Online crooks and malicious software are lurking in the shadows, patiently waiting to breach your network. You can’t see them, which is why you need an impenetrable security perimeter to protect your personal info, your online accounts, your most important files, your sensitive business data, and perhaps even your money. Sophos has got you covered.
Cloud-Based Endpoint Protection Enhance your defenses and simplify management with cloud-based endpoint protection. Intercept X’s endpoint security integrates with Sophos Central so you can access and manage your endpoint security wherever you are, any time. No need to spend more on infrastructure and maintain on-premises servers. Sophos Endpoint Security and Control: How to create a standalone or custom installer package Sophos Anti-Virus: How to check if you're receiving the latest data protection updates Sign up to the Sophos Support Notification Service to get the latest product release information and critical issues.
Sophos Internet Security is a complete protection suite for PCs, Macs, laptops, servers, tablets, and Android and iOS phones. As one of the original and best-known antimalware and antivirus providers on the market, the company benefits from decades of experience.
In this Sophos Antivirus review, we’ll discuss how the system’s security capabilities work to safeguard your personal and business data.
Key features:
- Ability to fight advanced malware and attacks
- Proactive online protection
- Uses cloud and AI technology
- Home Premium package covers up to 10 devices
- Complete remote management
- Mobile app support
Things we liked / disliked:
- Affordable
- Easy to use
- Offers advanced protection
- No major software conflicts
- No third-party apps/additions
- Home Premium can’t protect against all recent, high-level phishing attacks
- Confusion over what features are included in each package, a negative in any Sophos rating
The company and its software
Sophos is headquartered in Abingdon, Oxfordshire in England. Founded in 1985, the company uses the tagline “Cybersecurity evolved,” which describes how it has adapted to changing cybersecurity needs over decades.
Cybersecurity is evolving continuously. There are always new threats, malware, and other unwanted digital intruders to guard against. In this regard, Sophos has kept up with the best home antivirus players in the industry, like Kaspersky, Bitdefender, and Norton.
One particular Sophos cloud antivirus review on the site US News emphasizes the software’s malware laboratory, which deals with more than 400,000 digital viruses and pieces of malware every day to build up the intelligence hub of its malware-fighting system. It’s that intensive. Behind this system is SophosLabs – Sophos’s dedicated research and development team.
Cloud- and AI-based security systems
Sophos uses cloud and AI tech to power its operations. This is particularly important for Sophos Central, which acts as a unifying hub for all the company’s security products.
Its main duties are:
- Endpoint security
- Remaining alert to threats
- Managing the cloud system
- Safeguarding all servers
- Firewall maintenance
- Wi-Fi maintenance
- Keeping mobile devices safe
- Tracking alerts
- Cross-network protection
Most Sophos antivirus reviews praise its high-performance defense system, which takes care of threats well before they reach your computer or device. Indeed, the software’s overall ratings are generally very good. You know there’s a competitive edge with good reviews given by PCMag (editor’s choice for best ransomware protection), AV-Test (for best Mac protection), SE Labs (best product, small business endpoint), and MRG Effitas (for #1 exploit protection), among many other high-profile websites and publications.
Sophos Home Premium
Sophos security systems have all the basics covered and more. With the entry-level product – Sophos’s free download version – you already get the wide-reaching antivirus and web protection features. However, we’ve performed a Sophos Home antivirus review to determine what advanced features are available and how these differ from the other big names in the industry.
Home Premium unlocks all advanced tabs on your Sophos dashboard and opens all its security commands. The thorough list below shows the coverage you’ll get for your main computer and its associate devices with the Home Premium package:
- Malware scan and clean
- AI threat detection
- Security management
- Privacy protection
- Web protection
- Real-time PC antivirus
- Premium support
High-end business features
No Sophos antivirus software review would be complete without taking a look at the company’s more advanced business-level features.
- Sophos XG Firewall (Home Edition)
This is a massive improvement on the Sophos free firewall. As one of the tightest home cybersecurity firewall systems on the market, it includes anti-malware defense, online security, filtering, IPS, traffic shaping, Sophos VPN, and a few more defensive and proactive functions.
There’s one major downside, however: when you install this on your PC or Mac, it will delete all your files. That’s because it runs its own OS, which will take precedence over whatever previously existed on your desktop. If you only take away one lesson from our antivirus Sophos review, please be extremely careful before downloading this feature.
The company recommends using a spare PC that meets its minimum requirements, which will then become a remote hub for monitoring your network. This makes sense in an office environment, but might be impractical for individual users.
- Sophos Intercept X
Sophos Antivirus Download Windows
This is one of the best global high-performance endpoint security software options out there. It offers incredible protection from all the most dangerous elements: malware, ransomware, exploits, and viruses. It offers advanced endpoint detection and response (EDR) to block out all kinds of malicious processes and keep your networks safe.
- Managed Threat Response (MTR) service
Sophos antivirus reviews recommend this 24/7 preemptive strike feature. The MTR notifies you of all possible threats before they even get to your system. The Sophos team analyzes each, takes action, and submits reports on the details of its actions. This service is highly recommended by IT teams and small businesses for maintaining systems and adding security to all endpoints.
