Does a MacBook Pro need something like McAfee for virus protection?

RE: MalwareBytes

this is the most respected scanner, but DO NOT let it run at all times in the background. But IF you choose to run it, do so ONLY on demand, when you need a warm fuzzy feeling.

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Recent versions of MacOS completely changed how you should think about malware. 

From MacOS 10.15 Catalina onward, the system is on a separate, crypto-locked System Volume, which is not writeable using ordinary means. Any unauthorized differences that appear to the crypto-locked volume are quickly detected and you are alerted.

So you could store just about every malware known to mankind on your Mac, and your Mac would not get infected spontaneously. Scanning for virus-like patterns might make you feel a little better now, but it is outdated nonsense.

Nothing can become Executable Unless/Until you supply your Admin password to "make it so".

Absolutely not! Please do not install McAfee or any other AntiVirus software unless you want continual problems with your computer and that installed software can be very difficult to remove.

Simply use the Search option on the top of this screen and enter McAfee (or any other program) and see all the problems users have had.

More information about effective defenses to Malware can be found here:

Effective defenses against malware and ot… - Apple Community

NONE* !

These snake oil products install on the Mac with root access rights. This breaks the security barriers of the Mac, and replaces them by the "security“ barriers of the snake oil company.

Is this what you want ?

(*) The only exception Apple themselves tell is Malwarebytes. The Free version is enough, it allows you to run a scan from time to time without compromising your Macs build in defenses.