Faced with activation error on your iPhone X? You are not alone to have encountered this annoying issue.

Some iPhone X owners are reportedly facing an activating error on the device. Majority of the users are AT&T and Verizon customers. They see instead long wait times for the activation process, and then it fails with an error message. So, what could be the solution to the problem? The issue could well be a duty to heavy congestion with millions of devices being activated at once.

How to Fix Activation Error on iPhone

What we’ll do is explore all the possibilities of fixing the activation errors on your iPhone and get it up and running. Before we dive head-first, let’s take a look at the various errors that prevent your activation:

Your iPhone could not be activated because the activation server is temporarily unavailable.
The iPhone is not recognized and cannot be activated for service.
iTunes was unable to verify your device.

Wait

The first time you see this error, it’s better to wait. The chances are that the servers at Apple are truly busy or buggy which means the activation stuff isn’t going through. You should wait for a few minutes before trying again.

I’d also go as far as to remove the SIM from the tray and then re-inserting it onto the tray and then trying to go through the activation process again.

Restart

Restarting your iPhone is going to be one of the simplest ways to try and fix the error. While it doesn’t instantly guarantee that your activation will go through smoothly, there’s a strong chance of that happening. To restart iPhone X, you need to press and hold the Side button and either volume button until the slider appears. Then, you have to drag the slider to turn your iPhone X completely off.*

When your iPhone turns off, press and hold the Side button again until you see the Apple logo.

Lock/Unlock SIM Status

In case nothing works, you should probably check to see if the problem is with the SIM-card / carrier. If you are trying to activate a different carrier on a locked iPhone (which hasn’t been unlocked yet), you’ll get the activation errors obviously.

In these cases, you’ll have to call the carrier directly and ask them to activate your iPhone+SIM card. Most of the time, the support executive will guide you through the activation process. If you have an iPhone which was on a different carrier (earlier) and now you’re trying to activate a different carrier, you should know that the earlier carrier should’ve unlocked your iPhone.

Wifi/Network Issues

Maybe it’s the Wifi/network that’s causing the issue? Maybe your network is blocking gs.apple.com on a couple of ports. To test this, you should get connected to a different Wi-fi source than the one you are using now.

Via iTunes

This is where it gets a little tricky but useful. If things don’t work still, you should try to activate your iPhone via iTunes. Make sure it’s updated to the latest version.

Simply connect your iPhone to your computer via the USB cable. Turn it off and reboot – which triggers iTunes to open. (if it doesn’t open, manually open iTunes).

Once iTunes detects your iPhone, it might ask you to go through a few steps to activate your iPhone. Although this happens less frequently as most people activate directly on their iPhone, you might be able to fix the issue.

Restore

And in case you’re not able to fix it, then it’s time to roll up the sleeves and restore the device.

Turn off your iPhone and then connect to your computer. Open iTunes and then switch your iPhone on. iTunes will tell you that it has detected an iPhone and would you like to restore your device. Yeah, we do need to restore the iPhone so go through the restore process.

Once restored, try activating the iPhone again.

Talk to Your Carrier/Apple Care

If nothing works, maybe it’s time to call your carrier or contact Apple Care and figure out a solution through the customer support guys.

Source : https://www.igeeksblog.com/how-to-fix-iphone-activation-errors/

Are you facing error 3194 in iTunes while restoring or updating your iPhone or iPad? Needless to worry about the issue as it can be fixed—without breaking much sweat.

So, what could be the reason behind error 3194? Well, it could be due to multiple reasons like patchy internet connection, invalid iTunes, too sensitive security software and more. Hence, you will have to try out several solutions to troubleshoot error 3194 in iTunes while updating or restoring your iOS device. Let’s head over to cut the chase! (Check out this tutorial in case you are facing iTunes error 17 issue.)

How to Fix iTunes Error 3194

Solution 1: Force Quit iTunes and Restart Your Computer

Step #1. Right click on the iTunes icon and then select Force iTunes.

Sep #2. Click on Apple menu at the top right corner and then select Restart.

Step #3. Now, restart your computer, launch iTunes and start your work again.