- Cloud Optix
We’ve already mentioned Sophos Central, the hub that brings all these features together. But that functionality wouldn’t be possible without Cloud Optix, the company’s cutting-edge cloud platform. It effectively monitors everything as a cloud-based front defense, blocking malicious elements before they even get in contact with your system.
- Sophos Email
Cloud-based email security effectively uses AI tech to block all malicious elements from your inbox: phishing, ransomware, stealth attacks, and malware.
In our Sophos business antivirus review, probably our strongest criticism of the company is that its business offer is incredibly confusing. It feels like you need a college degree simply to work out what each business product does and how it fits into the overall Sophos ecosystem.
We’d appreciate a website with a clearer outline of how the products fit together, less of a reliance on tech-heavy jargon, and some kind of visual explanation of exactly what you get for your money. Having a few clearly outlined packages would also be helpful.
Advanced Threats
To effectively review Sophos antivirus, we need to go over some of its most advanced capabilities. These protection features have helped Sophos stand out even compared to the most famous antivirus apps and software.
Sophos will provide you with warning notifications if someone is accessing your device’s camera or webcam. We already know how possible it is for hackers to get access to our cameras and mics, which is why many people now tape up their front cameras. This feature should make you feel more confident and significantly less paranoid.
Another advanced security capability is Sophos’s wireless protection against wardriving. No other Sophos antivirus review that we’ve read has mentioned this, but we consider it important information. An attack like this is carried out by cars passing around and scanning WiFi networks. They lock onto less secure ones to gain access to the network.
Sophos can also handle the following kinds of threats:
- Brute force attacks
- Ransomware
- Zero-day attacks
- Rootkits
- Automated and active-adversary breaches
- Exploits
- Keylogging
- Phishing
- Data exfiltration
- Adware
These are some of the most dangerous and damaging attacks, and they can compromise your computers, data, and online finances. While they may not be as common as viruses and malware, they can be harder to trace and stop.
User interface and compatibility
In a less comprehensive Sophos antivirus for home review, the user interface and overall compatibility might not be mentioned. However, we consider this important. Overall, Sophos Home Premium is stable and does not interfere with any existing programs, including antivirus apps. Even its most common competitor, Windows Defender, poses no problems here.
The Sophos install process is standard. Once it’s completed, you’ll be left with a smooth interface that contains everything you need without being too complicated. However, take note of the minimum requirements on RAM and disk space to operate Sophos’s advanced security features, such as its anti-ransomware service.
For this Sophos free antivirus review, recommended data and RAM specs should be at least:
- Windows: 1 GB of RAM, 1 GB of free disk space
- Mac OS: 4 GB of RAM, 4 GB of free disk space
- Plus an additional 3 GB for Sophos’s Cryptoguard ransomware protection on both Home Premium and free versions for both Mac and PC
Sophos guarantees no add-ons or third-party ads, which enables your PC or Mac to focus on its security functions. You only get what you signed up for, no more, no less.
The test installation we performed while writing this Sophos antivirus PC review confirms these details.
The user interface expands to the browser when used. Clicking on any of these facilities will broaden the dashboard, allowing you to oversee other devices in your network remotely. This works well for maintaining devices for seniors and kids in your network.
The easy-to-use Sophos removal tool is included on the website for simple uninstallation.
Premium versus Free
A Sophos download of the free version is available without the advanced security services. However, even in this basic form, the program already provides wide antivirus and web protection coverage for most types of online use.
Sophos Antivirus For Windows 10
The free version actually allows you to protect up to three computers per account, which is a great solution for most users. Any Sophos antivirus malware removal review should mention this, since three computers can cover most home setups.
For heavy data users, Home Premium is a much better option. This option allows up to 10 PCs and Macs per account, as well as some very useful advanced protection features. This is recommended for small networks or families and households with more extensive online activities that both involve work/business and heavy data.
Sophos Home Premium is fairly affordable; it’s currently discounted to cost only $44.99 for the first year and $60/year thereafter. You can opt for a one-, two-, or three-year subscription, with the three-year deal offering the best value.
Sophos on different operating systems
Practically every Sophos Linux antivirus review agrees: whether you use Sophos antivirus for Linux or another OS, like Mac or Windows, you’ll enjoy a smooth and hassle-free experience. Most reviews reflect positively on the program’s stability and ability to work on Linux-native malware and viruses, which is an added plus that you certainly don’t get with every antivirus. Developers and IT professionals in particular will be happy to hear about its high compatibility with Linux given that Linux is the most common OS used in servers.
A typical Sophos antivirus review for Mac may point out this version’s differences from the more complete suite available for the Windows version. To date, most users consider this a relatively minor issue, although we will note that it was pointed out in PC Mag’s review of the product. That said, some comparison reviews are difficult to rely on, which is why we try to be as clear and comprehensive as possible when analyzing products and services.
The bottom line is that even if Sophos for Mac isn’t quite as feature-heavy as the Windows version, you’ll still get everything you need to keep your network safe from even the most serious attacks.
