"Yep, Macs get infected." That's the tagline on the very first installer page of Malwarebytes for Mac Premium, and it's true. Having no Mac antivirus protection may not such a disaster as leaving your Windows or Android devices unprotected, but it's a bad idea to go without. Malwarebytes has a top-notch reputation for wiping out malware even when other utilities fail. However, coming up with hard data that shows it working isn't easy.
On the Windows platform, Malwarebytes is the go-to solution when a pernicious malware infestation resists removal. Tech support agents from other security companies have been known to enlist help from Malwarebytes when all else fails. I've been able to see it in action by infecting a test system and then challenging Malwarebytes to clean it up, using my hand-coded tools to verify its success. As you'll see below, verifying its efficacy on the Mac proved rather more difficult.
As with Malwarebytes Free on Windows, you can download this program and run a scan without paying anything. That can be handy if another antivirus utility detected a threat but failed to fully eliminate it. Paying for the premium edition gets you real-time protection, automatic updates, and blocking of adware and potentially unwanted applications, or PUAs.
Like ProtectWorks AntiVirus, this product has a main window that's all about scanning for malware. But unlike ProtectWorks, there's just one kind of scan, a quick scan for active malware. A menu down the left side lets you view recent scans, check what's in quarantine, or tweak the program's sparse set of configuration settings.
Similar Products
Avira Free Antivirus for Mac
Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac
ESET Cyber Security for Mac
Intego Mac Internet Security
Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac
McAfee AntiVirus Plus for Mac
ProtectWorks AntiVirus for Mac
Sophos Home Free for Mac
Norton 360 Deluxe for Mac
Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac
Webroot SecureAnywhere Antivirus for Mac
Pricing and OS Support
Bitdefender, ESET, and Kaspersky all cost $39.99 per year for one license, and the same is true with Malwarebytes. All four of these products cost $59.99 per year for three licenses, but Malwarebytes is a little different. After the initial $39.99, each additional license costs $10, which just happens to come out to $59.99 for three. I like the flexibility Malwarebytes offers.
With Norton, you pay $89.99 per year for five licenses, and you get a full security suite, not just antivirus. McAfee AntiVirus Plus (for Mac) charges $59.99 per year, but that license lets you install protection on all your macOS, Windows, Android, and iOS devices. As you can see, there's a lot of variation in pricing.
No money in the budget for Mac antivirus? No problem! You can install and run Sophos or Avira Free Antivirus for Mac on your personal Macs without paying a penny.
If you're stuck with an old Mac, or legacy software that won't run on current versions of macOS, Malwarebytes may not be the best choice. Like McAfee, Symantec, and Trend Micro, it requires Yosemite (10.10) or later. Mac antiquarians will be pleased to know that ESET Cyber Security (for Mac) and ProtectWorks support all versions of the operating system back to Snow Leopard (10.6).
Malware Protection Testing
The independent antivirus testing labs put Windows antivirus to the test in a wide variety of ways, many of them closely resembling real-world malware-attack situations. Those labs that also test Mac antivirus don't have the same degree of real-world testing. Because of the way Malwarebytes focuses on eliminating active malware, it would not pass these tests, so the company simply doesn't submit it.
It makes sense that tests by AV-Test Institute(Opens in a new window) and AV-Comparatives don't line up with the way Malwarebytes does its job. But I still must say, when a program like Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac($23.95 at Kaspersky AU)(Opens in a new window) or Bitdefender shows up with two certifications and two scores of 100 percent, it looks very good.
You may notice in the chart above that McAfee also doesn't have any lab results. At the time of my review, it had certification and 100 percent detection from AV-Comparatives(Opens in a new window). However, McAfee didn't choose to participate in the most recent test.
