Intego: Leading Mac Virus Protection, With PC Accommodations

Intego at a Glance

Intego was established in 1997 and has since been dedicated to protecting Apple products with their Mac-focused security solutions. Headquartered in the United States, the company also has international offices, including locations in France and Japan. Since their inception, they provided a range of security products, including antivirus, firewall, anti-spam, and data protection software, all specifically tailored for Mac users. The company was acquired by software company Kape Technologies in 2018, and has since expanded their offerings to include Windows protection in 2020, then launched a VPN service in 2021, broadening their scope while maintaining a strong focus on Apple products.

Intego continues to innovate and adapt, offering a range of plans to suit different needs and budgets, with a 30-day money-back guarantee on all purchases. Their suite of products includes VirusBarrier for real-time malware protection, NetBarrier for two-way firewall defense, and ContentBarrier for advanced parental controls. Their flagship product bundle combines these tools with additional features like Mac Washing Machine, which optimizes and organizes your device, and Personal Backup for comprehensive data security. These services are designed to provide all-around protection for both individual and business users, making Intego a versatile choice for anyone using Apple devices.

According to AV-Test, Intego’s macOS product scores highly in protection (5.5/6), performance (5/6), and usability (6/6), indicating strong overall performance with minimal impact on device resources and a low false-positive rate. AV-Comparatives recently awarded Intego the “Approved Mac Security Product” designation, emphasizing their effectiveness in real-world protection scenarios.

Intego’s products are recognized for their reliability and ease of use, continually earning numerous accolades from Mac-focused publications like Macworld, as well as VB100 certification from Virus Bulletin. The company is noted for staying ahead of evolving security threats by continuously updating their software to meet the latest cybersecurity standards. Intego has a strong reputation for customer support and satisfaction, boasting high ratings on independent customer review platforms, although as an international company, they lack Better Business Bureau (BBB) accreditation. The company’s commitment to Mac security and their specialized focus make them a standout in the antivirus market.

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Intego Antivirus Features & Perks

Intego Antivirus is a versatile security suite catering to both macOS and Windows users, offering robust protection and a range of useful tools that enhance device performance and security. Here’s a breakdown of some of the core features that make Intego stand out:

• Antivirus scanner: They provide real-time protection against viruses, malware, ransomware, and other threats with minimal impact on device performance. This offers both quick and full system scans, and users can schedule scans to run automatically at set times
• NetBarrier (two-way firewall): This monitors and controls both incoming and outgoing network traffic, automatically adjusting settings based on your network location to prevent unauthorized access and data breaches, ensuring robust network security whether at home, work, or on public Wi-Fi
• Web Shield: This tool safeguards your browsing experience by blocking phishing attacks, malicious websites, popups, and harmful downloads. It stops online threats before they can affect your device, providing a safer browsing environment
• Scheduled scans and automatic updates: This feature enables users to set up routine scans and automatically update virus definitions, ensuring their antivirus is always equipped to handle the latest threats
• Zero-day protection: This utilizes advanced behavioral analysis and prevention engines to detect and block newly emerging threats, including ransomware and advanced persistent threats that other traditional antivirus programs might miss
• Email scanning: They check for malicious attachments and links in emails, protecting you from phishing attempts and malware spread through email clients

Additional Perks

Their offerings go beyond core antivirus features, such as their Privacy Protection VPN. This is available as an optional add-on, and provides secure, anonymous browsing with AES-256 encryption. It includes essential features like a kill switch, split tunneling, and an ad blocker, allowing you to maintain privacy and access restricted content online.

Some of their extra features seem to be only offered for Macs, and include:

• Mac Washing Machine: This is a dedicated cleaner for macOS that identifies and removes junk files, duplicates, and other space-wasting elements, helping to keep your Mac running smoothly and efficiently. It also organizes your desktop, making it easy to navigate your files
• ContentBarrier: This parental control tool allows parents to set custom restrictions for each child, monitor their online activities, and block inappropriate content. It also features anti-predator chat monitoring, which alerts parents to concerning interactions online
• Personal Backup: This offers advanced backup options, including creating bootable clones of your Mac, synchronizing files between devices, and restoring data from backups. This tool ensures that your important data is always safe and easily recoverable

On the other hand, they also offer some Windows-specific features, such as:

• Smart Scan: Combines virus detection with performance checks to identify outdated software, privacy vulnerabilities, and optimize device performance in a single sweep
• Financial protection: This tool blocks banking Trojans, ransomware, and cryptocurrency stealers, providing an extra layer of security for financial transactions and sensitive data
• PUA protection: They prevent potentially unwanted applications from installing or running on your system, reducing the risk of clutter and performance issues
• Network security: They protect all network drives from Windows malware, offering extended protection beyond just the local device

