Sophos antivirus review
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Sophos antivirus is a security-oriented company for business and family users and general consumers. Its product assures crucial protection against malware, phishing websites, and ransomware.
While the name of Sophos antivirus is quite familiar to security experts, the product is only good for essential virus detection. Sophos handles malware, hackers, and malicious intruders on your device rather effectively. It can especially benefit families, as it offers a good price for the Family plan and protects up to 10 devices.
If that doesn’t meet your security needs, then maybe you should consider different antivirus software. The current market is filled with many different providers that offer high protection rates, easy-to-use apps, and robust additional security features, just like our top-provider TotalAV.
In this article, you’ll find a detailed Sophos antivirus review. We’ve tested and researched it inside and out – starting with security and features and ending with customer support. So, you’ll receive rich insight that might help you choose your antimalware software. Read on and get your burning questions answered.
| TotalAV | Sophos Home | |
| ⭐ Rating: | ||
| 🥇 Overall rank: | #3 out of #30 | #5 out of #30 |
| 🔥 Coupons: | TotalAV coupon 80% OFF | Sophos Home coupon 25% OFF |
| 💵 Price: | From $19.00/year | from $44.99/year |
| ✂️ Free version: | Yes | 30-day free trial only |
| 🖥️ Platforms: | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS |
Sophos antivirus pros and cons
Our team of researchers thoroughly tests antivirus software following a well-established testing process. In unison, our experts combine in-house and independent testing lab findings with first-hand experience to help you make informed decisions about each product. Learn how we test antivirus software.
Is Sophos antivirus safe?
Sophos is considerably safe. However, it can be inconsistent. In my testing, it used minimal system resources, which is a positive sign of efficiency – though this doesn’t necessarily mean it detects all threats effectively.
The malware protection rate fluctuated between 60% with real-time protection (RTP) and 90% during a full scan, which is below industry standards. Moreover, Sophos tends to detect unmalicious files and programs which causes extra struggles to whitelist them. So, you can’t trust Sophos antivirus blindly, and you should stay mindful.
In SE Lab’s 2024 test, Sophos scored great in terms of protection. The protection accuracy is almost perfect, while legitimate accuracy is flawless. Since the results differ from our in-house testing, it confirms the fact that Sophos can be inconsistent. However, all in all, it still appears to fight against malware strongly over time.
Sophos security features
Sophos antivirus offers features that are practical and unlikely to be forgotten in a dark, dusty corner. For example, it includes crucial features for modern antivirus security: a virus scan, parental control, and MBR protection. The software will detect viruses, keep your family protected, and secure your privacy.Let’s review what features Sophos offers to its users and what they are for.
Remote app control and scanning
Sophos antivirus stands out from other antivirus software by having a single option for scanning malware on your device. However, you can still set a scheduled antimalware scan with remote app control.
There you can also configure settings for your devices and monitor them from a distance. Even though you cannot manage your settings via the Sophos application, a central control panel on the website allows you to set up the settings for all of your devices in one place.
The speed of the antivirus scan is pretty decent. However, I was a bit disappointed with the result. Sophos appears to struggle with detecting potentially unwanted applications. I have run a test and found that Sophos recognizes random files as malware. Afterward, it was quite a hassle to whitelist those programs. So, I figured that Sophos might be inconsistent and confuse you while picking potentially unwanted applications and files.
Webcam protection
As the importance of webcam protection increases, Sophos needs to put more effort into this feature’s performance.The feature does inform you about your camera getting accessed from outside apps and websites and potential danger. However, this also applies to your approved, legitimate external sources. Moreover, Sophos only provides you with a notification and does not block the camera.
Therefore, I feel like those alerts can be easily missed or ignored, as Sophos includes even legitimate sources in its alerts. Thus, actual malicious intruders can easily sneak into your private life.
Parental control
Sophos’ parental control is here to help you look after what your kid is browsing on the internet. It’s no surprise that most children now are better at technology than their parents. Yet, most kids don’t realize what dangerous websites look like and what the consequences of visiting them are.
With the parental control feature, you can filter the websites that your kids are allowed to browse. It is easily done in the Web filtering dashboard with different content-censoring options. After you decide to forbid specific websites, your child gets automatically blocked from accessing them.
However, some browsers deal with this feature better than others, as they don’t block all chosen websites. I recommend using Safari, Google Chrome, or Firefox.
Ransomware protection
Getting blocked from your device is not only frustrating – it can even be dangerous. And Sophos gets that. On Sophos Home Premium, you can find a feature that restores your device if ransomware restricts your access to it.
The antivirus software constantly checks the processes that interfere with your devices and files. This means that if any suspicious activity interferes with your device or files, the intruder gets instantly stopped from causing you damage. Ransom protection gets in the way of the intruder’s attempt to encrypt your data. Afterward, the feature restores your device to the initial state.
Honestly, I was excited to find this feature working, because some antivirus applications are unable to detect the potential threat in this case. So, at this point, Sophos antivirus gets my vote.
Master Boot Record protection
The Master Boot Record section of your device’s hard drive is responsible for allowing the OS to load. Some ransomware targets the MBR, modifying it to disrupt the boot process. After your device gets infected, you’re asked to pay for access to your device.
To avoid this, Sophos has implemented Master Boot Record protection. It continuously watches over your operating system’s activity and looks for suspicious actions. Once the suspiciously looking activity is spotted, it gets stopped.