To review Sophos antivirus for Windows, we also need to discuss Windows Defender; Most advanced users know Sophos already has an advantage over WD, even in its free trial version. Thankfully, it’s also compatible with WD; there are no conflicts and it won’t cause any freezes.
Mobile app support
Sophos carries its features over to its mobile versions effectively. There are two apps depending on which service you opt for:
Sophos Antivirus Download Mac
- The Sophos Home app for iOS and Android lets you manage computers running Sophos Home Premium.
- Sophos Mobile Control is the best way to manage Sophos’s business features for mobile devices.
To make this Sophos mobile antivirus review truly comprehensive, we also need to mention that some of the company’s business products have their own business products compatible with Android and iOS:
- The Intercept X app for Android/iOS is effective against most malware and WiFi attacks on both mobile platforms. It’s free to download and install.
- The Sophos Secure Email App handles corporate and business emails with AES-256 military-grade encryption for premium security. You’ll need Sophos Mobile Control to use it.
- Sophos Secure Workspace enables secure data connections to your company’s documents and websites. It also uses AES-256 military-grade encryption for maximum security.
Having researched and written this Sophos antivirus Android review, we’d recommend using the company’s mobile apps.
Sample test scan results
We were impressed when we took the Sophos virus removal tool for a test drive. The Home Premium version of the software detects a surprising range of suspicious cookies with just a basic scan. These results were much more in-depth than most of the consumer-level products we’re used to seeing.
If you perform the same test on your PC, the long list of unknown cookies will likely surprise you, and you probably won’t be able to pinpoint where they’re from. The app will instruct you to close all browsers since some of these cookies are from currently active pages.
Where can Sophos improve?
Throughout this Sophos antivirus review for Windows, we’ve been largely impressed with the company’s offer. However, one aspect that could be better is the phishing defense included within the Home Premium offer. If you’re unsatisfied with this, you could upgrade to Sophos Phish Threat, a standalone program designed as a business solution. If you need a higher level of phishing protection, this specific business solution may be the best option for you.
While Sophos is generally excellent for Windows devices, some reviews for the Mac version rightly point out that there are fewer options available compared to the Windows version. Indeed, that’s the theme of every Sophos antivirus for Mac review we’ve come across.
User Reviews and Feedback
Despite a few minor issues, Sophos remains one of the best and most comprehensive antivirus and antimalware providers out there. Whatever your security needs, you’ll be able to put together a suite of products that ticks all the boxes. And even if you opt for the free version, you’ll get better protection than most alternatives would offer.
We looked at what some big names in the IT industry like PC Security Channel, PC Mag, Macworld Editor’s Choice, and SE Labs have to say about this company. All of these sources agree on a Sophos antivirus rating of between four and five stars.
Meanwhile, Sophos support is what you’d expect of a company of this caliber. Aside from the extensive Sophos forum, there’s also live chat support and a ticketing system for serious issues.
- Ability to fight advanced malware and attacks
- Proactive online protection
- Uses cloud and AI technology
- Home Premium package covers up to 10 devices
- Complete remote management
- Mobile app support
- Game Booster
- Dynamic Machine Learning
- Multi-layered protection
- Free mobile app
- Multilingual support
- Free trial
- AI-powered malware protection
- Blocks never-before-seen threats
- Zero-day prevention
- Memory Exploitation Detection
- Script Management
Final thoughts
There’s a reason why Sophos has been around since 1985, and all that experience shows through in its latest offering of cybersecurity products. Whether you’re an individual user looking to keep your personal data safe or a business with stringent security demands, Sophos has you covered. And while this isn’t purely a Sophos antivirus Windows review, we can confirm that the software works best on Windows.
Of course, there’s still room for improvement. For one, we’d like to see Sophos offer a clearly defined business package with more explanation and less business jargon. But we’re also firm believers that technology speaks for itself, and in this case the quality of the technology really shines through.
Things we liked / disliked:
- Affordable
- Easy to use
- Offers advanced protection
- No major software conflicts
- No third-party apps/additions
- Home Premium can’t protect against all recent, high-level phishing attacks
- Confusion over what features are included in each package, a negative in any Sophos rating
FAQ
Yes, Sophos is an exceptional software solution. As confirmed by our review and ratings from many of the best-known tech sites, Sophos can more than match it with competitors when it comes to providing high-level, proactive security.
Sophos vs Avast comparisons offer varying results; while most reviews put Avast slightly ahead on balance, some consider Sophos the better option, especially when taking affordability into account. What we can say for certain is that both of these products do a great job.
Many reviews consider Norton to be the better antivirus. Using one of Sophos’s business applications (such as the well-praised Intercept X) may bring Sophos up to level pegging with Norton. Then again, Norton has several versions to consider: Norton Antivirus Plus, Norton 360 with LifeLock Select, 360 Deluxe, and Norton 360 Standard.
Sophos Group PLC, based in England, produces all Sophos software, as we mentioned at the beginning of our Sophos antivirus review.