F-Secure Total for Mac has been making headlines lately, but unfortunately, for all the wrong reasons. Reviewers have been left apprehensive about its overall protection, with substantial room for improvement, particularly when compared to its Windows counterpart. In this review, we’ll go over the pros and cons of F-Secure Total for Mac, what features it offers, and how it performs.
Starting with the pros, one of the most significant advantages of F-Secure Total for Mac is that it provides an all-in-one package that includes virus protection, secure browsing, ID monitoring, a VPN, and a password vault. The VPN is particularly effective and flexible, allowing users to switch to another location whenever required.
However, the cons outweigh the pros in this case. One of the most significant drawbacks of F-Secure Total for Mac is that it lacks some key capabilities, such as quick virus scan and scheduled scan options. This is a severe limitation, especially for those who need regular virus scans to ensure their Mac is protected at all times. Additionally, certain options are unavailable in the Mac version compared to the Windows version, making it a less attractive option for Mac users.
Another significant con is that there is no notification for malware infections, which means that users may not be aware of a malware infection until it’s too late. Additionally, there’s no way to view malicious or quarantined files, which could be frustrating for users who need to review these files for security purposes.
Finally, F-Secure Total for Mac charges a high annual subscription, which may deter some users from choosing this option. For just one device, the cost is $59.99/£34.99 per year, which feels steep given its limitations, especially when compared to its more feature-rich Windows counterpart.
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When it comes to features, F-Secure Total for Mac includes real-time virus and spyware scanning to block malware automatically, with options for user customization. However, as mentioned earlier, it lacks a quick scan feature, and you cannot schedule scans, unlike its Windows version.
Additional features include ID monitoring, which checks your email address for data breaches among your online accounts. The VPN, by default, selects a location that provides the best possible connection, with an option to switch to another location. A secure browsing extension aims to block harmful webpages, and a password vault creates and stores secure logins for all your accounts.
Performance-wise, F-Secure Total for Mac successfully blocked and removed test virus files from the EICAR site, but failed to notify the user of such actions. Moreover, the software does not allow you to review blocked or deleted malicious files.
In December 2022, AV-Test gave F-Secure SAFE for macOS a protection score of 4.5 out of 6 and a usability score of 5.5 out of 6. This indicates that while the software does offer some protection, there is still room for improvement in terms of usability.
Finally, the cost of F-Secure Total is another factor that Mac users may want to consider. For just one Mac, it’s $89.99/£69.99 ($59.99/£34.99 after the discount). This package includes full access to iOS apps as well as Mac, Android, and Windows ones if required, managed through F-Secure web accounts. However, this may be more expensive than other options on the market, which offer similar or better features at a lower cost.
In conclusion, while F-Secure Total for Mac integrates several critical security components, the absence of certain key features and its relatively high cost result in a less satisfying experience for Mac users. As a Mac user, it’s essential to choose a security option that offers the necessary protection and features you need, without breaking the bank.
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