Sophos Antivirus Review: Sophisticated Security
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Sophos, headquartered in Oxford, U.K., is a globally recognized leader in cybersecurity, safeguarding nearly 400,000 organizations in over 150 countries from advanced cyber threats. The company's award-winning Sophos Central cloud-based platform integrates its comprehensive product portfolio, including the Intercept X endpoint solution and the XG Firewall, into a unified system known as Synchronized Security.
This article aims to provide a detailed overview of Sophos' offerings, discussing plans, features, pricing, and the pros and cons to give a clearer understanding of the company's products.
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Cons
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Quick Stats
Security & Protection
At its core, an antivirus should primarily serve as a defense against malicious software, with additional features being secondary. This section will examine Sophos' protection capabilities in various areas:
Third-party Lab Tests
The credibility of antivirus protection is best assessed through third-party antivirus testing labs, which offer unbiased evaluations. Sophos' endpoint product for companies has recent high scores in AV-Test lab reports, while the home product reports are outdated. Notably, Sophos uses the same technology in both its endpoint and home products.
Firewall & IDS Protection
Sophos' home product does not include firewall protection. However, they offer the XG Firewall Home product as a free, separate tool, providing users with a secure network.
USB Rescue Toolkit
This toolkit serves as a backup anti-malware tool, useful when malware prevents a device from booting up.
Sophos Products, Plans, & Features
Sophos offers a range of products tailored to user needs, including Antivirus for Windows and Mac, Hitman Pro, and Sophos Home Premium products.
Sophos Antivirus for Windows
This product offers real-time antivirus protection powered by AI and machine learning, with features like parental control and web protection. The Premium plan includes additional protections like advanced web protection, online banking security, and ransomware protection.
Sophos Antivirus for Mac
Similar to the Windows version, the Mac product offers real-time protection, parental controls, and web protection, with the Premium plan adding dedicated ransomware and privacy protection.
HitmanPro
This product includes Malware Removal, a specialized tool for removing existing malware, and HitmanPro Alert, which provides real-time scanning and protection against malware and potentially unwanted programs.
Sophos Home Premium
The Premium plan offers comprehensive defense against various security and privacy breaches, including safe online banking, threat protection, anti-phishing, private browsing, and protection against webcam and microphone hacking.
User Experience
Sophos provides a desktop app with a cloud-based dashboard for easy navigation and management.
Customer Support
Sophos offers various support options, including live chat, a knowledge base, forums, and email and ticketing systems.
Pricing & Payments
Sophos' pricing structure is straightforward, with the Premium plan available for different durations at varying prices. Payment methods include major credit cards and PayPal. HitmanPro offers additional payment options like wire transfers and check/money orders.
Sophos offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for the Home Premium product, while HitmanPro provides a 30-day free trial but no money-back guarantee.
Final Verdict
Sophos provides robust security solutions for both enterprises and individuals. While the home product lacks regular updates in third-party tests, the technology used is consistent with their highly-rated endpoint product. Sophos is a reliable choice for those seeking comprehensive protection, whether for business or personal use.
For more insights, compare Sophos with other top-rated antiviruses like Norton 360 and Bitdefender.