Solution 2: Update iTunes

Make sure you have the latest version of iTunes installed on your computer. The old version of iTunes might be creating trouble. Hence, upgrade it to the newest version and then try to carry out your task.

Solution 3: Check out “hosts” file

If you are on Mac

Step #1. Open Finder and select Applications → Utilities.

Step #2. Now, open Terminal.

Step #3. Next, you need to type the following command and press return.

sudo nano /private/etc/hosts

Step #4. Next up, you have to enter the password which you use to sign into your computer. Then, press Return.

Step #5. Hosts file will be displayed in Terminal.

Note: Just in case, you don’t see a window similar to the one below, you need to ensure you are using a nonblank administrator password.

Step #6. Now, navigate with the use of arrow keys and check out an entry containing “gs.apple.com.”

Note: If you don’t find any entry with the gs.apple.com, then the hosts file isn’t related to the issue.

Step #7. Next up, you have to add the # symbol and space (“# “) at the starting of the gs.apple.com entry.

Step #8. Now, you need to press Control-O to save the file. Then, press Return when requested for the filename.

Step #9. Up next, press Control-X to exit the editor.

Step #10. Finally, restart your Mac.

Once your computer has restarted, try to update/restore your iPhone.

If you are on Windows PC

Step #1. First off, you need to swipe in from the right edge of the screen and then tap Search.

Step #2. Next, you have to type run and tap the Run icon.

Just in case you are using a mouse, simply point to the upper-right corner of the screen and move the mouse pointer down. Then click Search>type run and click the Run icon.

Step #3. Now, type %WinDir%\System32\Drivers\Etc in the Open box. Then, tap or click OK.

Step #4. The etc folder will open. Then, you have to double click on the Hosts file to edit it.

Step #5. If you find any entries for “gs.apple.com”, then remove it and save the Hosts file.

Step #6. Next, restart your computer. When it has rebooted, try to restore or update your device.

Solution 4: Disable TCP/IP filtering, firewall, or security software

If there is no entry in the hosts file for “gs.apple.com” and you continue to encounter Error 3194, you need to disable the firewall or anti-virus software on your computer,

They might be preventing iTunes from connecting to Apple servers.

Temporarily uninstall your security software. You can contact your internet service provider for more help.
Try bypassing your Internet router. Some routers tend to block iTunes from accessing the update server.
Just disconnect from the wired or wireless router. Then try to use an Ethernet cable to connect your computer directly to your modem. Restart your computer and modem.

Solution 5: Restore or Upgrade from another Computer

If you continue to face this issue, try to restore or upgrade your device from another computer. Also, try using a different Wi-Fi network.

Source : https://www.igeeksblog.com/fix-itunes-error-3194/

At times, your iPhone/iPad/iPod cannot connect to App Store, iTunes or the Game Center. A “Cannot Connect to iTunes Store” error shows up when you try to open iTunes.

While most of the time this is due to internet issues or if you’re trying to access the App Store when it’s being updated, you can try to fix the problem on your iPhone/iPad too through the steps outlined below.
Cannot Connect to iTunes Store: Tips to Fix the Issue

1. Disable/Enable iTunes Parental Controls

This method has worked like a charm for many iOS users. We were so skeptical about this solutions but it helps many readers to connect to the iTunes store. Here you go:

Step #1. Launch iTunes → Go to Preferences from the top menu.

iTunes Preferences

Step #2. Go to Parental Control tab → Disable access to the iTunes Store and allow access to iTunes U.

iTunes Store Parental Controls

Step #3. Now quit iTunes. Re-launch iTunes and if it sends you directly to iTunes U without any problem, then go back to Parental Control and enable access to iTunes Store.

Allow Access to iTunes U

Step #4. Quit iTunes and open it again. You should now connect to the iTunes Store without any problem.

2. Check Your Internet Connectivity.:

Make sure you are in the range of WI-FI router or base station.
Must ensure that the devices such as PC are able to connect to WI-FI. And more importantly, they are able to access the internet.
Try resetting WI-FI router again—Simply turn it off and then turn it on.
If it is still not done, then you should try to troubleshoot WI-FI network and connections.

