SOPHOS Business-Grade Security for Your Home - Comments Page 1

I have been using Sophos Home for many months now and have all 4 of my systems on it. Works well in the back ground and has so far kept my computers clean. I got in the testing phase and so far have not had to pay but even if I did I think it is a bargain.

Thanks for a fine article ! It would have helped defeating the "You need your drivers updated" messaged sneaked onto my computer by the Slimware premiumsupport" firm in NY. They purport to check /update the drivers and then try to sell you a contract for on-going tech support. The driver warning would suddenly appear in the middle of what i was working on - the "warnings s/w" had been secretly downloaded onto my computer. Have you dealt with them before ?

I use Malwarebytes Premium, and have for several years. Can anyone (Bob, are you listening?) suggest a reason to change to Sophos? The price differential is inconsequential to me.

Thanks in advance!

Mac

I have been using Sophos for some years now. (I really believe it to be your fault. I don't think that I would have every found it because I would never have looked for it.) It has picked up one thing, if I remember correctly. MBAM Premuim (something elso that I can blame on you.) is doing a great job, insofar as I can tell. (I recently got rid of Avast Premium. I think that it was fighting with MBAM and tying up my CPU. So, Windows Deflounder is up and running.) Sophos only runs when I tell it to. And it's time now. Bye.

Went to Sophos site. Entered email address etc. to sign up. Screen said confirmation email was sent. It has not arrived.
The email address was correct. Nothing in junk folder.
Not a good beginning!

The key word that concerns me is your reference to "known" threats. As new threats are being created all of the time, Sophos appears to be reactionary rather than proactive in protecting computers. That means it is possible to get something by your protection until it is found and prevention created. Someone is then being a "sacrificial lamb".

What protection is available to not be a potential victim?

Thanks.

I use Malwarebytes Premium, Windows Security and SuperAntiSpyware. I have been running this combination for about two years. Malwarebytes and Windows Security are always running active-no confliction. SuperAntiSpyware is on but static. I run it as needed. I have no trouble of any-kind. My computer is clean of any Spyware, Virus, Malware, etc.

The confirmation email arrived after about 10 minutes. I clicked the confirm link. It was accepted. Returned to their web site to login. Password not accepted! It was the correct password. I clicked the forgot password item. Received and email almost immediately to reset password.
I reset it and it was accepted. Tried to login. INCORRECT PASSWORD! I am not a computer novice! These are not my errors! How good is Sophos if the sign up/ login process does this to potential clients? Obviously, I am not impressed.

I have avast premium and malwarebyte pemium. Is Sophos a better option?

Been using PCMatic for three years with no apparent problems. Was using MBAM before that.

I have used McAfee Suite for free several years and it was very good. Switched today to Sophos Premium and like it very much. Got rid of 600 non-essential items I have never been able to access for removal. Computer seems to boot faster. Plus I can still install this program on 9 more systems. Thank you. Oh yes, and the price will drop to $40 next year.

Not sure about this program but I dislike installing anything that disables another program. They should provide an option: "Do you want to disable xyz"? It should be my choice, not theirs.

It is Sophos VRT that I use. (Virus Removal Tool.) I updated it and ran a scan. It finished after more than four hours. The PC was clean. I am not sure that I want to dump MBAM since it is already paid for and appears to be doing a great job.

In response to bobrice, I can appreciate your point of view. I think that in the realm of real time protection programs, I am OK with the idea of disabling other programs that will directly conflict with it. If you like, I would be OK with a BDOD (Blue Dialogbox of Death) saying that "ExtremePrejudiceForTheVirus" is not a good playmate for Sophos. Would you like to disable it?

I think application whitelisting is the way to go nowadays. Whitelisting questions everything that runs on your computer, while traditional antivirus software (blacklisting) compares files in your computer to known virus signatures. The problem with blacklisting is there is so much malware that a signature based approach just can't keep up. Every time one signature is added to the antivirus program, 10 new variants of that virus are running amok undetected.

An auto image a day will keep the tears away. :-)

I've been using Sophos Home for a few years and like it very much. Never knew there were paid features and options!

Great article, Bob. I wished that I had remembered SOPHOS when I was looking to replace my Avast Premium. Avast was getting to expensive and was taking up a lot of resources. Plus, I did not like Avast trying to get me to buy more stuff from them. This aspect only started within the past year or two, when I still had premium coverage.

I tried out a couple of different anti-virus/anti-malware programs and finally decided on Bitdefender Total Security. I have known for several years that Bitdefender had excellent scores from the A-V Testing. I was also able to get an excellent price for 5 devices and for 5 years. It is hard to find multiple year options and with a good discount.

So far, I am very pleased with Bitdefender. It takes very little resources and is quite easy to set up. If, you have issues with installing programs on your PC or Laptop, Bitdefender will do that for you. I don't recall any other AV program offering that service. . .Yes, there is a fee for that service, $39.99 for 1 session. I didn't opt for that service.

I have been installing my own programs, right from the start of using a PC, back in Sept. 1996. It doesn't seem that long ago, but it has been. Heavens, I have been reading Bob's newsletters since 1997, when it was called The Internet Tourbus. I have found most often that Bob is right with his suggestions. Some of them have not worked out for me, but I did try them. }:O)

I also use "PC Matic"? I have been using it for a couple of years and no problems.

A number of years I tried Sophos as it was recommended as being able to let me know when programs needed updating and then would proceed to update the programs.... Then Sophos quit working. I got different *error* msgs and deleted it. Avast is doing a fine job of helping me supplement my updates. (Some programs let me know an update is needed.) If this Sophos is the same as Sophos-Home, then "Thanks for the info...but No Thanks to Sophos-Home.)

This will be my last comment. I am a retired educator. I have no affiliation with any Sophos competitors. I am not a computer novice. I have been using Apple Computers since the 1980's. I have used Windows devices as well. Sophos might offer a better experience on Windows devices. I cannot report on that since I do not have one on which I could install Sophos.

My Sophos experience on my main Mac started poorly with sign up and login problems. Then then the installer would not download no matter how many times the download button was clicked. I had to use an "incognito window" in Chrome to download it. Another browser such as Safari or Firefox should work. After downloading the installer ZIP file I opened the installer program which promptly displayed a window indicating the software could not be installed! I checked all of the requirements and my Mac qualifies.

Anyone considering the Sophos product should know that the 30 day trial period at the "Premium" level starts the moment an account is created, not immediately after installation of the software. Therefore, I suggest that to maximize the benefits of the trial period, one should not create an account unless ready to install the software immediately. After 30 days the software loses its "Premium" status. Several of its features are then turned off. Anti-malware is one of them! The software then works on a maximum of 3 computers rather than 10.

Based on all of the above Sophos is not a product that I will use.