Intego Antivirus review

Attention, Mac users: there’s finally an antivirus solution created for you. That’s right – Intego Antivirus is an online security tool primarily intended for macOS. This should be exciting for Apple fans who are constantly underserved by the cybersecurity market!

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. In this Intego review, I’ll cover everything you need to know about this antimalware software. Features, pricing, and all the juicy details you might want to be aware of before downloading or buying the tool – just scroll down and you’ll learn it all.

Intego security features

Intego pros & cons

Visit Intego to learn more about the features

This is probably the first antivirus software I’ve ever seen that has more features on macOS than on its Windows platform. Granted, the features that it does come with vary in their usefulness, but it’s still an impressive suite.

The Mac version of Intego comes in multiple separate apps for each task. As a result, you’ll get six applications installed onto your device instead of one.

VirusBarrier

VirusBarrier is the actual antivirus program of Intego. It scans your files and provides real-time protection against malware and viruses.

It’s quite a trustworthy application, as it constantly scores great results in virus detection tests by AV-Comparatives. In other words, Intego detects the vast majority of threats encountered online.

In addition, the feature has a Quarantine section where it puts infected or suspicious files, and a Trusted Files section where you can put files that shouldn’t be scanned.

VirusBarrier can also scan your iOS device if you connect it to your Mac via Bluetooth. As Intego doesn’t have an iOS app, it’s the only way you can scan your iPhone or iPad with an Intego subscription.

Washing Machine

To put it simply, the Washing Machine app is a system optimizer and cleaner. It allows you to delete cache files, logs, downloads, and the contents of your trash bin. Once Intego completes the scan, you can choose the files you want to delete.

The app can also look for duplicate files on your system. And it’s quite a helpful feature. In some instances, duplicates can take up quite a bit of storage space. I also like that there’s a preview function that allows you to sneak peek into the file before choosing to delete it.

Finally, Washing Machine will help you to declutter and organise your files into folders. You may really like this feature if you’re anything like me and tend to just toss everything onto your desktop.

Personal Backup

Personal Backup allows you to backup your files onto external media (like an external hard drive or a USB key). It also lets you synchronize your data between two computers. In addition, the feature restores your files when needed.

I like that it has the function to backup your files automatically on a preferred schedule. For instance, you can set it up to back up your whole PC to your NAS every morning. Quite convenient, isn’t it?

NetUpdate

NetUpdate is the most boring application of the Intego bundle. Basically, it’s just an app that updates other apps in the Intego suite. Honestly, all the updating could just be done automatically without the need for a whole separate application.

NetBarrier

NetBarrier is Intego’s custom firewall. Its UI is a bit different from something you would expect from a firewall. That’s because it’s a more simplified version than what you’ll find in many other antivirus suites.

However, that’s not a bad thing. NetBarrier is simple enough to be used even by less tech-savvy users, but still retains lots of functionality. On the other hand, advanced users who like to tweak everything themselves might miss an option or two.

It’s really convenient how NetBarrier instantly recognizes whether you’re connected to your home, work, or public wifi and changes your firewall settings accordingly. You can also change certain settings manually. For example, you can control which incoming or outgoing internet connections are allowed or blocked.

On a more somber note, NetBarrier kept displaying annoying pop-ups. You see, every time I opened a new app, the feature asked me if I wanted to allow that app to connect to the internet.

In my short time testing it, this problem was constantly getting in the way. Luckily, Intego remembered my choices, so at least I only had to do it once for each application I used. I assume it would be way better after a while when you whitelist all the apps that you use daily.

NetBarrier also shows you if an app or a background script is doing anything fishy. For example, if it’s trying to make unwanted internet connections.

ContentBarrier

ContentBarrier is a pretty straightforward Parental Control feature. It can either block certain websites and apps, or whitelist the content you want your kid to see.

The feature lets you choose the level of content protection for each user of your macOS device. There are four levels of protection available. These include No Protection, Monitored, Safe Web Surfing, and Restricted Internet.

However, the main gimmick of ContentBarrier is that it can read chats. In turn, the app can alert you if it detects any predatory speech patterns from the person on the other line. On the other hand, the speech patterns it seeks are a bit basic, i.e. “I am your friend” or “how old are you”.

There’s also the Recording tab that allows you to record keystrokes, as well as periodically receive screenshots of the device.

Intego Windows review

It seems that all the good stuff created by Intego was put into their macOS suite. Yup, their Windows app is one of the more basic ones. Of course, we can’t really blame them for that – the Windows Intego tool is relatively new, as it was only released in September, 2020.

Design-wise, this antivirus app reminds me of other antimalware products like Avast. Likewise, its functionality is reminiscent of the free versions of lots of Windows antivirus solutions, which might not fully justify a price that starts at $29.99 a year.

On the other hand, even though it doesn’t have that many features, Intego Windows actually offers real-time scanning. It protects you when visiting potentially dangerous sites or opening email attachments. This function isn’t present in many free antivirus programs, thus the app might still be worth paying for.