Hands On With Malwarebytes
Most antivirus programs include the option to scan your entire Mac for malware. Many also offer a quick scan that just looks for active malware and for malware traces in common locations. However, a full scan is counter to the Malwarebytes philosophy. The company's thinking goes like this: If you really have an infection, the quick scan will see that there's a problem and remediate it. All a full scan could find beyond that is static malware that's inert and not doing any immediate harm.
Indeed, a scan of the Apple MacBook Air 13-Inch that I use for testing finished in about 15 seconds. That's darned fast, considering that the average quick scan time for recent products is more than four minutes.
All of the other products I've reviewed recently aim to detect and eliminate Windows-based malware as well as malware focused on the Mac. The idea is that this prevents the Mac from becoming a Typhoid Mary, carrying infection without being affected. Malwarebytes has no interest in malware that can't even run on the Mac, so it ignores Windows malware.
So how can you even know that it's doing anything? I went to the AMTSO webpage and downloaded the EICAR test file(Opens in a new window), a non-malicious sample file that almost every antivirus vendor detects, so you can see your protection is working. No result.
Once again, because it's not malicious, Malwarebytes ignores it. I did find a technique in the company's forums to force detection of this file. When I placed it in a specific folder, as instructed, Malwarebytes immediately moved it into quarantine.
Many antivirus utilities manage quarantined files internally. Typically, you can view the quarantined items, learn details about each, and permanently delete them. With Malwarebytes, quarantine is just another folder, with a button in the program to view or clear its contents. Intego Mac Internet Security X9 goes a step further in minimalist quarantine, leaving quarantined files in place but blocking their execution.
What's Not Here
Given this product's focus on real-time protection and scanning for active malware, it's not surprising that it doesn't attempt to run scans on a regular schedule. ESET, Webroot SecureAnywhere Antivirus (for Mac), McAfee, and Trend Micro not only include a scheduler, they schedule regular scans without any user intervention.
Almost all malware reaches your Mac from the internet. Some antivirus programs take the fight upstream, keeping your browser from downloading those threats, or from even visiting malware-hosting sites. Many of these also divert the browser away from phishing sites, fraudulent sites that try to steal your secure login credentials.
Like Intego and ProtectWorks, Malwarebytes doesn't attempt this type of protection. Yes, its real-time protection should eliminate downloaded malware before it can infect the system. I'm not so worried about those. But phishing sites are platform-independent; I like to see antivirus products help users avoid these traps. Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac ($23.95 at Kaspersky AU)(Opens in a new window) and Kaspersky top the scores of those that I've tested. My contact at Malwarebytes says that protection against dangerous URLs is on the roadmap for future versions.
In both the Mac and Windows realms, some antivirus products pile on features galore. For example, Kaspersky, Intego, and Symantec Norton Security Deluxe (for Mac)($23.95 at Kaspersky AU)(Opens in a new window) include a firewall component. To be fair, those three are full security suites for Mac, not standalone antivirus tools. Sophos Home and Trend Micro include a simple content filter, while Kaspersky ups the ante to full parental control. With its laser focus on malware protection, Malwarebytes skips the add-ons.
It Comes Down to Reputation
Malwarebytes for Mac Premium isn't suited to testing by the independent labs. I have hands-on tests to evaluate detection of Windows-centered malware, and protection against phishing sites, but those aren't features of this utility. Even getting it to detect the EICAR test file was tough. So how can you know whether it's a good choice?
I asked my Malwarebytes contact that exact question. He explained that, as with the Windows edition, Malwarebytes has a reputation as the go-to tool for tough Mac malware. Many installations come about when a Mac technician installs the product to clean up a problem. Other customers learn about the product through recommendations and word of mouth. I'm not a Mac tech expert; I haven't experienced this. But it's certainly true in the Windows realm.
If the free version of this product saved your bacon, or if you've had a great experience with the Windows version, feel free to choose it. However, for my top recommendations I have to rely on actual, factual testing, both lab tests and hands-on tests. Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac and Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac top the charts in both types of tests, and these two remain Editors' Choice for Mac antivirus.
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