3. Restart Network / Switch Wifi-3G

One of the simplest reasons why your iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch cannot connect to the App Store is because of a network issue. If the Wi-fi signal is weak, there’s a strong chance iTunes store won’t open.

One way of finding out is to turn off your network and restart it.

Switch to 3G
Exit App Store/iTunes app (from the multitasking switcher)
Open iTunes/App Store again.

If you are on 3G and this doesn’t fix, you might have to switch to Wi-fi and check it out.

4. The Date-change Workaround

This trick has been around for quite a while. Although this was supposed to work only initially, there are a few users who report that this method appears to work fine even now:

Go to Settings → General → Data & Time
Now, change the Set Automatically to ON
Exit iTunes and App Store (multi-task switcher) and re-open them.

5: Software Update

It is important to check out if your device (running iOS 8 or later) is up to date or not. Settings—General—Software Update.
Also, make sure that your version of Mac OS X is up to date.
Must make sure iTunes and Safari are updated to their latest version.

6. Troubleshoot Firewall Issue

How to troubleshoot the issue on Mac:

If you have a firewall, your settings may be causing plenty of issues and not letting you to connect to iTunes. Therefore, you need to configure your firewall.
At times, connection issues occur due to keychain issues. Hence, you may require to reset keychain.
If it is still not done, you should contact your internet service provider and enable ports and servers over your network.

How to troubleshoot issues on Windows:

In case, the iTunes Store is empty and displays nothing but message iTunes Store, you need to follow these steps to fix the issues.
Follow these steps to troubleshoot iTunes Store connectivity in Windows
Now, you will need to configure the Windows firewall to let iTunes access iTunes Store. To do so—follow these steps— for Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7.
Disable proxies if they are because cause a lot of issues.
If not done yet, contact your internet service provider and enable these ports and servers over your network.

Host Files May Cause Issue:

The hosts file may be causing the issues and blocking the iTunes Store. Follow this Microsoft’s Article to reset the hosts defaults for you.

This Fix hasn’t been enabled to work for Windows 8. In order to create a copy of your hosts file and replace it with an empty hosts file, you need to follow these instructions:

You can get the hosts file at C:WINDOWSSYSTEM32DRIVERSETC.
Click the hosts file. There will now be a duplicate of the hosts file “Copy of hosts” (Windows XP) or “hosts-copy”
Now you need to drag the original hosts file to your desktop.
Right-click the duplicate file and select Open. Now, you should be prompted to choose the program which you wish to use in order to open this file. Double-click Notepad.
When Notepad opens, select Edit → Select All.
Select Edit → Delete.
Select File → Save.
Close Notepad.
Right-click on the duplicate file, and select Rename.
Type “hosts” (without any quotation marks) and press Enter.
Now you have to restart your computer again and try to connect to the iTunes Store.

7. Reboot

If you get the ‘Cannot Connect to iTunes Store’ error even after all these steps, maybe something is stuck up hard. A simple hard-reset should usually fix the error but you can also opt to reboot your iPhone just to be sure.

To Hard-reset: press the home and power button until the iPhone screen goes blank. Now press the power button only until you see the Apple logo.

Source : https://www.igeeksblog.com/cannot-connect-to-itunes-store/

Maybe you have just created a new Apple ID and are trying to install all of your favorite apps. Suddenly, a popup appears saying, “This Apple ID has not yet been used in the iTunes Store. Tap Review to sign in, then review your account information.” Worse, when you tap on the Review, nothing but a blank page welcomes you on the App Store. Oh, damn it! If the scenario sounds familiar, you have come to the right place to fix the “This Apple ID hasn’t been used in the iTunes Store” error. So, let’s get it out of the way sooner than later!

How to Fix Apple ID Has Not Been Used in the iTunes Store Error

Finding out the root of the problem is always better before going on to troubleshoot the issue. Moreover, it also goes a long way in clearing out the clouds. So, we are going to do it first up.

So, Why Does This Error Occur in the Very First Place?

