Every platform has issues and my guess is that Apple's less-than-stellar response time to exploits and the ever-rising Mac marketshare means that our time with no viruses/malware is going to come to an end. I'm glad there's a free solution out there and I'll be more than happy to try it out.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Sophos Launches Free Anti-Virus Software for Mac OS X
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Nice! Thanks for the info...so I take it this is better than Symantec's product? I used to like their corporate product for Windows, but it got AWFUL as of version 11, so I'm hesitant to install the OS X version (we've got a site license) so it's nice to have an alternative finally!
So I just installed this and I ran it but I want a little more information about it. There is a feature called on-access scanning which I assume runs the application in the background (even after I quit it?) and so I am curious if t actually runs and if it does will it decrease my battery faster and slow down my computer then I am doing intense tasks? I really and just curious if it is worth it to have that feature on, I could be totally wrong. I currently have disabled it.
I don't know anything about this product in particular (other than the reassurance from two people so far that it's well made 
) but well made anti-malware software has essentially no performance impact at all. I.e. with Microsoft's security essentials there's an average of zero percent CPU use, and ditto for Avira or the like.
On the other hand, some of these giant bloated programs are pretty scary LOL!
) but well made anti-malware software has essentially no performance impact at all. I.e. with Microsoft's security essentials there's an average of zero percent CPU use, and ditto for Avira or the like.On the other hand, some of these giant bloated programs are pretty scary LOL!
Blah blah blah. Lack of AV software makes Macs very unattractive to business settings.
One of the barriers to integrating Macs into corporate and business environments is the lack of anti-virus tools. Yeah, you can dismiss this as FUD (and maybe there's some truth to that) but the fact remains--someday, one way or another, there will be a Mac OS X virus. I defy you to find one IT dept. in the country that wants to be caught off-guard by that. If you're going to have Macs in a business environment, the IT staff needs to know that they're protected in the event of an OS X virus outbreak. Whether any OS X viruses exist now or not and whether AV companies are trying to sell products with FUD is irrelevant in that context.
Those of you who want to see wider adoption of Macs in business environments ought to be happy to see this kind of thing showing up, regardless of whether you personally need it or not.
fudware
Yes, it took me a while to work out what FUD means, but i think i have that now, and yes, that's probably exactly right, FUDware.
Yes, it took me a while to work out what FUD means, but i think i have that now, and yes, that's probably exactly right, FUDware.
Agree completely.
And not just any old AV solution either something with a respected name and centrally managed. Something that will be a requirement for any half decent IT Dept/Corporate. How if I could just get a VMware client for OS X I could ditch my work HP. Oh, and a docking station...
I have had this installed since release day, and I can honestly say it hasn't slowed my MBP at all. I would actually forget it was there at all except for the little icon at the top.
Be aware if you are using Boot Camp
I downloaded and installed the Sophos AV - but both times I ran a full scan, it locked up my machine - MacBook Pro 13" 2010 model. Both times I found badly corrupted directories on my BootCamp partition (Windows XP SP3).
I have now uninstalled it and no more issues with my Windows partition.
It appears that, on my configuration anyway, that this does not cope with a Windows XP partition.
Hopefully no-one else has had any problems - I think it is great that Sophos has done this, but it appears it can't cope with a windows partition.
I downloaded and installed the Sophos AV - but both times I ran a full scan, it locked up my machine - MacBook Pro 13" 2010 model. Both times I found badly corrupted directories on my BootCamp partition (Windows XP SP3).
I have now uninstalled it and no more issues with my Windows partition.
It appears that, on my configuration anyway, that this does not cope with a Windows XP partition.
