Free products typically try to convince you to upgrade to the paid edition, so I didn’t mind the sales pitch.

Unfortunately, resolving any of the advanced issues would have necessitated an upgrade to the paid flavor of AVG, a prospect that costs $2.49 per month for a one-year subscription, $2.39 a month for a two-year subscription, or $2.29 a month for a three-year subscription, albeit with a generous 60-day trial offer. Running the scan on my Mac uncovered no malware but AVG did highlight three “advanced” issues, specifically two folders vulnerable to ransomware, my network not being monitored for threats, and my system being vulnerable to fake websites through DNS hijacking. Then it scans your folders and files for viruses and malware and finally lets you know whether it discovered any malicious content. The live scan first checks to make sure that your virus definitions are up to date. The dashboard for AVG Antivirus is cleanly designed with just the information you need to ensure that the program is doing its job. An auto-update feature keeps AVG up to date with the latest virus definitions to combat any new threats lurking about. Running in the background, the program’s Resident Shield tool checks out every file you open or save to make sure there’s no hidden malware inside. AVG can scan applications and files on your Mac for potential threats and automatically remove them. If you are happy to pay there are plenty of options – see our Best Antivirus for Mac round up – but, for a free program, AVG covers all the bases, blocking viruses and malware from websites, downloads, and email attachments. Designed to block viruses and spyware, AVG offers real-time and on-demand scanning to prevent malware from infecting your Mac. One such product that fits the bill is AVG Antivirus for Mac.

The freebies typically offer more basic or limited protection, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t worth using. Though so many antivirus and security products charge annual subscriptions, there are still free options out there with little or no strings attached. Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide

Free antivirus for mac review