In a nutshell, Apple wants you to just verify your payment and shipping address one more time just to ensure everything is correct. Yeah, you can brand Apple hypersensitive. But you can’t deny the fact that when it comes to purchasing stuff, it always pays to be correct and fully informed – rather than pay a heavy price later. So, the tech giant is right in asking you to review your Apple ID info.

The Popup Mostly Appears When…

If you have created an Apple ID using the Apple website, you would most likely encounter this popup after you have signed in to your iDevices like iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Wondering why it happens? Well, it’s because the ID created using the Apple website is a standard one without billing and shipping addresses – unlike the one made using App/iTunes Store.

That’s the reason why Apple reminds you of reviewing your account, making sure you have filled the payment and shipping info so that you can purchase items without any inconvenience.

The Solution: Update Your Payment and Shipping Information

First things first, this popup message is simply a reminder to let you update your iTunes Store payment and shipping information; and not an error or anything of that kind. So, the right way to troubleshoot it is by reviewing the account info.

To get it done, head into Settings App → tap on Profile picture at the top right → Payment & Shipping.

Tap on Payment & Shipping in Profile Settings on iPhone

Now, make sure to add a credit/debit card even if your purchase isn’t paid. As Apple won’t charge you until you have made a purchase, you shouldn’t worry about anything.

What If the Popup Appears Even After You Have Updated Your Account Info?

Having used iDevices for years, I can say that unexpected error messages like “Cannot connect to iTunes Store,” “Activation error” or “Error 3194 in iTunes,” do arrive out of nowhere. And from what I have experienced, software update proves to be a reliable solution most of the times.

So, if you are getting the alert repeatedly even after updating your account info, be sure to update the software on your device. Simply, open Settings app → General → Software Update. Now, go through the process as usual to upgrade the OS.

Tap on Settings then General then Software Update on iPhone

Hoping You Have Finally Overcome the Issue…

As this solution has clicked for many iDevice users, I expect you to be on the lucky side as well. Thus, there shouldn’t be any problem with downloading apps, games or other stuff. But just in case the problem isn’t over as yet, contact Apple Support for help.

Source : https://www.igeeksblog.com/apple-id-has-not-been-used-in-the-itunes/

How to Create An Apple ID Without Credit Card Info?

If you want to just create an Apple ID, you do not have to enter any credit card information. For this, however, you must create the ID through a browser. You can create the Apple ID through http://appleid.apple.com.

If you choose to create the Apple ID right on your iPhone/iPad (through Settings → iCloud or Settings → iTunes & App Store), you will be prompted to enter valid credit card info to proceed setting up the Apple ID.

But You Still Need Credit Card Info

Even after you create an Apple ID through the browser – where you don’t enter any credit card information – you cannot use the ID to download free apps unless you enter valid credit card detail. This kind of sucks but Apple has made this a mandatory step.

When you create an Apple ID (via http://appleid.apple.com) and then use that to download an app or free music, you will be prompted to “Review” – which means it takes you to a screen where you add the credit card information. Without entering this, you can’t proceed to download – even if it’s just a free app.

Fortunately, Apple is not going to bill anything unless you make a purchase. The credit card information is probably only for validation (and a way of preventing spam iTunes accounts.)

However, once you have authorized an account and downloaded something, it looks like you can ‘edit’ the ID to remove any credit card information associated with it.

Source : https://www.igeeksblog.com/is-it-possible-to-create-an-apple-itunes-id-without-a-credit-card/

We all love eating the yummy dish and always like to have something special on the dining table. Many of us are not just extremely fond of exquisite food but also love cooking. For those folks who swear by super delicious food, I have made this great collection of the best iPhone recipe apps to discover the widest range of recipes and enhance cooking.

So, if you are getting ready to take part in a major cooking competition or just want to explore different varieties of recipes to ensure your boundless love for yummy dishes never die down, these recipe apps can stand up to both your distinct taste and expectation. Even better, you can connect with other like-minded people to exchange experience. Let’s dive right into scroll through the list!
Best iPhone Recipe Apps of 2020

1. Yummly Recipes & Recipe Box

Yummly Recipes & Recipe Box iPhone and iPad App Screenshot

If you wish to bolster your cooking skill, Yummly can be an excellent option for you. It lets you explore more than one million recipes from top sites like AllRecipes, Epicurious, Food52.

