in a way that doesn't slow it down too much. However, as free scanners go, it's not that much worse than most other anti-virus solutions on Mac.

Symantec iAntivirus for Mac is not as comprehensive as it is on Windows and hogs resources but it has a simple interface and is the only antivirus to check Facebook walls.

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Many Mac users believe that OS X doesn't require maintenance like Windows, but that simply isn't the case. While OS X doesn't require fragmentation, it does suffer from cluttered caches and incorrect permissions. MacKeeper helps Mac users maintain their computers as well as offering security, anti-theft, and backup tools.

MacKeeper's interface is beautifully simplistic. Users are greeted with a 'System Status' screen where it will tell you when you last scanned your computer and if any problems are detected. There is a built-in anti-virus scanner. It works well but takes a long time to scan the entire hard drive. It does, however, run quietly in the background. Users can schedule scans or trigger a scan in the menu bar.

There are also a ton of useful file features in MacKeeper. There is a 'Data Encryptor,' which allows users to hide files on a hard drive with a password. There is also a file recovery system in MacKeeper, which scans your hard drive for recoverable files that you may have accidentally deleted. There's a file Shredder that allows you to delete files permanently and securely.

One of the more useful tools in MacKeeper is its update tracker, which updates all of your applications, whether or not you've downloaded them from the Mac App Store. It works well and will even take you to a program's download page if it cannot download the program within the application.

MacKeeper's backup system offers more flexibility than Apple's Time Machine application. MacKeeper will allow users to select specific files and folders to back up to different drives or a FTP server.

Finally, MacKeeper offers an feature called ZeoDisk, which is still in development. It offers online storage for your backups, which can be synced to different computers and platforms. It will also allow you to share files with your friends.

While it might be overkill for some users, MacKeeper is an excellent, full-featured security and maintenance application for those looking for a one stop Mac maintenance app.

Download MacKeeper 2.2.1 in Softonic

Firstly, note that F-Secure for Mac will not work if you have any other third-party firewalls or antivirus products installed. It works with Leopard OS X 10.5 and above and both 32 and 64 bit Macs. The other important thing to note F-Secure isn't free - you have to purchase a license key which is around $20 a month.

Finally, if you want to uninstall F-Secure, you can't just drag it to the Trash - you have to shut it down completely and use the uninstaller that comes with the program. If that doesn't work, manually uninstall the program by opening a Terminal.app and issuing a command 'sudo /usr/local/f-secure/uninstall_Macprotection'.

F-Secure for Mac provides virus and spyware scanning in real-time although F-Secure recommend that you perform a manual scan every 1-2 weeks. One thing you may notice is that occasionally F-Secure for Mac detects false positives i.e. programs which are harmless to your system. If this happens, you can contact F-Secure directly at https://analysis.f-secure.com/portal/login.html to have it removed.

F-Secure Anti-Virus for Mac is automatically updated and displays the latest successful update check time on the Statistics page. F-Secure Anti-Virus for Mac displays a green status icon on the main page to display its protection status. If the indicator is either yellow or red, you will see a warning notification on the top line of the main user interface.

F-Secure for Mac is slightly different to F-Secure Internet Security on Windows. Some features are missing or different because of the specific needs of OS X. In addition, parental control features are already a feature of OS X and so are not needed in F-Secure for Mac like they are in Windows.

Overall, F-Secure is solid anti-virus software for Macs but it's debatable whether you actually need a permanent anti-virus solutions on Macs.

Download F-Secure Anti-Virus for Mac in Softonic

Simply hit Start scan and when you add your admin password, Kaspersky Flashfake Removal Tool searches for Flashback/Flashfake Trojans. If it detects anything, it removes it from your Mac automatically. Alternatively, if you just want to check for Flashback, you can try Flashback Checker.

Kaspersky Flashfake Removal Tool removes all traces of Flashback or Flashfake Trojans from your Mac.

Download Kaspersky Flashfake Removal Tool 1.1 in Softonic

It's free and could help remove Flashback Trojan. Besides, easy to operate is could help most common users to find and remove Flashback Trojan easily.

Magican AntiTrojan is a free antivirus app could help users check the Flashback Trojan, remove all the infected files in your Mac. Still Magican AntiTrojan has an easy to use interface; users could only click a button to easily finish removing.