Dynamic Shellcode Protection
Dynamic Shellcode Protection is like a detective that detects hackers who aim to control your network. More specifically, the feature was created to spot malicious activity. It doesn’t even trust signatures or the cloud. It stops attackers from leaving tracks in various applications on your device and prevents them from taking control. Dynamic Shellcode Protection is truly essential for securing you from trojans, malware, and ransomware attacks.
Machine learning scans
Sophos antivirus software is based on artificial intelligence. Its system learns and recognizes your device’s behavior, eliminating unfamiliar activity quickly.
The machine learning scan allows you to test several programs at once. After the test is done, you choose the best result and, with the help of it, you know how an uninfected program should behave. With that, you can recognize a malicious program on your computer.
A learning machine remembers the pattern and uses it for future prevention. The feature itself is only a part of Sophos' full security system for fighting malware. It's a crucial task to ensure your computers' safety.
Plans and pricing
Sophos antivirus is quite expensive but can be affordable. Its product is good value for money for business or family use, as you can use up to 10 devices for its services. A single user might find Sophos services too expensive.Let’s take a look at how much Sophos Home Premium costs:
| Plan | Price |
| 1-year | $44.99 |
| 2-year | $74.99 |
| 3-year | $104.99 |
You should know that Sophos offers a 30-day money-back guarantee that will give your money back with no questions asked and no need to put your credit card information in when you sign up for a free plan. So, if you decide to order a Premium subscription, I definitely believe that this is a great opportunity to test the program. It’s also worth mentioning that the paid plan of Sophos generously covers 10 devices.
Is Sophos worth the money?
The worth of Sophos depends on the user’s needs. If you subscribe, you can protect up to 10 devices and make use of features like ransomware protection, malware removal possibility, banking, and webcam protection.
To find out whether Sophos is worth the money, you should ask yourself whether you need the extra features, how many devices need protection, and how much money you can devote to your device’s security.
Ease of use and setup
During the testing, I found the Sophos software installation and signing up for a trial account pretty easy. However, things quickly got confusing, as I couldn’t find different options for quick and full scans. This makes Sophos quite different from other antivirus providers. Fortunately, the scan itself doesn’t suffer from this.
Since the software's control panel is only accessible through the website, all functions within the application redirect you to the web-based control panel. Even though the web control panel is convenient for managing your devices from a distance, I felt it lacked responsiveness. So, I would prefer a native control panel. On a brighter note, the control panel lets you turn many settings on and off to set up the program to your comfort and needs.
Overall, Sophos is an easy-to-use program. The possibility to manage many of your settings even from a distance assures you more accurate protection. And signing up for Sophos is a relief compared to other providers as you are not required to upgrade your account or share your bank card information.
Sophos mobile app
Sophos offers two different kinds of mobile applications. One protects your mobile device, and the other allows you to access the control panel for the Sophos desktop application.
Unfortunately, the mobile application for protecting your mobile is quite outdated. You can see features dedicated to business users, yet you are unable to use them, which can be confusing. The Sophos Android app offers features like an authenticator, a password manager , a QR code scanner, app protection, and a privacy advisor. However, the iOS application lacks app protection, a privacy advisor, and malware detection.
On the other hand, the application for controlling your desktop device is modern and comfortable. It makes managing your Sophos desktop apps a breeze.
In conclusion, I recommend choosing a different provider to secure your mobile device. Our carefully crafted list of top antivirus providers can help you find what best suits your needs. Nevertheless, the Sophos control panel mobile application can offer robust security for your desktop devices.
Customer support
Sophos antivirus comes with several customer support options. You can reach the support through a live chat, email, or social media platforms, like Twitter and forums.
Unfortunately, Sophos only offers 24/7 support via chatbot, and live agent support is only available during specific working hours. It’s a pity if you encounter a problem during the weekend and have to wait until Monday for your case to be solved.
Despite its shortcomings, Sophos’ support team is good at troubleshooting issues. It’s comprehensive and quick, especially via live chat. The team makes sure your issue is solved and questions are answered. After the conversation ends, you receive a chat transcript in your email.
Overall, Sophos' support team is ready to help, but it needs to improve its techniques in order to be more professional and trustworthy.
How good is Sophos antivirus?
Sophos is a decent antivirus. It has been on the market for many years, which means you can trust its knowledge of malware and viruses. However, even though it offers all the essentials, there aren’t too many advanced features available. Thus, Sophos should be seen as a basic provider for fundamental protection.
Based on the tests we have run with Sophos, it’s a good antivirus but also inconsistent. Picking up legitimate applications might be an irritating characteristic. It’s also quite a hassle to whitelist accidentally detected programs.
Moreover, its services can be pretty expensive if you are not planning to use the 10 licenses provided for a Premium plan. There are better options for a single device or just a few of them.
All things considered, Sophos antivirus wouldn’t be my top choice. For malware protection, I expect an antivirus to be reliable and not detect false positive programs. Sophos antivirus could be improved regarding consistency.
FAQ
How strong is Sophos antivirus?
Sophos antivirus isn’t very strong. It’s unstable in virus detection rates and lacks features. The current features are decent, though they need some improvement so the user wouldn't need to remove false-positive applications and programs from the malicious list. Therefore, considering another provider for a similar price would be a smart choice.
Which is better, Norton or Sophos?
Norton is a better antivirus tool than Sophos. That’s because Norton antivirus has more features and is more consistent and versatile. The only fair advantage of Sophos antivirus is the web control panel, which allows you to control your applications from a distance.
Does Sophos Home include a firewall?
Yes, Sophos Home does include a firewall, which is easy to use and control. Sophos firewall detects threats and blocks them. Also, there is email and ransomware protection. However, you need to use a separate computer to set up the Sophos firewall efficiently.
