Intego Antivirus is designed for macOS – a fact that immediately sets it apart from others, primarily because there are very few antivirus software options for Mac.
Many people mistakenly believe that Apple computers cannot be infected with viruses. This is not the case. Initially, the macOS user base was so small that few cybercriminals bothered to write viruses that could attack Apple machines. Another reason is that it is based on Unix, which means that it is an “isolated” system. In other words, a virus can enter a specific part of the operating system.
Now that macOS has grown in popularity, it is increasingly targeted by cyberattacks. However, due to the structure and format of the machine, you will need a specialized antivirus to keep your system secure. This is where Intego comes in.
First of all, it should be noted that there are two versions of Intego, one for Mac called VirusBarrier X9 and the other called Intego Antivirus. This overview is for the Mac version.
Install and Setup
The installation process of Intego VirusBarrier X9 took a little time and required a restart after installation. The problem arose when the restart phase failed and the whole machine had to be rebooted. However, aside from that single glitch, the program subsequently worked flawlessly.
After installation, VirusBarrier X9 asks for deep permissions. As an antivirus scanner, it needs this access in order to fully scan the system.
There are two packages on the Intego website that include VirusBarrier X9: Intego Mac Internet Security X9 and Intego Mac Premium Bundle X9. The Mac Internet Security package includes VirusBarrier X9 and NetBarrier X9, while the Premium package includes ContentBarrier Secure X9 and Secure X9 for the washing machine.
Intego Mac Internet Security X9 is a more affordable option for single computer users.
Performance
Intego VirusBarrier X9 has the basic features you’d expect from an antivirus program. You can schedule scans at specific times, enable Safe Browsing to protect yourself from potentially dangerous websites, and perform quick scans and deeper full scans.
The Fast Scan option scans faster at surface level. Depending on the size of your disk and the number of files, this can be done in less than a minute.
A full scan takes significantly more time, but is much more thorough. It scans all disks and files that it has access to. When the scan completes, VirusBarrier X9 will warn you about infected files. If nothing is found, you will hear a call and see the message “Your Mac is safe.”
You can also enable real-time scanning, which will constantly monitor your system for threats. It provides three options for detecting an infected file.
The scanner will ask what to do, will quarantine the file or try to restore it. You can choose which of the three is best for you at the moment.
You can put aside trusted files (and folders) that Intego won’t scan. This is one way to protect your privacy, especially if you have sensitive files that you would not like to transfer to third-party programs. It is also an easy way to avoid error messages in programs that trigger virus warnings for no reason.
You should update your malware definitions at least once a month. To do this, select the text in the upper right corner of the VirusBarrier X9 interface to check for updates not only for the software, but also for the definitions – in other words, the keys that the program looks for and tells it about a virus or malware. the present.
VirusBarrier X9 offers the ability to detect a wide variety of malware, but you can also choose which file types you want it to look for (or not look for). For example, most macOS users won’t need Windows Malware to search for them, but it doesn’t hurt to leave it on just in case.
You can also choose to scan with a low priority, which allows the computer to be used mostly normally during scanning, but may increase scan times. The quarantine token delete option allows you to tell VirusBarrier X9 that the file is safe so that it no longer warns you about it.
How do you compare
VirusBarrier X9 is a powerful program with an intuitive interface, but it is not the only option.
Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac is another popular option. It has a lower face value than the Intego – $ 30 in its first year, but only covers 3 devices compared to the Intego’s 5. It includes a VPN for safer web browsing, as well as Time Machine protection – something the VirusBarrier X9 doesn’t cover.
Kaspersky has been a name in the antivirus game ever since this software came along and its Mac software supports that. At $ 40 / year for 1 Mac, it costs a little more than Intego, but includes a number of cool features, including an encrypted browser for online transactions.
Higher-level versions of Kaspersky include features that parents will love, including “bad content” blockers and trackers for mobile devices.
Avast for Mac software has built-in ransomware protection and will scan your Wi-Fi network not only for weak spots, but also for intruders. It also uses real-time updates to protect against phishing sites.
NetBarrier software bundled with VirusBarrier X9 helps you monitor network activity and gives you the ability to not only see where traffic is coming from, but also block it. You can also set up multiple profiles when using your computer at home, work, or on a public hotspot.
Compared to many of these tools, Intego Antivirus has no features. The VirusBarrier X9 itself is a dedicated antivirus program that will absolutely help protect your machine, but it needs the included software to compete with the bigger names.
Internet Security is a solid option for dedicated computer users, but anyone with kids will want to check out the Mac Premium Bundle for a full range of software to help protect your kids – and your computer – from online threats.
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