It’s no longer the case that you can safely get by without an antivirus program for Mac. Recent converts from Windows may be surprised to find just how many antivirus options there are for Mac, including some that are available exclusively for Mac.
Two of the most prominent of these are ClamXav and Intego VirusBarrier X6. Both are widely used and recommended, but these are two very different programs, with different features and huge differences in performance. Depending on your needs as a user, as well as your budget, you’ll probably find that one makes much more sense for your purposes than the other.
The Basics
Intego VirusBarrier X6 runs on Mac OS X 10.5 and up. It will run on PowerPC or Intel processors, although you’ll need Mac OS X 10.6 or higher (Snow Leopard) in order to run VirusBarrier on an Intel-based machine. VirusBarrier requires 40 MB of hard disk space, making it very small for a commercial package. You can get a minimum of 2 licenses for $49.95 US, with a 5-license package available for $69.95.
ClamXav will run on Mac OS X 10.3.x, 10.4.x, and 10.5.x. There is also a beta version currently available for Snow Leopard. It runs on PowerPC-based Macs. ClamXav is also very small in terms of hard disk usage. ClamXav is freeware, although it should be noted that it’s very easy to get tech support for it thanks to an active community.
Protection
VirusBarrier is comparable to any commercial offering in terms of overall coverage. It protects not only against viruses, but also against other types of malware, including spyware. VirusBarrier also detects threats based on internal algorithms, monitoring suspicious behaviour by applications on your Mac, so that even if something isn’t defined as a virus, if it’s acting like a virus and in danger of harming your computer, VirusBarrier will prevent it from doing so.
ClamXav is strictly an antivirus program. Its definitions are updated daily, so you won’t have to worry about getting out of date even though it’s a free program. However, overall, VirusBarrier gets the nod in terms of protection.
Performance
VirusBarrier runs very smoothly, even when everything is automated. Automatic scans don’t slow down your computer, although full manual scans will take up a decent chunk of system resources.
ClamXav, on the other hand, is extremely slow, and you won’t be able to do anything else while it’s scanning. VirusBarrier is clearly much better in this respect.
Ease of Use
VirusBarrier is relatively easy to use. However, it does have a somewhat strange interface which is unlike most Mac programs, so it may be difficult to figure out initially. Once you get it going, though, VirusBarrier more or less takes care of itself.
ClamXav’s interface is simple and clean, but some things are more difficult to find than they should be. Scheduling scans can be a chore with ClamXav, and you have to set up a quarantine folder yourself if you’d like to use one. Both programs are easy enough to use on a basic level, but VirusBarrier is easier to get the most out of, overall.
Conclusion
VirusBarrier is a paid program and as such one would probably expect more from it, and it delivers. ClamXav will protect your computer, but it can be inconvenient. It’s adequate as a free program, but if you are willing to pay for an antivirus program for your Mac, VirusBarrier is superior in virtually every way.
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