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Updating Sophos Anti-virus for Macintosh 9.x

All Sophos Anti-Virus Applications for Macintosh operating systems 10.2 and below require manual updates. To ensure that you are protected by Sophos from the latest viruses, you will need to:

  1. Update the Sophos Anti-Virus Application once a month.
  2. Update the Sophos Virus Definitions (IDE) files once a month.

Updating the Sophos Anti-Virus Application

  1. You will need to run the installer that you originally downloaded from the BOL website. If you do not know where you have saved the file, please download the file again at the following URL:Sophos Macintosh 9.x Installer.
  2. With an active internet connection, click on the Update tab at the top and then the Update button at the bottom. Click "Quit" when the update is completed.

    Sophos Installer Update

    Sophos Installer Update

  3. You have successfully updated your Sophos Application. Please remember to repeat this update once a month. It is important that you perform these updates so that your computer is protected from the latest viruses.

Updating IDEs for Sophos Anti-Virus

  1. Go to the IDE download page of the Sophos website:
  2. Download the compressed IDEs file for your version of Sophos Anti-Virus to your usual download location. Make sure to download the zip file.

    Note: To check what version of Sophos Anti-virus you are using, open the application and click on the arrow next to Details. The Version information is listed above the copyright information.

    Version Information

    Version Information

  3. Extract the file to a folder on the desktop with the same name as the compressed IDEs file.
  4. Copy all of the *.ide files in the folder to:
    • Macintosh HD:System Folder:Preferences:Sophos

    Where Macintosh HD is the root folder.

  5. You have successfully updated your virus definition (IDE) files. Please be sure to download updated IDE files once a month to ensure that your computer is protected from the latest viruses.

If you have any problems with Sophos installation, configuration, or updating, please contact the BOL Help Desk at (310) 267-HELP (4357), option 1, or by emailing consult@ucla.edu.