Kaspersky Standard | Plus | Premium
[Topic 100244]

Start application for the first time

The Kaspersky application starts on your Mac right after installation. To protect your Mac right away, the application prompts you to perform the basic setup:

  • Activate the application
  • Connect to My Kaspersky
  • Grant the necessary permissions to the application to protect your Mac against malware, network attacks and internet threats, and to protect your money, identity, and sensitive data.

    Grant permissions on a Mac running macOS 10.15

    1. In the Essential Protection window, do the following actions to ensure that File Anti-Virus functions properly:
      • If you want the Kaspersky application to detect dangerous file activity and processes attempting to run on your Mac, and monitor web traffic and network content, then install the kernel extension. To do this, click Install next to the Kernel extension item and follow the instructions on the screen.
      • If you want the Kaspersky application to work properly, allow the application to scan every file on your Mac. To do this, click Allow next to the Full disk access item and follow the instructions on the screen.

      Important: The Kaspersky application will not work properly without granting these permissions. You must grant all permissions in the Essential Protection window.

    2. Click Continue.

      The Additional Protection window opens.

    3. If you want the Kaspersky application to detect unsecured Wi-Fi networks and secure your connection, enable Location Services. To do this, click Enable Protection next to the Wi-Fi Network Protection item and follow the instructions on the screen.
    4. If you want the Kaspersky application to warn you about dangerous websites and protect your sensitive information online, enable the Kaspersky Security extension for browsers. To do this, click Enable Extension to enable the extension for Safari, or click Install to install and enable the extension for Google Chrome/Firefox, and follow the instructions on the screen.
    5. Click Continue.

    The main application window opens.

    Grant permissions on a Mac running macOS 11 or later

    1. In the Essential Protection window, do the following actions to ensure that File Anti-Virus and Web Anti-Virus function properly:
      • If you want File Anti-Virus to monitor dangerous file activity and processes attempting to run on your Mac, install the system extension. To do this, click Install next to the System extension item and follow the instructions on the screen.
      • If you want the Kaspersky application to work properly, allow the application to scan every file on your Mac. To do this, click Allow next to the Full disk access item and follow the instructions on the screen.
      • If you want Web Anti-Virus to inspect network packets before they can harm your Mac, allow network content filtering. To do this, click Allow next to the Network content filtering item and follow the instructions on the screen.
      • If you want the Kaspersky application to search for malware and internet threats in encrypted HTTPS traffic, allow encrypted web traffic inspection. To do this, click Allow next to the Encrypted web traffic inspection item and follow the instructions on the screen.

      Important: The Kaspersky application will not work properly without granting these permissions. You must grant all permissions in the Essential Protection window.

    2. Click Continue.

      The Additional Protection window opens.

    3. If you want the Kaspersky application to detect unsecured Wi-Fi networks and secure your connection, enable Location Services. To do this, click Enable Protection next to the Wi-Fi Network Protection item and follow the instructions on the screen.
    4. If you want the Kaspersky application to warn you about dangerous websites and protect your sensitive information online, enable the Kaspersky Security extension for browsers. To do this, click Enable Extension to enable the extension for Safari, or click Install to install and enable the extension for Google Chrome/Firefox, and follow the instructions on the screen.
    5. Click Continue.

    The main application window opens.

    For more information about the permissions you are granting, click .

Note: An internet connection is required for basic setup of the Kaspersky application.

See also

Enable and disable the Kaspersky Security extension for browsers in selected browsers

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[Topic 198606]

Activate application

Important: Before activating the Kaspersky application, make sure that the date and time set on your computer match the actual date and time.

Activating the application involves adding a subscription and connecting the application to a My Kaspersky account.

Note: An internet connection is required to activate the application.

Activate the application if you already have a subscription in your My Kaspersky account

  1. Start the application.
  2. In the Choose Your Activation Mode window, select the Sign In to My Kaspersky button.
  3. Follow the instructions on the screen to activate the application with the subscription in your My Kaspersky account.

    The application connects to Kaspersky activation servers and sends data for verification. If verification is successful, the application receives and adds a license key for the subscription.

Activate the application with an activation code

  1. Open the main application window.
  2. In the bottommost pane of the main application window, click Circled Rightwards Arrow.