Intego Plans & Pricing

Intego offers several antivirus plans tailored to meet the needs of different users, whether you are looking for basic protection or a comprehensive security suite. Here’s an overview of their main offerings:

• Mac Internet Security X9: This plan provides essential antivirus and firewall protection through Intego’s VirusBarrier and NetBarrier apps, offering comprehensive security against all types of malware, including viruses, spyware, ransomware, and hacker tools. It features real-time protection, automatic and scheduled scanning, and advanced two-way firewall protection that guards against unknown apps and devices. The setup is simple, and it includes anti-phishing protection to block malicious sites and prevent unauthorized network access. Prices start at $39.99 for one year or $74.99 for two years, for one device, with options to cover up to five devices at a higher rate. The plan renews at $49.99 per year, making it an ideal choice for users seeking robust, fundamental security for their Macs
• Mac Premium Bundle X9: Intego’s most popular bundle, this plan combines antivirus protection with system optimization tools and parental controls. In addition to VirusBarrier and NetBarrier, it includes Mac Washing Machine for cleaning junk files, ContentBarrier for managing online access, and Personal Backup for data security. This package starts at $69.99 for one year, or $129.99 for two years, for one device, and renews at $84.99 a year. It’s available for up to five devices with pricing adjustments
• Mac Premium Bundle + VPN: For those seeking a more comprehensive solution, this plan includes all features of the Premium Bundle and adds the Privacy Protection VPN. The VPN offers secure browsing, data encryption, and the ability to bypass geo-restrictions, making it suitable for users who want to ensure privacy online. Prices begin at $89.99 for one year for one device, or $149.99 for two years, which renews at $134.99 per year. As with the other packages, up to five Macs may be protected at a higher cost. For example, five devices can be covered for two years at $239.99
• Intego Antivirus for Windows: Intego extends their robust antivirus protection to Windows users with a comprehensive plan that includes real-time protection, advanced prevention technology against zero-day attacks, and an online web shield to block phishing, fake websites, and other online threats. The antivirus engine also provides financial protection by blocking ransomware, banking Trojans, and potentially unwanted applications (PUAs). This plan is offered in three tiers: Personal for one device at $39.99 per year, Family for three devices at $54.99 per year, and Extended for five devices at $69.99 per year, with renewal prices slightly higher. You may be able to find different plans at significant discounts

The above choices are for personal or family-use packages, and you may be able to get a discount if you're a student. If you want to protect your business computers, Intego offers their VirusBarrier X9 package, which protects both PCs and Macs, as well as their Mac-only network protection package, NetBarrier X9. However, they do not advertise their prices online, so you must request a quote to find out how much those would cost you.

Intego provides flexible payment options, including major credit cards and PayPal. Each plan also offers a 14-day free trial, allowing users to explore the features before committing to a purchase. They also include scheduled scans, automatic updates, free support, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

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The Advantages of Intego Antivirus

• Mac-specialized protection: Intego was primarily designed specifically for Mac users, providing tailored security features that cater to the unique needs of the Mac OS. This specialization ensures that they offer optimal protection against Mac-specific threats, unlike many other antivirus solutions that are primarily focused on Windows
• Real-time protection and scanning: They offer real-time scanning that continuously monitors your Mac for suspicious files and malware. The real-time engine promptly detects and blocks threats before they can cause any damage, providing peace of mind during everyday use
• Comprehensive security suite: Their products, such as VirusBarrier and NetBarrier, provide a robust set of tools, including antivirus protection, a two-way firewall, parental controls, and system optimization features. These all-in-one offerings make them convenient for users who need more than just basic antivirus protection
• High detection rates: Independent testing labs like AV-Test and AV-Comparatives have awarded Intego high scores for their malware detection capabilities, ensuring that users are well-protected from various threats, including ransomware, spyware, and phishing attacks
• Minimal system impact: According to independent tests, their antivirus has a low impact on system performance, scoring well in usability and performance tests. This means they can run scans and offer real-time protection without significantly slowing down your Mac, even when other applications are in use
• User-friendly interface: Intego is praised for their clean and intuitive interface, which allows both novice and advanced users to easily navigate through their features. Their simple setup and straightforward dashboard aim to make managing security settings hassle-free

