In recent years, the issue of Mac security has changed in nature; the increasing popularity of the Mac platform means that hackers have more incentive to create viruses, malware and other exploits that specifically target Mac systems. This, in turn, has lead to an increase in the number of options for users looking to combat these threats.
Intego VirusBarrier and PC Tools iAntiVirus are two well known Mac-only security programs. iAntiVirus is free for individual users, while VirusBarrier is a commercial product. Which one makes more sense for the average user?
The Basics
VirusBarrier X6 runs on PowerPC-based machines running Mac OS X 10.5.x, or Intel-based machines running Mac OS X 10.5.x or 10.6.x. You can purchase two licenses for $49.95 US, or a five-license package for $69.95.
iAntiVirus runs on Intel-based machines only, for Mac OS X 10.5 and up. While it is free for individual users, commercial users are required to pay a $29.95 per year license.
Protection
Protection is obviously the main aim of any security software, and this most basic area is one in which VirusBarrier and iAntiVirus differ significantly. VirusBarrier protects against all types of viruses and malware. Additionally, even though the program is available only for Mac, VirusBarrier also detects Windows-based threats.
iAntiVirus, on the other hand, only deals with Mac-specific viruses. This means that, with iAntiVirus, you may still be vulnerable to spyware and certain other types of malware. You may also still pick up files that can do harm to Windows-based systems and therefore pass them on to Windows users. This is particularly unacceptable for network users, who are often connected directly to machines running other platforms. Simply put, iAntiVirus will not provide adequate protection in these situations.
Performance
iAntiVirus can boast of being the most efficient and resource-friendly of the well-known free antivirus applications for Mac. Even as it runs in the background, it usually won’t interfere with your normal computing activities. However, if you’re running a scan, iAntiVirus will cause your computer to slow down a little bit, and its scans aren’t as fast as those performed by commercial antivirus programs.
VirusBarrier ranks roughly in the middle of the pack among commercial antivirus programs in terms of speed and resource usage. That is to say that it’s better than iAntiVirus in these respects, but not quite as good as, for example, Norton or McAfee.
Ease of Use
Ease of use is one area in which iAntiVirus outdoes VirusBarrier. This is in part due to the added complexity and comprehensiveness of VirusBarrier. However, VirusBarrier also has an unusual interface which may add a bit more time to the learning curve.
Conclusion
In every important way, VirusBarrier performs better than iAntiVirus. Simply put, if you’re looking for real, comprehensive antivirus and anti-malware protection, VirusBarrier does a much better job, and the upgrade in performance and protection are indeed worth the price.
Related posts:
- iAntiVirus vs. Norton Internet Security: Mac Antivirus Software Comparison
- iAntiVirus vs. McAfee: Mac Security Software Comparison
- iAntiVirus vs. MacScan: Mac Security Software Comparison
- MacScan vs VirusBarrier x6: Mac Security Software Comparison
- iAntiVirus Review: Free Mac Antivirus Software