As per your unique test, the app recommends you recipes and related articles. You can save and organize the recipes you like into collections. Watch the videos to better your cooking skill. Besides, you have the option to track the nutrition of the food you eat and remain fit.

2. Food Network in the Kitchen

Food Network in the Kitchen iPhone and iPad App Screenshot

“Food Network in the Kitchen” is a fantastic recipe app. From Bobby Flay, Alton Brown to Guy Fieri, it provides you instant access to a number of its popular recipe. Want to find something very special? You can even search recipe by chef, course and recently aired.

You have the option to browse through 70,000 different recipes. With the iMessage app, you will be able to search and share your favorite recipe right from the messaging app.

3. Epicurious

Paprika Recipe Manager iPhone and iPad App Screenshot

Epicurious is a delight for not just the folks who love food but also for the ones who have an enormous penchant for cooking delicious recipes. What headline for this app is the enormous collection of well over 35,000 recipes from famous publishers like Bon Appetit, Gourmet, HarperCollins. Apart from exploring a great many dishes, you can also view recipe reviews and ratings.

4. Fit Men Cook – Healthy Recipes

Fit Men Cook - Healthy Recipes

If you are looking for healthy recipes, Fit Men Cook from Kevin Curry is the perfect app for this. It shows you practical recipes that, apart from being healthy, are also easy on your pocket. The motive behind this is to prepare food that is tasty and never boring.

The app smoothes your grocery shopping by organizing your recipes’ list by aisle and thus helping you quickly find the items you need. There are easy step by step video instructions to simplify any method that looks tough to you. More than six hundred recipes with new ones added every month, and a robust search that lets you see all recipes containing the searched ingredients make Fit Men Cook a must-try!

5. Recipe Gallery

Recipe Gallery iPhone and iPad App Screenshot

Recipe Gallery lets you find and save dish quickly. With the advanced OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology, it’s able to snap all the information accurately.

The built-in web browser lets you quickly find out any recipe. You can create custom categories of the saved recipes and arrange them in the preferred order. The iCloud support allows you to sync the recipes to access them comfortably from any of your devices.

6. Mealthy: Easy Healthy Recipes

Mealthy iPhone and iPad Recipes App Screenshot

For the folks who are enamored by tasty and healthy recipes, Mealthy is truly a gem! It has a mammoth collection of recipes including vegetarian, vegan, low-sugar, gluten-free, Paleo, keto, organic and more. Hence, no matter what the dietary needs you are after, the app can live up to your demand admirably.

The app also offers handy tips to keep you posted. Like cooking yummy dishes? Well, you can watch the videos and follow the step-by-step to make super delicious food with ease. While browsing through the huge library of recipes, don’t forget to save them to your special box to catch up with them at your own pace!

7. Cookpad

Cookpad iPhone and iPad App Screenshot

Cookpad is an interesting app to share and find different recipes. You can browse through some super delicious recipes published by the people you follow. It also shows the hottest recipes trending on the web.

You can quickly search any particular recipe by its name, ingredients, food type, etc. If you like any recipe, save it to easily access it later. Want to let others know your special dish? Publish your favorite dish to get appreciation from the like-minded people.

8. BigOven

BigOven iPhone and iPad App Screenshot

Willing to sharpen your cooking skill? BigOven would be an excellent pick. With a monstrous collection of more than 350,000 recipes, it’s got everything you would love to try your hands-on.

To have more inspiration, check out what your friends and loved ones are cooking. You can ideally organize your recipes into different folders and filter them by category. Moreover, BigOven also lets you create a shared grocery list for your household and sort items by the recipe.

9. Recipe Keeper

Recipe Keeper iPhone and iPad App Screenshot

Recipe Keeper is a fine recipe organizer and meal planner. With the app, you will quickly enter your recipes and perfectly organize them. Using recipes from magazines and websites, it lets you create a great cookbook.

