Free, premium anti-virus software for Macs
What is the best anti-virus software for a Mac laptop?
Macs, with built-in protections and fewer users than Windows systems, have traditionally been less of a target for virus makers, but these factors do not make Apple’s computers invulnerable. Macs have been targeted by ransomware and other malware before, and bad browser extensions, phishing sites and socially engineered fraud schemes are cross-platform problems.
Given the general security features of the operating system, Wirecutter, a product review and testing site owned by The New York Times, recommends Malwarebytes Premium ($40 a year) to shore up the Mac’s own defenses against malicious software. Some security programs can slow down your system, but Malwarebytes Premium was selected for its effectiveness while being relatively non-intrusive.
In addition to its Premium version, which monitors your Mac in real time, Malwarebytes for Mac is available in a free edition that scans for any malware already on your system. When you download the free version, you get a complimentary 30-day trial of the Premium product so you can give it a test run before getting out the credit card.
If a free anti-virus program fits your budget better, several tech-focused publications (including Macworld, TechRadar and Tom’s Guide) favor Avast Free Mac Security. The $60 Avast Security Pro for Mac adds protections against ransomware and intruders on your home wireless network.
PCMag.com, which independently tests a wide range of security programs for Mac and Windows computers each year, has chosen BitDefender Anti-virus for Mac as its 2018 Editors Choice pick. The $48 all-around security suite also includes virtual private network (VPN) protection to protect your personal data going over a computer connection to the internet.
I manage content on our school’s website, including pictures. A colleague sent me pictures of an event from an iPhone, and they were in HEIC format. I couldn’t open them in Photoshop Elements, and our site won’t accept HEIC files for uploading. What now? I use a Windows PC.
The High Efficiency Image File container format, indicated by a HEIC or HEIF file extension, was adopted by Apple last year with the release of its iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra systems. The format stores higher-quality images within smaller file sizes, compared with the older .JPG (or JPEG) file format. Apple’s systems can automatically convert shared HEIC images to .JPG, but you can also convert them yourself.
Microsoft is working on HEIC support for Windows 10, and its Windows 10 April 2018 Update now prompts you to visit its app store to download codec software that will open HEIC files. If you are not using the most recent version of Windows 10, or need a simple way to translate the HEIC files into a format that’s compatible with your website, free utility software should be able to do the job.
CopyTrans HEIC for Windows is one such program. If you download CopyTrans HEIC and install it, you can convert a HEIC file by right-clicking its icon and choosing Convert to JPEG with CopyTrans from the menu. The software then makes a copy of the selected file in the JPEG format. Additionally, the CopyTrans app can insert HEIC photos into Microsoft Office documents if you are using Office 2010 or later.
The iMazing HEIC Converter app for Windows and Mac is another tool to transform HEIC files into JPEG photos. The iMazing utility also converts HEIC files to the PNG format, and you can drag and drop folders of HEIC images to convert multiple photos all at once.