Bitdefender outperforms Sophos in threat detection

Despite the fact that the Internet has revolutionised our way of life, it poses certain risks. Cybercrime and malware endanger your privacy and sensitive information. This necessitates anti-virus software.

Today, there is an abundance of antivirus software on the market, making it difficult to choose the right one. This comparison of two industry leaders in antivirus software, Bitdefender and Sophos, should help you make a more informed choice.

The comparison will highlight the distinguishing characteristics of Bitdefender and Sophos, such as features, usability, and cost.

Which is superior, Bitdefender or Sophos?

Bitdefender is far better than Sophos. It provides exceptional protection against malware and sophisticated threats. It is easy to use and provides extraordinary additional features that would be beneficial to both frequent and occasional Internet users.

Summary

<u>Bitdefender Premium Security</u>

Protection against ransomware Password manager Unlimited and secure VPN

<u>Sophos Home Premium</u>

Privacy protection Safe browsing Real-time protection

Background check

Bitdefender

Bitdefender was founded in 2001 in Romania and has over 500 million customers worldwide. It aspires to be the most trusted cybersecurity provider in the world by providing consumers with innovative and transformative ways to remain safe online. Bitdefender protects both residential and business users.

Sophos

Sophos is a British corporation founded in Abingdon, England in 1985. Although it offers free and premium antivirus software for personal use, its primary focus is on protecting organisations and large businesses. Currently, Sophos protects over 400 thousand organisations in over 150 countries.

Expenses and compatibility

Antivirus software varies in price. There are numerous options available, including some gratis alternatives. Free services may be enticing, but they typically do not provide the same level of security as their paid counterparts. As shown in the summary below, both Bitdefender and Sophos provide free antivirus software that protects against the most common threats, as well as paid options.

There is a distinct distinction between the two pricing structures. Sophos is significantly simpler to comprehend because it offers only two plans: a free version and one premium alternative. With the premium version, you have access to additional privacy features, such as webcam and browser protection, and can install it on up to ten devices instead of just one.

Bitdefender, in contrast, provides a variety of plans to suit your needs. Its prices range from free to $159.99 per year, with the most expensive plan protecting up to ten devices. There are additional options, including a family bundle, a small business plan, and the brand-new Bitdefender BOX.

Bitdefender and Sophos both offer a free 30-day trial, so you can test before you buy if you are still unsure. Sophos Home Premium is available for a 30-day trial, after which it reverts to the free version, which is excellent if you want to avoid being charged automatically. Bitdefender offers downloads of complete trial versions of its software without requiring credit card information.

At the time of writing, discounts are available for both brands. Sophos Home Premium is available for $44.99 per year, a discount of 25%. There are additional discounts for longer subscription terms. Bitdefender, in contrast, offers discounts across all of their programmes, with Bitdefender Premium Security costing $49.99 per year.

Compatibility is another consideration prior to purchase. Bitdefender and Sophos both support Windows, Android, and MacOS.

While Sophos is significantly less expensive than Bitdefender, what you get for your money is equally as essential.

Ability to combat malware

Any software that poses a risk to your system is referred to as malware, a broad phrase. It consists of ransomware, adware, worms, trojans, and more. These dangers evolve along with technology. Some tests were run to evaluate how well Bitdefender and Sophos protected against malware.

The real-time detection of four sample malware files was disabled after they were obtained from The European Institute for Computer Antivirus Research (EICAR). The second test measured how successfully malware was found and quarantined in real-time as well as the software's overall performance.

In conclusion, the testing showed that Bitdefender and Sophos both offered excellent malware protection. In AV-Test's evaluation, Bitdefender received a flawless score, making it the winner.

Effect on PC performance

If you frequently use your device, particularly for work, you should ensure that your antivirus software has minimal impact on CPU and memory usage. While performing a complete and quick scan, Bitdefender and Sophos were tested for their impact on the PC. Note that Sophos lacks a fast scan function.

The full scan by Sophos was conducted in a mere 15 minutes. In comparison, it took Bitdefender 110 minutes to conduct a full scan. During this period, Bitdefender scanned 4,200,000 items. Sophos does not disclose the number of objects it scans, which is unusual for antivirus software.

The test demonstrates how antivirus software affects the performance of a PC when executing eight common actions.

• Downloading files
• Browsing websites
• File copying: first and subsequent run
• Installing and uninstalling applications
• Archiving and unarchiving
• Launching applications: first and subsequent run

Bitdefender is superior to Sophos in terms of PC impact and performance. This demonstrates that Bitdefender provides superior malware protection with minimal impact on your device.

Features

Bitdefender Premium Protection

• Unlimited VPN traffic
• Priority Support
• Device Optimizer
• Window, MacOS, Android, and iOS protection
• Parental Control
• Multi-layer Ransomware Protection
• Protection against malware, spyware, adware

Sophos Home Premium

• Malware Remover
• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Real-Time Antivirus
• Ransomware Security
• Banking Protection
• Privacy Protection
• Identity Protection
• Advanced Web Security
• Parental Web Filtering
• Remote Management
• Premium Support

Customer Service

The finest providers of antivirus software provide excellent customer service, which ultimately fosters rapport and trust between the brand and its customers. Bitdefender offers support via phone, online chat, and support tickets around the clock. If your request isn't time-sensitive, you can utilise the extensive online support centre with top solutions and instructional videos.

Customers of Sophos Home Premium can contact the support team via phone or online chat between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. It is essential to note that Sophos does not provide any support for free home users beyond the website's knowledge base. This means that if you have any complex queries, you must contact Sophos directly.

Conclusion

To conclude, Bitdefender is the victor. Sophos prioritises business clients over residential users, as evidenced by its straightforward interface and features. Sophos offers only two programmes (free and premium), thereby limiting customer options. Bitdefender is a leader in the antivirus industry, with exceptional malware protection and performance rates, in addition to a VPN and world-class privacy protection. Although substantially more expensive than Sophos, the added privacy and security make the additional cost worthwhile.