You can also import recipes from your favorite websites and add ingredients to your shopping list. With the help of the meal planner, you will be able to plan yummy dishes for the week and also add them to your shopping list.

10. Caveman Feast

Caveman Feast iPhone and iPad App Screenshot

Caveman Feast consists of more than 250 paleo recipes such as Paleo French Toast, Grilled Buffalo Shrimp, etc. Thanks to the simple illustration, you can easily follow those healthy recipes and improve your fitness.

Add notes to your recipes and use the nutritional data to track the calorie. As per your goal, you can increase/decrease recipe servings. You also have the option to add recipes to your shopping list and plan the meals for the whole week.

Source : https://www.igeeksblog.com/best-recipe-apps-iphone/

As the clock chimes 12 on the last day of the year, we all will celebrate the end of a beautiful decade. If you are planning to ring in 2020 with a bang, you better have these best new year’s eve apps stocked up on your iPhone.

While we have separately covered some of the apps that will help you in your resolutions, this one’s a specific list for the new-years eve. Whether you are throwing or attending a house party or hopping around the city, you will love and appreciate them no matter what.
Best iPhone Apps for Celebrating New Year’s Eve

1. New Year’s Eve Counter

New Year's Eve Counter iPhone and iPad App Screenshot

The countdown for the year-end and the end of the 2010s has come down from days to hours. We all love shouting out the last few seconds, and this app will help you to be on time.

What’s great is that this app works with that supports your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch & Apple TV. Moreover, you also get an animated today widget for ultra-fast checking. The app is free of any advertisements and works offline as well. And after ringing in the new year, you can also send festive iMessage stickers to friends and family.

2. Spotify Music

Spotify iOS App Screenshot

No party is complete without music, and one of the most popular music apps could make you the best DJ on the floor. You can create your custom playlist or opt one from the millions available.

What’s more, is Spotify is a great music discovery tool as well. It will not just suggest relevant music listings; you can also create playlists in collaboration with your friends using the drag-and-drop window.

3. NeuralCam app

NeuralCam iPhone and iPad App Screenshot

Don’t let the decade go so swiftly!! While you are partying your heart out, create memories that you will cherish for years to come. If you have a device with a killer night mode such as iPhone 11 series, it’s easy.

But if not, this brilliant app can aid you in taking amazing pictures even in the lowest of light. NeuralCam blends computational photography and machine learning, so you shoot vivid, brighter, and precise images at night. You don’t even compulsorily need a tripod or other equipment.

4. Uber

Uber iPhone and iPad App Screenshot

Almost all readers will instantly recognize this app, so what is so special for the new-year’s eve? Uber is a great way to commute, whether you are drinking or don’t want to drive back home or want to party-hop or don’t want to waste time in parking.

Moreover, if you wish to make a statement at the party, take an UberBLACK. Pay online with a credit card, Apple Pay, PayPal, and more. Uber is also great in terms of safety; you recieve the driver’s picture and vehicle details. You can also share your locations with concerned contacts as an added precaution.

5. Cocktail Flow – Drink Recipes

Cocktail Flow Drink Recipes iOS App Screenshot

Amongst the top contender in the categories, the Cocktail Flow could make your new year party a worthwhile affair. Mark the start of the year with some fantastic cocktail concoctions.With step by step guides, you can make some lip-smacking drinks, even if you are a novice bartender.

What’ great that the app suggests drinks according to what’s in your cabinet. Or you can even look for the specific recipes you would like to serve. Browse cocktail recipes by categories – base drink, type, strength, and color to find what you are desire.

Source : https://www.igeeksblog.com/best-new-years-eve-apps-for-iphone/

Many say Antivirus software is a myth and it inserts malware in your PCs and Mac. Well, that’s not the case as I have tested out several free and paid Antivirus software on my MacBook. A lot of antivirus software for Mac are available; I have run a few of them and they meet my expectations. I hope they are useful to you as well as you’re searching for the finest Mac antivirus software.

