Intego Antivirus for Mac is probably the best security choice for OS X
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Intego Antivirus for Mac is an award-winning security suite designed primarily for Mac OS, which instantly distinguishes it from its competitors. It offers a rich set of protection features exclusively designed for this operating system and scores excellent ratings in a variety of independent lab tests. On top of that, it is designed to be easy to use and doesn’t eat up your computer’s resources. In this review, we’ll cover its features, pricing plans adapted to different needs and other details you want to know before choosing this antivirus software.
First of all, let’s start by stating a well-known fact – nowadays it can be hard to find an antivirus software that offers a rich set of Mac-oriented security tools. the majority of vendors provide a simplified version of their Windows product, which isn’t enough, especially when you pay the same as for PC version. This cannot be said about Intego company, which has been focusing on Apple security since 1997. Today, it offers excellent options for both home and business users.
Intego antivirus offers wide-range of security features including real-time scanning and detection of both Mac and Windows-based threats, intelligent location-aware firewall, full-featured parental control, anti-phishing protection and even more. We will go through each of included features on all antivirus suites offered by Intego, including:
- Mac Internet Security X9;
- Mac Premium Bundle X9;
- ContentBarrier Secure X9;
- Mac Washing Machine Secure X9.
The most popular product for regular computer users is Mac Internet Security X9, which includes two main components – VirusBarrier X9 and NetBarrier X9. If you’re looking for a little more on top of these, Mac Premium Bundle X9 is what should draw your attention – it offers additional features, such as ContentBarrier X9 (parental controls), Washing Machine X9 (Mac cleaner) and Personal Backup 10.9 (flexible tool for creating backups).
Intego Antivirus Review 2023 (Mac)
Results from Lab Tests
Intego Antivirus has collected many awards since its debut in 1997, so it is no doubt a trustworthy software. AV-Test results show that VirusBarrier engine has collected the maximum rating, 6, five times and nearly ideal score – 5.5 two times since 2017. Speaking of performance, the last three scores are around 5.5-6, which is also a result of excellence. The Usability measure shows 6 in the last 6 tests, with only one drop to 5.5 back in 2019.
The Antivirus also has approved status from AV-comparatives labs, showing excellent detection skills for Mac-based malware. In 2019, the antivirus detected 100% of 585 tested samples, showing its high efficiency. The same detection rate was demonstrated in previous years as well.
Features
VirusBarrier X9 scanner review
VirusBarrier X9 is Intego Antivirus engine designed for exclusively for Mac and Unix malware, but recently it was improved to detect Windows-based viruses as well. It has an excellent detection rate for hidden viruses, ransomware, Trojans, adware, browser hijackers, keyloggers, scareware, dialers and other forms of unwanted programs.
The software offers 24/7 real-time protection and allows you to schedule on-demand quick or full system scans. Additionally, the VirusBarrier X9 can detect malware hidden in archived files and find viruses attached to emails if you’re using one of the popular email clients.
The antivirus automatically scans plugged drives (such as external hard drives, memory cards, USBs, etc.) to find malware on them. Additionally, it can scan your iOS devices for dangerous software and remove malware from document directories.
On top of that, the antivirus is customizable, yet still easy-to-use even for inexperienced Mac users. When you first set it up, you can choose level of protection coverage: minimum, standard or maximum. You can also modify settings to scan with low priority (makes other applications run faster, although the scan takes longer to finish) and choose what to scan (e-mails, iOS devices, or external disks during full scans). Finally, it has an option to inform you about detected threats via email.
VirusBarrier as well as NetBarrier is included in all Intego’s antivirus suites.
NetBarrier X9
NetBarrier X9 is Intego’s network protection engine for home, work or public hot-spots. It provides a two-way intelligent firewall that filters incoming and outgoing traffic connections and monitors app activity full-time identify spyware-like behaviour, and more.
With NetBarrier, you can set up profiles for home, work or public, choosing whether to block or allow incoming/outgoing Internet connections and local connections. You can also set up exceptions for every rule if you wish. Additionally, Intego detects a network connection change and makes it easy to choose a new profile for you.
NetBarrier X9 can identify suspicious applications trying to use your network connection and prevent malware from using your computer as a bot, acting as a backdoor or sending confidential information to cybercriminals’ C&C servers.
ContentBarrier X9
This is an outstanding parental-control tool for MacOS users. It is highly flexible and provides many features that parents can use to control their children’s activity online.
To begin with, Intego’s ContentBarrier X9 allows setting protection layers for different users (such as parents themselves and different children), adding them to No Protection, Monitored, Safe Web Surfing or Restricted Internet categories. You can choose to receive regular (such as daily) reports about child’s computer usage and activities, plus turn on predator alerts that immediately inform about suspicious chats.
Parents can monitor history of child’s accessed websites, with an option to block or allow websites from the list. The whitelist option allows you to create a list of permitted websites, making child access only the websites you allow him/her to visit. You can also configure which applications can access the Internet. Moreover, if you choose to, the software can record keystrokes and record screen or chats.
On top of that, ContentBarrier X9 offers Anti-Predator technology that helps to identify suspicious chat content, block the chat and alert you about such instance. Anti-Predator cannot work with encrypted chats, so you can choose to block encrypted chats for your child altogether. In addition, the software allows blocking unwanted or inappropriate messages being sent or received, such as “don’t tell the parent” and similar. You can alter this list by adding other unwanted phrases yourself.
