Virus/Malware program recommendations? [MERGED]

[Tanax]

So, I mostly believe Mac's don't need AV. However, I will soon start a new extra job that would require me to download free indie games for reviewing. I definitely want to scan those files before I install them as they're not verified nor trusted developers.

What would be the best Mac AV for me? I basically don't need any real time monitoring, firewall, VPN, performance enhancing bloat - I just want to be able to scan certain files, or folders, for threats on a need-to-need basis?

 

[krakenrelease]

I use Avira free version and I like it.

 

[MarineBand5524]

Other - I use Trend Micro Antivirus One for 19.99 a year as well as their Cleaner One Pro they have a bundle for 29.99 a year. Their Cleaner One does an amazing job of deep uninstalling programs.

 

[DiamondMac]

Big bitdefender user. I can use my sub for my windows and apple machines and have never had issues with it while it has cause some crap that I didn’t know was malware

 

[bogdanw]

Objective-See's Blog - The Mac Malware of 2025
https://objective-see.org/blog/blog_0x84.html
"Looking back at 2025, one thing is clear: macOS malware continues to mature, diversify, and evolve. Stealers remain the dominant threat class, but they are no longer simplistic smash-and-grab tools.
...
A recurring theme throughout the year was stealth. We repeatedly saw payloads executed directly in memory, dynamic loading of malicious code, and increasing abuse of dylibs as a delivery and persistence mechanism.
...
Taken together, the malware observed in 2025 reinforces a familiar reality: macOS is no longer a niche target. As adoption continues to rise, so too does attacker interest, sophistication, and scale."