New Choices in Freeware Security for Macs

Sophos Free Anti-Virus for Mac Home Edition (version 7.2) made its debut on November 2, 2010, for standalone Macs running Mac OS X version 10.4 or later. With Sophos' solution joining the other existing virus-checker freeware for Macs – such as ClamXav (version 2.1) – let's look at Sophos vs. ClamXav and consider how each contender stands up to the task of repelling malware threats for Apple's user community.

ClamXav is an open-source antivirus software engine that’s been around for years; based on ClamAV, it uses a graphical user interface to the ClamAV open-source virus checker. Developed by Mark Allan, ClamXav – as well as Sophos Anti-Virus Home Edition for Mac – allows you to scan individual files or your entire system, as well as schedule future scans.

What do Sophos vs. ClamXav have in common? Sophos solution has a Mac-friendly interface and is available for download on both the Sophos and Apple websites. One of the neat features of Sophos Anti-Virus is its ability to activate a scan now command for a file when you right-click on it with your mouse.

In response to what the company described as a "lack of high performance consumer Mac AV products on the market," Sophos released the company's Anti-Virus Home Edition for Mac in November 2010. This freeware for standalone Macs running Mac OS X version 10.4 or later includes scanning capabilities to detect viruses, Trojans and worms, and cleansing tools for any malware that it finds on your computer.

In comparing Sophos vs. ClamXav, ClamXav's file size is 10 times smaller than Sophos. Reviewers found ClamXav easy to setup, although some complained about its lengthy installation time. ClamXav downloads new definitions each day and uses those definitions to scan for viruses. Sophos offers real-time protection, but it will not scan networks.

When considering Sophos vs. ClamXav, Apple users who prefer to do everything within an Apple interface will prefer Sophos, while those who prefer more customization will likely find ClamXav a better choice. ClamXav uses fewer resources to do its work, but it requires a script to remove it, unlike Sophos Anti-Virus, which you can remove using Apple's installer utility.

When using either antivirus software application, it's wise to do a Time Machine backup prior to your first scan. Both Sophos and ClamXav allow you to scan individual files, or the entire system, as well as schedule scans. Each one offers protection against the latest viruses, Trojans, worms and malicious spyware. With Sophos, you can quarantine a threat and remove it later, or remove it immediately, which is a nice feature if you are unsure about deleting a file until you have time to investigate further. With Sophos freeware, as long as the Black Shield icon is black, your computer is protected. You can choose to remove the icon from your menu bar too.

When comparing Sophos vs. ClamXav, some reviewers have expressed skepticism that the open-sourced ClamXav application will be able to stay on top of emerging threats, whereas Sophos has corporate resources for up-to-date monitoring of emerging security threats.

The challenge for both freeware distributors is to convince Apple users to choose their antivirus software.

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