The permissions will need to be corrected for any computer that upgrades to macOS Catalina or for new Catalina installs. Sophos Encryption: SPSS. SPSS 26 now available and supported on Catalina. SPSS 25 will not be officially supported on Catalina by IBM. Zoom Web Conferencing. Zoom is Catalina supported. Version 4.5.5 (5452.1010). Apple has released macOS version 10.15 (Catalina) on the 11th of October 2019. SafeGuard version 8.20.0 and previous versions of SafeGuard Disk Encryption and File Encryption for Mac, do not support this new Operating System and may not function correctly. The current test Sophos Endpoint 9.9 for MacOS Catalina (201305) from March 2020 of AV-TEST, the leading international and independent service provider for antivirus software and malware.
Consumer and corporate users of MacOS are always looking for a reliable security package or a good security solution for office Macs. The lab at AV-TEST examined 10 products, and can recommend several of them.
More protection for Mac users10 security packages for consumers and corporate users put to the test
Even MacOS can really use some reinforcement through antivirus software. After all, the amount of malware samples strictly targeting Macs are growing day by day. The number of malware samples registered by AV-TEST ranged between 50,000 and 100,000 over the past two years. Now it is already at 700,000, and we still haven't reached the end of 2020.
In September 2020, the lab at AV-TEST examined security products for consumer Mac users, along with corporate solutions. The test platform used for this was MacOS Catalina version 10.15. The 5 consumer protection packages evaluated were from Avast, Avira, Bitdefender, NortonLifeLock and Trend Micro. The corporate solutions examined came from Bitdefender, FireEye, McAfee, Sophos, and Symantec.
18 points were the top score
The test is divided up into three key areas: protection, performance, and usability. In the first section, each protection package and each solutions is required to detect and eliminate totally new MacOS malware samples. This is followed by the test in which the additional system load of the security package is measured. Afterwards, the usability is tested, i.e. in terms of any false alarms. In each test category, a product can earn up to 6 points – thus an overall maximum of 18 points.
The results speak for themselves. For consumer users, the Mac protection packages from Avira, NortonLifeLock and Trend Micro achieved the top score of 18 points. Following close behind with 17.5 points was Bitdefender. Avast received 16.5 points.
In terms of corporate solutions, Sophos and Symantec received the full 18 points for their good performance. McAfee came in slightly behind them at 17.5 points. Bitdefender and FireEye followed with somewhat weaker results with 15.5 points.
The lab tested security packages for private users and corporate users under MacOS Catalina
' tabindex='0'>Security software for MacOS put to the testThe lab tested security packages for private users and corporate users under MacOS Catalina
All 10 products were evaluated in terms of their detection performance – in the test, 6 detected 100 percent of attackers
' tabindex='0'>Detection rates under MacOS CatalinaAll 10 products were evaluated in terms of their detection performance – in the test, 6 detected 100 percent of attackers
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Detection rates under MacOS Catalina
More protection for MacOS
In the protection test, all test candidates were required to detect brand-new malware samples especially targeting MacOS. Among the products for private users, Avira, NortonLifeLock and Trend Micro each achieved 100 percent. Avast committed minor errors, detecting only 98.6 percent, Bitdefender only 97.3 percent.
Among the solutions for corporate users, McAfee, Sophos, and Symantec came through error-free, reaching 100% detection. The product from FireEye detected 98.6 percent of the attackers, Bitdefender only 97.3 percent.
Help and protection without system load
Each package and solution ought to protect the Mac perfectly, without putting a load on the system. In the past, protection systems put the brakes on normal operations, such as copying files. This situation has improved considerably. For each installed product, the lab tests whether it takes longer when a large number of files are copied, downloads are performed, applications launched or apps installed. Among the 5 products for consumer users, the lab awarded the highest score of 6 points a total of four times. Only the package from Avast slowed the system down slightly and thus had a point taken off: scoring only 5 points.
Among the protection solutions for corporate users, it was a somewhat different story. 3 out of 5 packages were absolutely inconspicuous and had hardly any measurable load on the system. For this, they received the maximum 6 points. Only the corporate solutions from Bitdefender and FireEye held up the system and required more resources. As a result, both solutions received only 4 points.
False alarms stress out users
Each time a security solution sounds an alarm, it rattles the user. Maybe the system is infected with malware, and it is necessary to take certain measures. If it only turns out to be a false alarm, however, that is annoying. That is why the lab examines all solutions by requiring them to scan just under 200,000 standard files. In addition, the testers install dozens of popular applications, under the watchful eye of each protection package, and launches them. In an ideal case, a security solution will not sound any alarm in the test, as it identifies the innocuous files and applications.
Among the protection packages for consumer Macs, this was the case on all packages. No false alarms means a full point score for all products. This was also the case for almost all corporate solutions. Only McAfee committed minor errors and, as a result, received only 5.5 instead of 6 points.