Why You Might Not Choose Intego

• Fragmented application suite: One of the criticisms of Intego is that their features are spread across multiple standalone apps (e.g., VirusBarrier, NetBarrier, Washing Machine), rather than being consolidated into a single, unified program. This can make it more cumbersome for users to manage their security settings
• Limited Windows features: While they do offer a Windows version, it lacks many of the advanced features available on the Mac version, such as the system optimization and backup tools. As a result, the Windows version stands as a more basic antivirus scanner without additional security enhancements
• Separate VPN subscription: Intego’s VPN service, which provides secure and private browsing, is not integrated into their main antivirus packages and must be purchased separately. This adds to the overall cost and may be inconvenient for users looking for an all-inclusive solution
• Higher cost for full features: Some users find that Intego’s premium features, such as parental controls and system optimization tools, make the software more expensive compared to other antivirus options. Additionally, multi-device protection often requires purchasing the higher-priced plans
• No mobile apps: Intego does not currently offer dedicated mobile apps for iOS or Android, which limits their usability for those who want comprehensive protection across all their devices. However, iOS devices can be scanned when connected to a Mac running VirusBarrier

The Intego User Experience

They enjoy a rather stellar reputation among their customers, receiving mostly five-star reviews on independent customer review sites. Their Trustpilot review score is a high 4.8 out of 5, calculated from thousands of reviews, and they get the same score on Capterra. Their VirusBarrier Scanner gets a score of 4.7 out of 5 on the Mac App Store.

Positive feedback

Intego receives high praise for their ease of installation, user-friendly interface, and effective malware protection specifically designed for Mac users. Many reviewers appreciated that they integrate smoothly with macOS, providing seamless background security without slowing down the computer. Users also highlighted their ability to detect and remove malware effectively, including trojans and adware, with minimal impact on system performance. Customer support was often commended for being responsive, professional, and helpful. Intego’s antivirus and firewall tools are frequently described as reliable, well-designed, and easy to configure, making them a preferred choice among Mac users who value dedicated Mac security solutions.

Critical feedback

Despite their strengths, Intego has faced some criticism, particularly regarding their Windows version, which lacks the advanced features available in the Mac counterpart and is seen as a basic virus scanner without additional security or privacy tools. Some users have experienced issues with intrusive popups and notifications, though these were typically resolved after configuring the software correctly. Additionally, there were occasional complaints about resource consumption during scans, with some users noting that system performance was impacted on lower-end devices. A few users also expressed dissatisfaction with ongoing subscription costs, feeling that the premium versions are somewhat overpriced compared to similar offerings from competitors.

Customer Support at Intego

Intego offers various customer support options. For technical issues or billing questions, you can submit a support request through the Intego Support Center. Live chat support is also available during business hours, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM CST, accessible from any page on the website by clicking the chat bubble in the lower right corner. You can follow up on your support requests by signing in to your account.

There are some global sales and support emails available on their Contact Us page, and they also provide a detailed Knowledge Base, with FAQs, manuals, and troubleshooting guides to help resolve common issues. For reporting suspicious files or malware, you can use their malware submission form. 

Final Thoughts

Intego provides a robust antivirus solution that excels in offering specialized protection for Mac users, with some notable accommodations for Windows PC users. Their tailored features, such as VirusBarrier and NetBarrier, ensure comprehensive protection against malware, ransomware, and network threats, making them a preferred choice for those who prioritize security on Apple's desktop and laptop devices. The suite’s additional tools, including system optimization and parental controls, add valuable layers of security and usability that sets them apart from other antivirus options. Intego’s user-friendly interface, high detection rates, and commitment to keeping pace with evolving cybersecurity threats make them a reliable and efficient choice for individuals and families alike.

For Mac users seeking a specialized, all-in-one security suite, Intego stands out as a strong contender. Their focus on real-time protection, intuitive design, and a range of Mac-centric features offer substantial value, particularly in the premium bundles that include optimization and backup tools. However, the fragmented nature of their features across multiple standalone apps and the fact that a separate subscription is required for the VPN may be less appealing for users who prefer a more integrated solution. Additionally, while their Windows version provides solid protection, it lacks the advanced features and versatility of their Mac offerings, making them less competitive in the broader antivirus market.

Ultimately, if you’re evaluating your security options, Intego’s high detection rates, minimal system impact, and strong customer feedback position them as a standout choice in the world of Mac antivirus solutions. That said, we recommend you do your research before deciding on which antivirus tool is the best fit for your needs. To that end, we provide a variety of resources, including in-depth reviews of other top antivirus products and a comparison tool to help you weigh your options. Our blog is also full of useful articles on cybersecurity and related topics. By using these resources, you can find the right antivirus solution that matches your specific requirements and security concerns.

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