Well, it’s just a matter of time if you want to remove the Mac auto fixer virus but if you want protection from all types of viruses, malware and ransomware, then you need to check our best Mac antivirus software available in 2020. Of course, not all antivirus software protect the Mac from ransomware but a few of them do that.
Best Antivirus Software for Mac in 2020: Free & Paid Security Software

To make it easy for you, I have decided to break down the list into two parts: free antivirus software for Mac and paid Mac antivirus software. So here we go…

Best Free Antivirus Software for Mac

So here are the top five free Mac antivirus software available online.

1. Avast Security

Avast Security Free Antivirus for Mac

Ever since my childhood days, whenever I heard of Antivirus, first thing that came to my mind was Avast Antivirus. That was probably the best antivirus software those days and it’s still on the top when it comes to the free version.

Avast provides features like real time protection along with a full system scan. Other than this, it allows you to run custom scans so that your Mac is always safe. Moreover, if you’re often using the internet and visiting various websites every day, it blocks websites with malicious attempts on your Mac.

Overall, Avast is one of the best Antivirus software for Mac that is available for free! The best part is it doesn’t affect the system performance in any way and it scans the complete system quickly as compared to other antivirus software programs.

2. Sophos

Sophos Free Antivirus for Mac

Sophos is the most underrated antivirus program, but believe me, it’s one of the finest antivirus packages available for Mac. It comes with initial Home Free plan of 30-day trail period and I am sure you’ll love the premium features offered by this software.

That doesn’t mean it’s just free for 30 days, but you will not be able to use a couple of premium features available in the paid plan after that. Be it a virus, ransomware, Trojans, malware etc., it quickly scans to stop, remove and prevent your Mac against every possible vulnerability.

The best thing I liked about Sophos Home Plan (of course paid after 30 days) is it comes with parental control. This allows you to block certain websites that you don’t want your kids to open. You can try this free plan from Sophos on three devices simultaneously ensuring that all your systems are safe!

3. Avira Antivirus

Avira Free Antivirus Software for Mac

When a software protects your Mac in real-time in the background, you couldn’t ask for more! It is always running in the background to detect instant virus, malware, Trojans etc. trying to creep into your Mac and it blocks it right away!

The free plan from Avira also comes with a browser safety feature in the form of extension or add-on for different browsers. With this, it blocks the unsafe websites and those blogs/websites that use different tracking codes to extract your browser or system information without your permission.

Take note that it only supports the Mac systems that are running on macOS versions released after 2017. So if you didn’t update your Mac, consider it to update with the latest macOS version right away to take full advantage of Avira free antivirus plan.

4. AVG

AVG Free Antivirus for Mac

AVG is known for the transparency it brings to the table! It’s very sharp in terms of protecting your Mac with the automatic updates that it gets in its database. AVG runs in the background right when your Mac starts and if it doesn’t, make sure you enable it to launch automatically on Mac startup.

As it runs in the background, you can perform your tasks on your Mac without any worries as it automatically blocks the malicious activities in the apps or websites you are visiting.

Take note that the full system scan is on the slower side as compared to Avast. So if you’re looking for a solution that can do a full system scan, this might not be an ideal choice for you. Other than that, it’s worth as it comes for free!

5. Bitdefender

Bitdefender Free Antivirus Software for Mac

If quick malware detection is your sole purpose, one cannot get a better antivirus program than Bitdefender. The blazing fast speed at which it detects all types of viruses, Trojans, malware etc. is simply amazing!

With multiple scan options, you are your own boss to decide which mode you want to use to scan your Mac. It’s easy to navigate through the various options and it doesn’t affect your system speed in any way!

The only set back of this free Bitdefender version is it doesn’t provide protection to your browsers or email apps on your Mac. One more thing, it will always ask you to upgrade to a paid plan every now and then. Rest, everything is fine if you’re looking for a free Mac antivirus software.

So these were some of the finest antivirus programs available for free for your Mac. Now, let’s have a look at some of the paid ones that stand up to your expectations.
Best Paid Antivirus Software for Mac

You simply cannot entrust your precious Mac to a free antivirus program irrespective of the best security features. Better be safe than sorry by getting a paid plan of any of these Mac antivirus software packages reviewed below.

