Last Updated on July 5, 2022 by srinivas
Expert rating
Pros
- Reasonably priced
- Comprehensive and easy-to-use security in one package
- Step-by-step installation and help readily available
cons
- Software can sometimes be slow when opened
Our verdict
Clario for the Mac packs a healthy amount of security into one package, offering malware protection, a VPN, ad blocking, and data breach monitoring. The software guides you through installation and use and offers help if you run into problems. Whether you are a novice or advanced user, Clario is an effective and supportive security program.
Price at review
$107.88 per year (currently $50.00 per year); $4.17 per month for a year or $8.99 billed monthly)
Best prices today: Clario Antivirus 1.5 for Mac
Clario 1.5 for the Mac bills itself as an antivirus product, but it offers much more than basic protection. In addition to real-time and on-demand malware scanning, the software activates ad blocking to defeat pop-up ads and website trackers. A VPN provides a secure tunnel to encrypt your internet connection. A data breach monitor alerts you if your email is caught and potentially exposed to a cyber attack. Plus, the company adds 24/7 live security support if you ever need a helping hand.
Like most security products, Clario uses a payment subscription model with two different pricing plans, each covering three different devices. Right now Clario is 54% off the usual price of $107.88 / £107.88 per year, so you can afford $50.00 / £50.00 per year (billed at $4.17/£4.17 per month). If you’d rather not sign up for the whole year, you can pay $8.99 / £8.99 per month. The three devices in the plan can be a combination of Macs and iOS or Android devices. And you can try it before you buy with a 7-day free and fully-featured trial.
Installation
Installing Clario 1.5 on a Mac is quick and painless. Download and install the program from the Clario website. After installation, you will be prompted to create an account with Clario or to sign in to an existing account. The software appears to explain the product features, including the 7-day trial period. The program will then guide you through the installation process and help you configure all important functions.
As a first step, you can add your email address to the data breach feature to receive an alert if one of your website accounts is ever detected in a website breach. Second, you will be asked if you want to enable the VPN. As a third step, you can install browser extensions for Safari and Chrome to block pop-up ads, trackers and flag suspicious websites. Finally, you will be asked if you want to install the Clario mobile app on your iOS/iPadOS or Android device. After installation, Clario drops you on the dashboard informing you that you are fully protected.
I like the way Clario walks you through the entire setup process so you can evaluate the different options and decide which one to enable. This is a welcome change from many products that just dump you into their interface without helping you configure and use the software correctly.
When the dashboard is displayed, you can view all the features, organized into three categories. The Browsing category shows the status of the malicious website and ad blocker, as well as the VPN. Select the website and ad blocker to confirm that it is enabled and view all content that has already been blocked.
Next, the Identity category checks your online accounts for breaches, malicious apps that try to steal and compromise your personal information, and suspicious websites that attempt to hijack data entered in a form. By going through the specific features here, you can see if your email address has been compromised and if any malicious websites or apps have been discovered.
The Network category allows you to view and manage the VPN and specify whether third-party websites cannot track the sites you visit. The VPN will activate automatically if Clario detects you’re using an unsecured network, but you can manually enable it for extra protection on any network.
Return to the dashboard to get a general idea of your security status. Here you can activate a quick virus scan, which is actually quite thorough. On my Mac, Clario has detected and quarantined the EICAR test file, which is used to check the effectiveness of antivirus programs. In a March 2021 review, AV-Test gave Clario top marks for protection and usability, but low marks for performance. A December 2020 test gave Clario the highest marks in all three categories.
As you go through the different features, Clario will help you along the way. Certain links will take you to informative articles and advice on specific areas of security. You can also easily open a chat with a Clario support representative if you have any questions or experience problems.
The only downside I encountered was the performance. When I was reviewing and adjusting the various features, the program was slow at times and hampered system performance. But with the software fully configured and running in the background, performance was fine. Overall, Clario is an effective and easy-to-use security product that definitely deserves a spot on your Mac.
We have fully tested a number of malware solutions for Mac. Read our roundup of the best antivirus software for Mac.