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Using Sophos AV for Mac across networks

nigelh

Because my partner was having all sorts of issues with the AV utility installed on her Windows 7 laptop, I decided to try checkig it using SAV from my Mac via the home network. Because it was pretty slow via WiFi, I hooked up both computers with Ethernet and, I have to say, that ran pretty fast. It managed to check out her whole istallation in about 6-7 hours.

My question is, how valid are the results? No threats were found. I'm assuming that the Sophos utility on the Mac does know about all threats applicable to Windows, but is my assumption a good one?

It's a real pity that Sophos (surprisingly!) do not make an equivalent AV utility for Windows (though I'm sure that most of their software IS applicable to Windows environments), because my partner is having a really hard time finding an internet security package (paid or otherwise) that WORKS properly on Windows, without stupid failures. We're still looking for the optimum solution for her system, but in general, support from the makers of Windows AV/IS software also seems to be quite abysmal!

:1013286


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    The signature files (called IDEntity/IDE files in /Library/Sophos Anti-Virus/IDE) are actually platform neutral - same ones for Windows, Mac, Linux, UNIX, OpenVMS, et al.  The Mac scanner is therefore able to find Windows malware and vice versa.

    Sophos do a 'disposal' Windows virus scanner and cleanup tool called the Virus Removal Tool.  It's basically the same scanner and program as their enterprise-grade software but lacks two things:  it doesn't have a real-time scanner and it doesn't update automatically.  It's designed to be installed (which includes all the latest IDE updates at the time of download) and then run a full scan of a Windows computer.  You can then cleanup anything that is found or uninstall (as the tool becomes out of date after a few days).

    They don't do a 'free' fully functional Windows product because they want you to buy that from them and Windows users don't need too much convincing that they are going to get malware trying to land on their computer at some point.  Sophos only gave Mac AV away free because malware was growing and Mac users were not (and still are not) taking the problem seriously - not seriously enough to part with cash away.

    If you wanted to buy Sophos you could get a one year 'Sophos Anti-Virus - Business' license for 3 computers - see Buy Sophos online for less than 100 users.  You would get full technical support for that price and the computers can be any combination of Mac and Windows.

    :1013292
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  • 0

    The signature files (called IDEntity/IDE files in /Library/Sophos Anti-Virus/IDE) are actually platform neutral - same ones for Windows, Mac, Linux, UNIX, OpenVMS, et al.  The Mac scanner is therefore able to find Windows malware and vice versa.

    Sophos do a 'disposal' Windows virus scanner and cleanup tool called the Virus Removal Tool.  It's basically the same scanner and program as their enterprise-grade software but lacks two things:  it doesn't have a real-time scanner and it doesn't update automatically.  It's designed to be installed (which includes all the latest IDE updates at the time of download) and then run a full scan of a Windows computer.  You can then cleanup anything that is found or uninstall (as the tool becomes out of date after a few days).

    They don't do a 'free' fully functional Windows product because they want you to buy that from them and Windows users don't need too much convincing that they are going to get malware trying to land on their computer at some point.  Sophos only gave Mac AV away free because malware was growing and Mac users were not (and still are not) taking the problem seriously - not seriously enough to part with cash away.

    If you wanted to buy Sophos you could get a one year 'Sophos Anti-Virus - Business' license for 3 computers - see Buy Sophos online for less than 100 users.  You would get full technical support for that price and the computers can be any combination of Mac and Windows.

    :1013292
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