1. Norton 360 Deluxe

Norton 360 Deluxe Paid Antivirus Software for Mac

Norton is one of the most trusted companies when it comes to Mac Antivirus software. It’s been used by thousands if not millions of users around the world currently.

The best part about this software is it lets you scan the system when you are not active on your Mac. Other than this, there are many other scanning options that you can use. With excellent malware detection, it can protect up to five of your systems simultaneously with this 360 Deluxe plan which costs $59.99/year (as of writing this).

Norton comes with unlimited usage of VPN and a password manager for Mac as well along with the antivirus software. Now that’s just like icing on the cake as you don’t need to buy a separate VPN for Mac now. It’s a bit expensive for sure but given the 24/7 technical support via phone and chat, it makes it worth every penny you spend!

2. McAfee Total Protection

McAfee Total Protection Paid Antivirus for Mac

Safeguard all your data, passwords, IDs used to log in various websites, browsers and a lot more with McAfee Total Protection plan on your Mac. While all the antivirus programs usually slow down your Mac, McAfee has a variety of tools that can actually improve your system performance.

With encrypted storage features and home network security, it’s a perfect antivirus software for those who are looking to get it for their regular use at home, be it individual or a complete family (up to 10 devices).

Not just your Mac, but you can also safeguard your iOS devices, Android or Windows systems if you have any when you choose multiple devices plan.

3. Malwarebytes Premium for Mac

Malwarebytes Premium Antivirus for Mac

Malwarebytes might not be considered the best of all but it certainly is an option to try if you have minimal needs for your Mac in terms of protection. Of course, you can try the free trial offered by Malwarebytes but I am sure you will love it.

There are a lot of users who think Norton or McAfee is far better than this antivirus software and it is true up to some extent as I have personally used a few of these software on my Mac. Of course, it’s easy to use navigation and super fast scans can get your eyeballs rolling for this software.

Besides this, there is hardly any impact on your Mac when Malwarebytes is scanning your system in the background while you work on your regular tasks on Mac. Overall, this would be my third option if I had to choose anything after Norton and McAfee.

4. Kaspersky Internet Security

Kaspersky Internet Security Paid Antivirus for Mac

Online shopping has rapidly seen upward curve because of internet speeds and a plethora of websites offering various discounts. With that comes the threat of leaking details of your card, bank accounts, personal information etc. And this is where you need Kaspersky’s Internet Security for Mac.

The online attacks are blocked by Kaspersky when you visit certain websites and it’s much more than just an antivirus as it safeguards everything on your Mac. Be it a virus, malware, Trojan, ransomware or any other scripts that try to creep into your Mac, Kaspersky’s Internet Security plan for Mac blocks them right away!

With perfect malware detection, amazing parental controls and handful of privacy tools, it stands on top for many users who are looking for the best Antivirus for Mac. The only set back is that it impacts your system heavily when you scan your Mac. You can avoid your work when the system is being scanned. That’s the only way out! Rest, everything is perfect!

5. Bitdefender Total Security

Bitdefender Total Security Paid Antivirus Software for Mac

As compared to all the paid antivirus programs available for Mac, Bitdefender is cheaper. If you ever wanted the fastest antivirus software, this one should be your first choice as it’s one of the cheapest options too. Within a matter of seconds, it can scan thousands of files on your Mac. That’s really SUPER FAST, indeed!

Besides the audio, video, and software, it can also scan files like PDF, ZIP etc. which isn’t possible in most of the antivirus programs. The always-on scanner option lets you run the Bitdefender in the back-end ensuring that your Mac is safe 24/7 when you turn it on!

The best part is it comes with an adware blocker which is hardly offered by any of the antivirus companies. When you select five devices plan, you can use it on your devices running different operating systems like macOS, iOS, Android, Windows and others.

These are some of the finest Mac antivirus software that are available in the free trial and paid versions as well.

Summing Up…

If I were you, I would have definitely selected the free plan first, test out which works perfectly as per my Mac data and files and then move ahead with the paid plans respectively. So which one of these antivirus programs for Mac are you going to get for your system? Do let us know in the comment section right away!

Source : https://www.igeeksblog.com/best-mac-antivirus-software/

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