    The Licensing window opens.

  3. In the Licensing window, enter the activation code that you received when purchasing the Kaspersky application.
  4. Click Activate.

    Note: An activation code is a unique combination of twenty Latin letters and numbers in the form xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-ххххх.

    The application connects to Kaspersky activation servers and sends the activation code to verify its authenticity. If the activation code is successfully verified, the application automatically receives and adds the license key.

  5. Click Finish to complete activating the application.

    Note: You may need to connect to My Kaspersky to complete the activation.

    If activation code cannot be verified, a corresponding notification is displayed. In this case, contact the software vendor that supplied you with this activation code.

For more information about other activation options, see the Kaspersky help for Windows application.

Activate the trial version if available

  1. Start the Kaspersky application.
  2. In the Choose Your Activation Mode window, select the Start Trial button.
  3. Follow the instructions on the screen to activate the application with the trial subscription.

    Note: You may need to sign in to My Kaspersky to finish the activation.

    The Kaspersky application connects to Kaspersky activation servers and sends data for verification. If verification is successful, the application receives and adds a license key for the free trial subscription.

    Important: A trial version of the Kaspersky application can be activated only if the application has not been previously activated on the computer.

After you have activated the application, you can view the following information in the Licensing window:

  • Subscription status
  • Active key
  • Subscription expiration date and time
  • Number of days until subscription expiration

Note: You may see the term "license" instead of "subscription" in your application. We're switching from licenses to subscriptions, and soon you'll see "subscription" everywhere in the Kaspersky application. Until that time, all the instructions in this section apply to both licenses and subscriptions.

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[Topic 58751]

Connect to My Kaspersky

Note: If you have signed in to My Kaspersky in another Kaspersky application on your Mac, the Kaspersky application prompts you to sign in to My Kaspersky using the same account after the application installation.

Sign in to My Kaspersky using your existing account

In the Sign In to My Kaspersky window, perform one of the following actions:

  • If you want to connect to My Kaspersky with your Google, Facebook, or Apple account, click the corresponding button and follow the instructions. For more details, see the My Kaspersky help. If you don't have a My Kaspersky account yet, the application will prompt you to register on My Kaspersky.

    Note: The availability of the option to sign in with Facebook depends on your region.

  • If you have the login and password for your My Kaspersky account, enter your credentials and click Sign In.

    Note: If you enter the password incorrectly several times in a short period, you will need to enter characters from a picture to pass the security check.

    Note: If you have enabled two-step verification for your My Kaspersky account, you will need to enter a code received via an SMS message or generated in an authenticator app.

The Kaspersky application signs you in to the My Kaspersky account.

Important: If your version of the application has been downloaded from your My Kaspersky account that already has an applied activation code for the Kaspersky application and the subscription has not expired yet, the application will be activated automatically after you sign in to My Kaspersky.

Create a My Kaspersky account from the application interface

  1. In the Sign In to My Kaspersky window, click Create Account.

    The Create a My Kaspersky Account window opens.

    Note: If you enter an email address that is already in use, an incorrect email address, or a too common password several times in a short period, you will need to enter characters from a picture to pass the security check.

  2. In the email address field, enter the email address that you want to associate with your new My Kaspersky account.
  3. In the password field, enter the password for your new My Kaspersky account.

    Note: The password must contain a minimum of eight characters, including at least one digit, one lowercase letter, and one uppercase letter. Spaces are not allowed.

  4. In the password confirmation field, enter the password again.
  5. In the region selection pop-up menu, select your region.

    Note: The Kaspersky application automatically displays your region, based on the region set in your system's Language & Region settings. This option determines the regional settings for your My Kaspersky account, for example, the display language and available Kaspersky applications. You can change your region for My Kaspersky later only by contacting Technical Support.

  6. If you agree to provide Kaspersky with your email address for receiving informational and promotional email messages, select the I agree to provide Kaspersky with my email address to receive personalized marketing offers checkbox.
  7. Click Create.

The Kaspersky application connects to My Kaspersky and creates your account. After your account is created, an email message with instructions on account activation is sent to the email address that you specified during registration.

Switch to another My Kaspersky account

  1. Open the main application window and click <My Kaspersky account>.
  2. In the dialog that opens, click Sign Out.
  3. In the main application window, click Sign In.