The Windows version of Intego also allows you to scan your computer from viruses. You can choose between a quick scan and a complete virus scan.

I tested the quick scan feature and it took Intego about 3.5 minutes to complete it. It’s a very good result for a quick scan, however, some applications (like Avira) are able to perform it quicker.

There’s also the Quarantine tab that locks up infected files so that they could no longer harm your computer.

Overall, Intego Antivirus for Windows is basically the VirusBarrier app on the macOS version.

Plans and pricing

The pricing system of Intego is a bit too complicated for my liking. We have six different prices depending on how many devices you want to cover, as well as the duration of your subscription period.

Obviously, the cheapest way to use Intego Antivirus is buying the 2-year plan for five Macs. In this way, you’ll only spend $21.99 a year for a single device. Of course, for this to work, you must have a lot of devices in the first place (or share your subscription with your family members).

If you need additional protection for Windows, you need to pay extra $10 no matter which plan you buy. You can also get their VPN for a fixed price of $19.99.

Keep in mind that these plans include all the mini applications mentioned in this Intego review. However, you can buy most apps separately if you only need certain functionalities:

• Mac Internet Security X9 – from $39.99 (1 year/1 device)
• Mac Washing Machine X9 – from $40.99 (1 device)
• Mac Washing Machine Secure X9 – from $55.99 (1 year/1 device)
• ContentBarrier X9 – from $39.99 (1 year/1 device)
• ContentBarrier Secure X9 – from $59.99 (1 year/1 device)

You can pay with PayPal and a bunch of different credit cards. What I don’t really like is how much personal information the purchase requires. You have to fill in a huge form with all kinds of personal details like your real name and address of residence.

On the bright side, Intego offers a 7-day free trial version that lets you get a taste of all of its functions.

Is Intego worth the money?

Intego definitely isn’t the cheapest antivirus option for macOS, even if you consider buying its longest subscription. On the other hand, its abundance of features makes it all worth it – especially if you’re serious about the safety and performance of your device.

However, honestly, I don’t think that the prices of the separate features are adequate. For example, why pay $40.99/year for Mac Washing Machine X9 when you can purchase the whole package for $69.99/year?

That’s why I would stick to the full subscription options, as they are the ones that justify the slightly higher than average price.

Ease of use and setup

Both Mac and Windows versions of Intego Antivirus are really easy to set up. You simply need to download the installation package from the official site of Intego and install the software.

I liked that Intego didn’t try to push any annoying add-ons or additional programs I didn’t sign up for. In other words, no junkware!

Keep in mind that while the Windows version will be installed as a single program, the Mac version will result in 6 different mini applications.

The idea behind having a different app for each function kind of makes sense because each tool has lots of functionality. Despite this, I’d prefer having everything on a single application, as jumping from app to app to find what you’re looking for can be a bit annoying.

Other than that, both versions of Intego were easy to use. If you enjoy simplicity, you’ll especially like the Windows application because it is extremely intuitive and won’t leave you confused. Even if it’s your first time using an antivirus solution.

When you get used to the abundance of mini apps, the Mac version also doesn’t cause too big of a headache. However, I can see that it was created with a bit more advanced users in mind. That’s because it offers quite a few advanced features that can be configured manually.

Overall, I don’t have too many complaints about using Intego. Its design is pleasant and it functions really smoothly – just like any modern piece of software should.

Intego mobile app

Even though Intego doesn’t have any mobile applications, it offers certain functionality with iOS mobile devices. Its VirusBarrier feature can connect to your iOS device via Bluetooth and scan it for viruses and malware.

No other Intego Mac application connects to mobile devices. Honestly, if you’re looking for an antivirus solution for your phone, Avira, Malwarebytes, or any other brand will be a much better choice than Intego.

Customer support

When it comes to Intego customer support, I don’t have much to complain about. I like the fact that you can contact their live chat for an immediate solution to your problem. Their support agents are helpful and are really quick with their answers. Unfortunately, the chat isn’t available 24/7.

Other than that, you can submit a request and receive the answer to your email. Keep in mind that, when filling out the form, it’s mandatory to submit a lot of information. This includes your email address, your first and last name, country, the name of the product, the serial number, and the exact version of your OS.

However, if you’re a bit tech-savvy, you can read through their knowledge base that includes lots of troubleshooting topics. They vary from compatibility issues to various app setup manuals.

There’s also the option to submit viruses or malware that affect Mac devices in case you identify any new ones.

How good is Intego antivirus?

All in all, Intego is a really good antivirus solution. It has continuously proven to reliably detect online threats, offers a free version, and is quite easy to use.

However, you should remember that it’s a Mac-oriented tool first and foremost. Even though its both Mac and Windows versions will protect you from viruses and malware, only the macOS version offers a myriad of features that will make your cyberlife much easier.

Also, the price of Intego might turn some of its potential users away. If you’re one of them and aren’t ready to pay for this Mac antimalware tool, I suggest you download the free trial just in case. Maybe you’ll change your mind.

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