For the error-free test result, the protection package for MacOS received the full 18 points
' tabindex='0'>NortonLifeLock Norton 360For the error-free test result, the protection package for MacOS received the full 18 points
The MacOS protector received the full 18 points in the test
' tabindex='0'>Avira Antivirus ProThe MacOS protector received the full 18 points in the test
The performance of the package for MacOS was impeccable: for this, it received the full 18 points
' tabindex='0'>Trend Micro AntivirusThe performance of the package for MacOS was impeccable: for this, it received the full 18 points
The protection software for corporate endpoints achieved only perfect results in the test, earning the maximum score of 18 points
' tabindex='0'>Sophos EndpointThe protection software for corporate endpoints achieved only perfect results in the test, earning the maximum score of 18 points
The protection package for MacOS corporate endpoints scored only top results, receiving the maximum 18 points in the test
' tabindex='0'>Symantec Endpoint Protection for MacThe protection package for MacOS corporate endpoints scored only top results, receiving the maximum 18 points in the test
The protection software for corporate endpoints achieved 17.5 instead of 18 points, due to a false alarm
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McAfee Endpoint SecurityThe protection software for corporate endpoints achieved 17.5 instead of 18 points, due to a false alarm
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Avira Antivirus Pro
4
Sophos Endpoint
6
McAfee Endpoint Security
Additional unrated tests
In corporate networks or even private environments, Macs and Windows PCs are known to collaborate per network. If Windows malware ends up on a Mac, for example, nothing happens there. But in a network, the Mac can suddenly serve as a vector for spreading the malware. That is why the lab examined the detection performance of all products in terms of Windows malware. Moreover, the test looked at whether the protection packages identified PUAs – potentially unwanted applications – and warned against them. While PUAs do not pose any direct threat, they can annoy users. Important: both additional evaluations were not included in the test ratings by the lab, as they are not standard protection functions of the packages!
In the additional test, each product was required to identify and delete just under 1,400 Windows malware samples, in addition to sorting out over 3,300 PUAs. Among the packages for private users, the packages from Avast, Bitdefender and Trend Micro achieved detection rates above 99 percent. Only Avira and NortonLifeLock were at 90 to 99 percent. Among the business solutions, Bitdefender, Sophos, and Symantec detected 95 to 99 percent of the Windows attackers and PUA. The scores for FireEye and McAfee came in considerably lower.
Protection for consumer users or corporate users
When looking at the test results, several protection packages or solutions can be recommended thanks to their high ratings. The products achieving the highest possible test ratings for consumer Macs are Avira Antivirus Pro, NortonLifeLock Norton 360 and Trend Micro Antivirus, as well as Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac with 17.5 points. They help to shore up the protection on a Mac.
The corporate solutions Sophos Endpoint and Symantec Endpoint Protection for Mac concluded the test with the maximum point score of 18. Following close behind with 17.5 points was the solution McAfee Endpoint Security.
The endpoint solutions Bitdefender Endpoint Security for Mac and FireEye Endpoint Security put a considerable load on the test Mac, causing quite a few points to be taken off.
Test reports from September 2020
The best antivirus software for MacOS Home User
All results ›Test reports from September 2020
The best antivirus software for MacOS Client Business User
All results ›
Sophos antivirus software is one of the most well known and well respected anti-malware tools for the Mac. It’s distributed under the name Sophos Home to differentiate it from the company’s tools aimed at businesses and is available in free and premium versions. If you have downloaded it to try it out and no longer want it on your Mac, here’s how to remove it.
How to uninstall Sophos antivirus from your Mac
When you install Sophos Home on your Mac, it should also put an uninstaller on your boot drive. So the first step is to find that uninstaller.
- Press Command + Space or click on the Spotlight icon in the menu bar.
- Type ‘Remove Sophos Home’.
- When Spotlight finds it, select it and press Return.
- Click Continue when it launches.
- Type in your Mac admin user name and password.
- Wait for the uninstallation to complete and press Close.
If you use Sophos Home on other computers or think you might in the future, you should also remove your Mac from your Sophos Home dashboard.
- Log into your Sophos Home dashboard on a web browser.
- Choose the Mac from which you just uninstalled Sophos.
- Press Remove, then OK, when prompted.
Delete Sophos leftovers
Sometimes the uninstaller will return an error message, which can happen because of corrupted files or remains of files from previous Sophos installs or installations of other antivirus programs. In that case, Sophos advises running a script in Terminal to remove it. However, it also advises that this method should only be attempted by advanced users. Thankfully, there is another option for the rest of us.
If you can’t find the Sophos uninstaller on your Mac, and don't want to run a script, the other way to uninstall it quickly and easily is to use CleanMyMac X. The Uninstaller module in CleanMyMac X can uninstall any app, removing all the files and folders that are scattered around your system. It can also reset other misbehaving apps so they return to the state they were in when you first installed them. This is how it works.
BTW, CleanMyMac X is notarized by Apple so it’s a perfectly safe app to use.
Sophos For Mac Catalina Update
- Install the free version CleanMyMac X by downloading it and following the instructions.
- Launch it from your Applications folder.
- Choose the Uninstaller module from the list on the left.
- Locate the app you want to uninstall in the list in the main window.
- Check the box next to the app.
- Press Uninstall.
Remember, we said earlier that one of the reasons the Sophos uninstaller might fail is that there are remnants of previous installations still on your Mac. Well, CleanMyMac X can help there, too. It has a ‘Leftovers’ feature which tracks down files and folders that were left over when you removed apps previously. To see them, click on Leftovers in the middle window. You can then choose the leftovers you want to remove by selecting them and pressing Uninstall.
Best Antivirus For Mac
Sophos Home is a popular antivirus app for the Mac. It has free and premium versions. However, there are several Mac anti-malware tools available and it may be that you no longer want Sophos on your Mac. If that’s the case, follow the steps above to uninstall it. And don’t forget to use CleanMyMac X to get rid of the remnants of files cluttering up your Mac.