    The window for signing in to My Kaspersky opens.

  4. Enter the credentials of your My Kaspersky account.
  5. Click Sign In.

The Kaspersky application signs you in to the My Kaspersky account.

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[Topic 112738]

About two-step verification

Important: Two-step verification may be unavailable in your region. For more details, see the My Kaspersky help.

Two-step verification prevents bad guys from signing in to your My Kaspersky account even if they know your password. To verify your identity, you will receive a unique security code in one of the following ways:

  • Via an SMS. We use the phone number you save on My Kaspersky. This means that both your password and your phone are needed to sign in to your account.
  • Via an authenticator app. You first need to set up two-step verification via your mobile phone number for the authenticator app feature to be available.

You can turn on two-step verification on My Kaspersky. If you change your phone number, you can update it on My Kaspersky. If you are already signed in to your account on a device, nothing will change for you. For detailed instructions, see the My Kaspersky help.

Note: The security code is valid for a short period. If it expires, request another security code.

If you haven't received an SMS message with a security code

  1. Check whether your mobile device is turned on and your mobile network is available.
  2. Wait until the Request Code Again button becomes available.
  3. Click Request Code Again.

If the problem still persists, contact Technical Support.

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[Topic 180180]

Main application window

Open the main application window

In the menu bar, click the application icon and choose Kaspersky.

Purpose of the main application window

In the main window of the application, you can view information about your computer protection status, File Anti-Virus and Web Anti-Virus status, progress of virus scans, and recommendations on how to improve the protection of your Mac.

In the main application window, you can also do the following:

  • Open the Scan window to manage scan tasks.
  • Open the Update window to manage update tasks.
  • Open the Privacy window to edit your privacy settings.
  • Open the HD Health window (Kaspersky Plus and Premium only).
  • Open the Home Network window (Kaspersky Plus and Premium only).
  • Open Protection Center.
  • View news about the Kaspersky application and protection against computer threats in general.
  • Read recommendations on how to increase the security of your computer.
  • Open the Licensing window to view subscription information.
  • Sign in or sign out of your My Kaspersky account.

Controls of the main application window

The main application window includes the following controls:

  • Protection status indicator (shaped like a computer)
  • Large buttons at the bottom of the window
  • Small buttons in the bottommost pane of the window

The protection status indicator signals the current computer protection status:

  • Green indicates that computer protection is at an optimal level.
  • Yellow and red warn of the presence of various problems related to the configuration or operation of the application.

In addition to the protection status indicator, the right pane of the main application window describes the computer protection status and displays the latest computer security issues and threats reported by Protection Center along with the latest Kaspersky news and recommendations.

You can perform the following actions by clicking the buttons at the bottom of the window:

Open the Scan window to run Quick Scan, Full Scan, and Custom Scan.

Open the Update window to manage update tasks

Open the Privacy window to customize your privacy settings and check your accounts.

Open the HD Health window to examine the state of your hard disks (Kaspersky Plus and Premium only).

Open the Home Network window to examine devices in your home Wi-Fi network (Kaspersky Plus and Premium only).

Open the Web Control window.

Web Control is only available if you have activated the application with a Kaspersky Small Office Security activation code. If you change the activation code, Web Control will be replaced by Parental Control (China and Japan). Parental Control has the same functionality as Web Control.

You can perform the following actions by clicking the buttons in the bottommost pane of the window:

Sign In

Open the window where you can sign in to My Kaspersky.

<My Kaspersky account>

Open the window where you can go to the My Kaspersky website or sign out of My Kaspersky.

Circled Rightwards Arrow

Open the Licensing window where you can view the information about your subscription.

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[Topic 58162]

Open and quit the application

As soon as you complete installation, the application starts automatically and the application icon appears in the menu bar.

Open the application

In the menu bar, click the application icon and choose Kaspersky.

Quit the application

  1. In the menu bar, click the application icon and choose Quit.
  2. In the prompt for administrator credentials, enter an administrator name and password and confirm that you want to quit the Kaspersky application.

When you quit the application, the application process is removed from computer memory.

Important: After you quit the Kaspersky application, the computer is no longer protected and may become infected, which puts your data at risk of being lost.

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[Topic 58262]