Hopefully no-one else has had any problems - I think it is great that Sophos has done this, but it appears it can't cope with a windows partition.
random av responses
1-the most useful function of av software for me is the ability to identify corrupt files [an unintended effect]
when the program scans a disk it attempts to open every file.
if a file has a bad resource or data fork it throws up an error
gives you a chance to find a good copy
works on archives too, but not disk images
i find this very useful, but have never seen it mentioned in any of these endless anti-av flame threads
2-i have a large collection of ancient mac software
these programs did get viruses [even on oem diskettes!]
virusbarrier helped me find and correct several infected files
[although it mistakenly identified an early system file as a virus! fortunately i had a backup!]
virusbarrier plays well with my g4 mac. reasonably fast, low processor use, and ok to keep installed. [very stingy with updates though]
norton works well and has generous updates, but even having it installed on my machine causes serious problems [even when it's turned off!]. and it eats process cycles for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
clam av is free, and has identified some pc files as infected, but it never caught the ancient virii that vb found. it runs a LOT slower than vb on my mac.
most interesting to me is the fact that all 3 programs give different results!
for me, virus scanning is a once in a great while thing, and of the 3 above virusbarrier is best.
what puzzles me is that i have a bunch of small pc files from the net which i am convinced are malware [exact same files with wildly different names]. none of the above agree with me.
i will give sophos a try and see what happens.
they really push a lot of fud on their site tho
1-the most useful function of av software for me is the ability to identify corrupt files [an unintended effect]
when the program scans a disk it attempts to open every file.
if a file has a bad resource or data fork it throws up an error
gives you a chance to find a good copy
works on archives too, but not disk images
i find this very useful, but have never seen it mentioned in any of these endless anti-av flame threads
2-i have a large collection of ancient mac software
these programs did get viruses [even on oem diskettes!]
virusbarrier helped me find and correct several infected files
[although it mistakenly identified an early system file as a virus! fortunately i had a backup!]
virusbarrier plays well with my g4 mac. reasonably fast, low processor use, and ok to keep installed. [very stingy with updates though]
norton works well and has generous updates, but even having it installed on my machine causes serious problems [even when it's turned off!]. and it eats process cycles for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
clam av is free, and has identified some pc files as infected, but it never caught the ancient virii that vb found. it runs a LOT slower than vb on my mac.
most interesting to me is the fact that all 3 programs give different results!
for me, virus scanning is a once in a great while thing, and of the 3 above virusbarrier is best.
what puzzles me is that i have a bunch of small pc files from the net which i am convinced are malware [exact same files with wildly different names]. none of the above agree with me.
i will give sophos a try and see what happens.
they really push a lot of fud on their site tho
What if free Antivirus software is designed to help identify security holes, and the best way to infect Mac's wide-scale? I've always thought virii has to be engineered under contract by companies making the "solutions" to them, there are far too many virii out there on a daily basis, to such an extent that it has to be developed on a full-time basis with some corporate involvement somewhere. There are a lot more things to do for kicks these days, other than write malware, you'd think people have better things to do, unless there is money in making them..=]
edit: Is there an infrastructure in place, to investigate whether or not anti-virus companies are involved in any way shape or form, with the development of malware? if not, then who keeps these companies in check to insure they aren't in any way involved with malware creation, to support their own industry? Sorry but any company that feeds fear and paranoia to sell or distribute their wares, needs to brought under check somehow.
edit: Is there an infrastructure in place, to investigate whether or not anti-virus companies are involved in any way shape or form, with the development of malware? if not, then who keeps these companies in check to insure they aren't in any way involved with malware creation, to support their own industry? Sorry but any company that feeds fear and paranoia to sell or distribute their wares, needs to brought under check somehow.
Last edited:
Take what you want from here and build your malware with this. Malware writers use the same software as security researchers.
It is actually pretty easy to do using sources for already known exploits; finding new exploits is the difficult part. Some of the exploits in an exploit database may not be patched. Others may be patched for up to date systems but are meant for those not getting updates (for example, because running pirated version of an OS).
Last edited:
I agree with the general sentiment of the thread. Mac users should have anti-virus if only to lessen the probability of propagating virally affected material; it is the enemy, not the av companies (well perhaps i'd make an exception for symantec )
Sophos has been great from my perspective, used it in one of my old positions for something like 30 workstations.