Download Magican AntiTrojan 1.1.0 in Softonic

The tool removes the most common variants of the Flashback malware and contains the same malware removal tool as found in Apple's Java for Lion Update 2012-003. If the Flashback malware is found, a dialog will be presented notifying the user that malware was removed. Apple warn that in some cases, the Flashback malware removal tool may need to restart your computer in order to completely remove the Flashback malware. This tool is highly recommended for all OS X Lion users without Java installed.

Apple Flashback Malware Removal Tool is highly recommended for all those that have either removed Java from Lion or don't have it installed.

Download Apple Flashback Malware Removal Tool 1.0 in Softonic

Using both of these tools, you can check and remove (if neccessary) the Flashback Trojan automatically without having to use Terminal. To use F-Secure Flashback Removal Tool, simply double-click the zip package to unzip it in the current folder. Double-click the FlashBack Removal app to run the tool and then just follow the instructions to check your system and clean any infections

If you're worried you may have been one of the reported 600,000 Mac users affected by the Flashback Trojan, F-Secure Flashback Removal Tool is the simplest way to remove it if you have.

Download F-Secure Flashback Removal Tool in Softonic

If you don't feel comfortable using Terminal, just install Flashback Checker and click "Check for Flashback Infection". The app runs a simple script which will confirm whether you are infected or not. Note that it does not remove the Trojan. To ensure full removal, you must follow F-Secure's removal instructions which does require use of Terminal.

Remember that if you get the all clear, you must run Software Update on your Mac to ensure that the Java vulnerability is patched. If you're unsure, download the latest patched version of Java for Lion.

Flashback Checker is a simple way to check for the Flashback Trojan without having to use Terminal.

Download Flashback Checker in Softonic

Although viruses and trojans very rarely affect Macs, the risks may be increasing as Macs become more popular. Kaspersky Virus Scanner therefore isn't essential but may give those that are worried some piece of mind.

The good news is that Kaspersky Virus Scanner is not as bloated or intrusive as it is on Windows and generally performs discreetly in the background. It also protects against spyware and adware uses Kaspersky's extensive virus database to keep the threat definitions file regularly updated.

The interface is very simple and is similar to Kaspersky Anti-Virus. In fact, you shouldn't need to access it unless you want to perform a manual scan. As with Kaspersky Anti-Virus, scanning can be rather slow regardless of whether you choose Quick or Full scans. You can however select which files and folders you want included in scans which speeds-up things.

It's hard to see any major differences between Kaspersky Virus Scanner and Kaspersky Anti-Virus although upgrading to the latter is considerably more expensive.

If you are worried about security on your Mac, Kaspersky Virus Scanner is worth installing but it's by no means essential.

Download Kaspersky Virus Scanner 8.1.1.65 in Softonic

BitDefender Antivirus 2012 for Mac protects against viruses, worms and trojans and includes an anti-phishing module which is capable of integrating with Safari and Firefox as a plug-in. The interface is generally clean with all the main options clearly displayed. There's also an extensive settings and configuration tab for those that need to tweak it.

Download BitDefender Antivirus 2012 for Mac 15.0.38 in Softonic

If you think Macs don't need a virus checker then think again. Although the risk of virus attack is very small compared to Windows, Mac viruses are on the increase and this will continue as Macs become more popular. Kaspersky Anti-Virus for Mac offers quick and thorough scanning options as well as real-time scanning of files download from the net, via email, etc. Note that, as with many anti-virus packages, you need an uninstaller to remove it which comes with this download.

You might experience a bit of a delay while activating the trial version of Kaspersky Anti-Virus but once done, all the features of the full version are available. The interface is simple although the Kaspersky icon appears in your Status Bar rather than Dock, which is a bit confusing at first (although you can change this to the Dock in the preferences). It isn't particularly clear from the main interface however what all the buttons correspond to except the preferences and magnifying glass symbol. You'll have to experiment with trial and error to begin with.

Scanning in Kaspersky Anti-Virus can be rather slow regardless of whether you choose Quick or Full scans, but the database is updated regularly. You can easily select which files and folders you want included in scans and there's a high degree of customization available in Preferences from update frequencies to security level settings.

Kaspersky Anti-Virus for Mac has a nice Mac feel to it and it's highly configurable. Hopefully though, you won't need to resort to it very often.

Download Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2011 for Mac 8.0.4.746 in Softonic