ContentBarrier also blocks inappropriate emails, connections to game servers or music/video streaming services, plus you can choose to deny access to peer-to-peer activity (such as being a seeder, leecher or peer on Torrent clients).
ContentBarrier X9 is available with Intego ContentBarrier Secure X9 as well as Mac Premium Bundle X9.
Mac Washing Machine X9
Intego Mac Washing Machine X9 is a Mac cleaner software to cleanse and speed up your OS computer. It allows reclaiming disk space by scanning selected categories (such as Caches, Downloads, Languages, Logs, Trash) and then deleting them based on deletion criteria (safe, medium, or aggressive). You can also scan for duplicate files and free up computer space this way.
Additionally, you can completely reorganize and create new Mac dock or favourite smart folders list to access the applications and folders you need quickly.
This tool is available in Intego Mac Washing Machine Secure X9 and Mac Premium Bundle X9.
Personal Backup
Intego Personal Backup is available in the Premium Bundle X9. This tool allows backing up your virtual memories and important documents easily. It is much more flexible tool than Mac’s in-built Time Machine; it can create backups for any folder or a combination of them on your computer, store them to a variety of different locations, such as network drives (local or remote) or disk images. You can also create bootable backups in case of Mac failure, theft or similar situations.
Personal Backup also offers synchronization backups, which allows choosing two locations to store identical information. This helps to save modifications, imports or exports of information on both ends.
Backups flows are highly customizable as well. For example, you can create multiple flows, pre-check files for malware or start Automator actions before backing them up, create backups that copy or rule out certain file formats, or run post-backup scripts using Automator.
Compatibility and system requirements
Intego Antivirus is compatible with these Mac OS X versions:
- 10.9: Mavericks;
- 10.10: Yosemite;
- 10.11: El Capitan;
- 10.12: Sierra;
- 10.13: High Sierra;
- 10.14: Mojave;
- 10.15: Catalina;
- 11: Big Sur;
- 12: Monterey.
The antivirus needs 1.5 GB available hard disk space and Internet connection to install updates. It currently offers English, French, German, Japanese and Spanish language versions.
Plans and pricing
Intego offers two main antivirus products for Mac OS X users: Mac Internet Security X9 and Mac Premium Bundle X9. See the pricing of these security bundles as shown in the table below (with current discount offers!).
Internet Security X9 pricing
| Years | 1 Mac | 3 Macs | 5 Macs |
| 1 | $24.99 ( | $33.99 ( | $40.00 ( |
| 2 | 42.99 ( | $54.99 ($121.99) | $67.99 ( |
Premium Bundle X9 pricing
| Years | 1 Mac | 3 Macs | 5 Macs |
| 1 | $29.99 ( | $39.99 ( | $49.99 ( |
| 2 | $49.99 ( | $64.99 ( | $89.99 ( |
Final Thoughts
Intego Antivirus is the best antivirus for Mac, at least in our opinion. It is Mac OS-focused, it scored a whopping 100% detection rate in leading AV-testing labs, its interface is extremely easy to use, and it offers explanations for every panel.
We like that it is highly customizable and allows enabling alerts to user’s email, which informs about computer’s security when you’re away from it; besides, Intego’s current 50% discount on Internet Security X9 makes it an absolute leader price-wise compared to its competitors. All in all, it is an excellent security suite for your Mac that we highly recommend.
Intego Antivirus for Mac Review $24.99
Name: Intego
Description: Intego Antivirus for Mac is a 100% detection rate scoring security software that includes VirusBarrier X9 and NetBarrier X9 engines, plus more according to chosen version. The company behind it stands out from its competitors as it's been Mac-focused since 1997.
Offer price: $24.99
Operating System: Mac OS X
Application Category: Antivirus
Author: Norbert Webb
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Detection rate
(5)
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User Interface
(5)
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Features
(5)
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Pricing
(5)
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Support
(5)
Summary
Intego Antivirus for Mac is one of the industry leaders, focusing on Apple-targeted malware mainly. The antivirus scores excellent virus detection rates in independent lab tests and its user-friendly interface makes it easy to use. It provides real-time protection and scans your iOS devices as well. Besides, it is one of the best security options price-wise.
Overall
5User Review
( votes)Pros
- Achieves 100% Mac malware detection rate in lab tests;
- Detects Windows-based malware;
- 24/7 real-time protection;
- Great price;
- Easy to use;
- Great parental controls available in MPB/CBP X9;
- Highly customizable.
Cons
- Windows-based malware detection can be better
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Norbert Webb is the head of Geek’s Advice team. He is the chief editor of the website who controls the quality of content published. The man also loves reading cybersecurity news, testing new software and sharing his insights on them. Norbert says that following his passion for information technology was one of the best decisions he has ever made. “I don’t feel like working while I’m doing something I love.” However, the geek has other interests, such as snowboarding and traveling.
I wonder if your program. can eliminate mckeepr.
is there a version for 2022 running Monterey? if so, I would be very interested .
Yes, Intego is compatible with Mac OS Monterey ( OS 12 )
I’ve been using Intego for a while on my MacBook Pro. I am really happy with its functionality, and what’s most important I feel safe online because it notifies me about absolutely every suspicious activity going on. Def a recommend!