Trying it on the mac, we'll see if i'll keep it though. I will admit I tend towards the 'I'm on a mac, I don't need AV' side of the fence for the most part even though I completely agree it's a good idea in general
) Sophos has been great from my perspective, used it in one of my old positions for something like 30 workstations.
Trying it on the mac, we'll see if i'll keep it though. I will admit I tend towards the 'I'm on a mac, I don't need AV' side of the fence for the most part even though I completely agree it's a good idea in general
Anti virus software...BAH
I can't believe people still use antivirus software Now that I think of it, the last time I had antivirus software installed was around 1997. But then I went through puberty and realized the whole computer virus fear is ridiculous. Just because it's called a "virus" doesn't mean it holds the exact definition of a virus.
My solution is better than Sophos's and will take you less time, and it is also a simple solution: stay away from AV software, and only install applications from people/companies that you trust
I can't believe people still use antivirus software
Now that I think of it, the last time I had antivirus software installed was around 1997. But then I went through puberty and realized the whole computer virus fear is ridiculous. Just because it's called a "virus" doesn't mean it holds the exact definition of a virus.My solution is better than Sophos's and will take you less time, and it is also a simple solution: stay away from AV software, and only install applications from people/companies that you trust
Exactly! Another thing that is becoming a big part of the business world is security compliance. Try getting your business certified compliant by saying "there have been no Mac viruses so far, so we don't need antivirus." No IT out there worth anything relies on "security through obscurity."
Just as an aside, something else to keep in mind, a reason I've found that companies like to spend a lot of money on security software (or indeed software in general) is down to internal politics. For instance, if the IT director expouses a theme of free software, and the company ends up with a virus (even one that 'paid for' solution wouldn't pick up), then he will be in the firing line for not being percieved as doing all he possibly could to prevent it. So using expensive, well software is an exercise in risk transferral.
Back OT, I've not installed Sophos on my MBP yet, still waiting for more verdicts from you lot
Back OT, I've not installed Sophos on my MBP yet, still waiting for more verdicts from you lot
Back OT, I've not installed Sophos on my MBP yet, still waiting for more verdicts from you lot
The software is fine. You won't notice it unless you encounter malware etc. You can always uninstall it if you don't like it.
After being reassured by a number of posts here, I downloaded the Sophos software and immediately did a scan of my HD. I was expecting it to find something "serious" that I would have to let Sophos deal with. It did not. Nothing was found; although the scan took about 45 minutes. At one point (near the end), the scan seemed to stop (hang up?) but it restarted OK. Perhaps it was just dealing with a particularly large file.
I, too, am not so concerned about viral problems with my MBP but I do receive and resend files from numerous PCs so I suppose have Sophos software "on the job" might make me more responsible.
I am curious; I seldom find anything is free. How does Sophos recover his investment in this project?
I, too, am not so concerned about viral problems with my MBP but I do receive and resend files from numerous PCs so I suppose have Sophos software "on the job" might make me more responsible.
I am curious; I seldom find anything is free. How does Sophos recover his investment in this project?
I believe that it used to cost money but it was mainly for business users. My guess is that now they decided to also go for the average consumer and they probably want to get people to see them and recognize their name at first. I could be completely wrong though.
The initial hole from Jailbreakme is still not patched. This is the initial arbitrary code execution (patched for iOS) prior to privilege escalation (already patched for iOS not present in OS X) so alone it does not provide root. Interestingly, it only effects Mac OS 10.5.x which contains much more 32 bit.
Last edited:
I have installed this and am running it now but I do have 1.75 TB of data on my drives to go through, I will update this when the scan is complete.
It all looks nice and simple anyway so far.
5 hours of scanning 2.4 million files ......
1 virus.
And what was it...... An old rar file back up of a piece of windows software.
All cleaned up now......
whenever a new virus emerged, Sophos would have an revise out inside minutes/hours, occasionally this was a provisional rectify, with a last type out a couple of hours later. Telephone support was very good with telephone responded in seconds. Used effectively no assets when running.
It found 7 trojans (6 for Windows and 1 for OS X) on my Mac.
Btw, how does one know if their computer is virus/malware/adware free if they never scan for it?