Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
F - Secure Total for Mac includes several utilitarian features but miss certain key options , specially in the computer virus scan . For a production that cost $ 59.99/£34.99 a twelvemonth for one gimmick ( even with a discount ) , the Mac edition feels lustreless , specially when compare with its Windows similitude .
Some security products that offer up both Windows and macOS version seem to devote equal metre and resources to both adaptation . Others more intemperately favour the Windows edition , leaving the Mac edition lacking certain features and options . Such is the case with F - Secure Total for the Mac , which seems to be a full - featured surety program at first glance but is n’t quite on par with its Windows vis-a-vis .
Installation
To expend F - Secure Total , you’re able to select one of the pay subscription right on off the bat or go for the free 30 - day trial , all of which prompt you to set up an account . The trial want no credit card and even gives you free proficient support if you need it . At the main projection screen , you ’re enquire if you desire to add your own machine , your child ’s machine , or someone else ’s machine . Choosing your own twist or a child ’s gimmick then lets you download the macOS version of the package .
A thaumaturge guides you through the instalment and deposits you at the programme ’s main screen where you’re able to review the unlike security features – virus & Threats , Password Vault , Privacy VPN , ID Monitoring , and Secure Browsing . The software also attempt to help you by provide specific recommendations , such as lay out up the password hurdle and turning on the VPN .
Features
Your first job will probably be to hunt for malware . Clicking the Scan push run a full scan that retard your full system . clack the nexus for Viruses & Threats hold you to another screen where you may scan just specific folders . amazingly , there are no options to run a quick scan or even to schedule a scan . ( The Windows variation does let you run a quick CAT scan ) . Here , you ’re also able to check for virus definition updates and submit a sample of an septic file to the company for analytic thinking .
F - Secure provides actual - time virus and spyware scan to mechanically block malware . you may exclude specific folders and Indian file from the genuine - meter scan and temporarily stop the scanning if it ’s interfering with a software induction or other mental process .
To augment the regular computer virus scanning , F - Secure provide an option called DeepGuard , which monitors app for any changes indicative of a malware contagion . This pick already includes many item in the list but you may add the names and locations of other applications to monitor .
The main screen for F-Secure Total displays all of the key features, including virus scanning, password vault, and secure browsing.
Next , you may require to set up up the ID monitoring to check out your electronic mail address for information breaches among your on-line explanation . you may lend as many as 10 addresses as well as other items , including a username , phone number , societal security number , bank account issue , credit wit number , and passport number .
The VPN is another demurrer you ’d probably want to enable , especially when using unprotected web . By nonpayment , the VPN selects a location that ply the best possible connexion . But you may tack to another location , including several across North America , Europe , Asia , and Australia . You ’re also able to add your own personal meshwork as a trusted one to allow access to local resource such as printers and digital scanner .
you may manually turn on the VPN or set it to trigger off whenever you log into your Mac . The VPN also includes tracking tribute to forbid advertiser from monitoring your online activity and a kill transposition to speedily cut off all internet dealings if the connection goes down . By nonremittal , F - Secure uses OpenVPN as the VPN protocol , which should suffice in most situations . you may also switch to OpenVPN ( TCP ) or IKEv2 , both of which are briefly trace in the program .
The main screen for F-Secure Total displays all of the key features, including virus scanning, password vault, and secure browsing.
Next , an option for secure browsing allows you to establish a browser app lengthiness that aims to freeze harmful webpages . The propagation tolerate Safari , Google Chrome , Firefox , and Microsoft Edge ( via the Chrome Web Store ) . With Secure Browsing active , the extension attempts to block phishing sites and other harmful pages . you may also tell it to block website regard untrusty or those that hold in prohibited content . Further , you ’re capable to manually supply site that you do n’t want obstruct and give in a sampling universal resource locator that you believe is malicious .
Finally , F - Secure offer a word vault that creates and stores unattackable logins for all your account . To kick this off , you ’re first require to make your master password . Rather than go into this password each time you need to reach the burial vault , you’re able to instead use Touch ID on your MacBook .
To tally your account logins , you import an existing list from Chrome , Firefox , Edge , LastPass , Dashlane , or another program or manually create a login with the necessary username , countersign , and other details . An autofill selection automatically enters your bank vault word at a stored site and will offer to carry through a password that you make . However , there ’s no watchword mesmerism option as is bump in most password coach , so you have to devise your own complex passwords .
F-Secure Total for the Mac lets you run a full virus scan but not a quick scan or scheduled scan.
The need extension for the password vault officially sustain Chrome , Firefox , and Edge . Safari is n’t yet supported , though F - Secure tell me that this is in the works . The vault will also analyse your stored word to betoken which ones are warm , weak , or reused .
Performance
Browsing to the EICAR test virus website triggered a message that the site was regard harmful . Forging forwards by allowing access to the situation , I tried downloading the eicar.com and eicar textbook files . Both were automatically remove but without any notification from F - Secure . I was able to download and pull up the two eicar vigor file . Upon extraction , the trial malicious files in the archive were move out . A manual scan in the end scrap the two null files . Unfortunately , F - Secure does n’t let you review blocked or blue-pencil malicious file cabinet , and I could n’t chance any setting that would quarantine file instead of off them .
ADecember 2022 revaluation by AV - Testgave F - Secure SAFE for macOS a sexual conquest of 4.5 out of 6 for protection and 5.5 out of 6 for usability .
Price & Availability
F - Secure Total monetary value $ 119.99/£99.99 for five devices , with the first class push aside to $ 69.99/£44.99 . If you want to protect just one Mac , it ’s $ 89.99/£69.99 ( $ 59.99/£34.99 after the bank discount ) .
This gives full approach to iOS apps as well as the Mac ones , and of course Android and Windows ones as well if required , and the transversal - gadget configuration is managed through F - Secure web invoice .
depend upon how many Macs , or other gadget , ask protecting , F - Secure Total can be quite expensive . Do n’t forget though that F - Secure Safe is available , and cheaper , if you do n’t want the VPN or ID Protection . F - Secure has no issue with you protecting devices belonging to other multitude , although of course it ’s all manage through your own account .
The VPN in F-Secure Total is both effective and flexible.
See option in our roundup of thebest antivirus software package for Macs .
Verdict
F - Secure for the Mac seems to have all the right components that would make it an effective mathematical product . But given that certain key choice are missing or lacking and the programme cost $ 59.99/£34.99 a year even with the deduction for one gimmick , the Mac reading should be more capable and better designed .