I am running Windows Vista on my laptop and for some reason my uni's anti virus thing isn't running anymore (I do have another that is up and working but I feel as though I should get my uni one working) The uni one is called Sophos Protection and the one I am using is called F-Secure Internet Security 2009.

The Sophos used to work but now it just sits there on my toolbar with a red cross on it and it says that it is disabled.

I have tried to re install/repair it but it doesn't make it work again.

I was wondering whether I properly uninstalled it whether I could re install it so that it worked effectively again but being used to XP I can't find the add/remove hardware/software program. I'm not even sure there is one?

My question is how to I make my Uni one work and how do I unistall my uni one?

Have you checked your TCP/IP settings?

No I haven't.

How do I do that?

Enable cookies?

do you have an IT dept you can ask at uni?

I am currently accepting all cookies.

I did just go on a mission looking for it under the C drive thing and found a folder called Sophos, opened it and clicked on the main icon and selcted run as admin and then a box came up saying something about allowing/denying it and I chose allow and then nothing happened.

I do yes, but at the moment I sound rather silly as my tongue is swollen :$

You want this dog?

Can I?

Thats what you get from licking a septic tummy :)

Uninstall or change a program - Windows Vista Help

Thank you :o)

Can I ask.... why are you wanting to reinstall this program when you have another?

I think that Sophos is the better one. ( I may be wrong)

Knox, at my uni if we're logging onto the uni network we have to use Sophos

Sophos nowadays is a bit bloatware and hogs the system too much.

There is AVAST AV which does everything: AV, checks email, firewall etc etc, and best of all it's free for home use, students etc. Also uses very little memory and is very good at it's job.

I know a little about this, 15yrs in IT Security.

Sophos is free to the uni as part of a government thing a few years back. If you are logging onto their network they probably want you to use sophos for consistancy.

My first question would be where did you get the install? Is it the uni tweaked one or did you get it from sophos.com?

My second question is if the install is from the uni, then can you see the uni update server from whatever connection you use it? (A simple ping will tell you yes or no. If this doenst make sense just ask)

Third question is have you done all the basics? Services packs/updates? Logged in as admin? (User account control works ok?) Laptop running ok in general? No smoke comming out? Does it run like a sick pig in winter?



For info....

Ive used sophos and its detection rates just blow away all competition. Thats why they won just about all of the governement contracts a few years back.

In all fairness all AV software is preventative by core design but ultimatly reactive by nature due to it requiring constant updates. The quicker the detection labs gets the IDE file rolled out the less chance of you getting a budding virus. Ive never heard sophos called bloatware before but havent used it for a while so it may have got a bit klugey since.

My suggestion would be fix sophos (with the help of a suitably bribed uni IT dept if need be).

As funny as it was try to keep it relevant pls guys and girls.

You may PM me with "I SAW A FISH" and "IT'S GONN' RAIN" anytime though.

Oh and go download the 100th episode special. Seth Mac makes a load of god loving middle americans look soooo stupid.

But kept it relevant also pls...;)

My Uni website.




I don't think so.


Hahaha, yes I think I have. I managed to un install it, but it still doesn't work when trying to install it again. I'm wondering whether it has got something to do with my security settings?

As far as i know sophos is firewall friendly. Maybe some third party security program may be stopping it.

Well unless the updater works 100% sophos will disable itself after 3 months to stop virus writers using sophos against you (cant see it much but thats what sophos plc says).

My best guess is that the updater failed and now you left with the original old version that is 3+ months old.

My advice is find out from the uni IT what the address of their Sophos server is.
Ping it from your home internet.
If it fails to reply, then thats your problem.

If its does reply then id suggest that maybe the uni website may need update the webpage version to match with the software the update servers version.

A Sophos system is completely configurable and sometimes errors dont get noticed for a while. Maybe the uni updated it with the wrong copy or an uncustomised install.

If you are going to be asking for the update server addresses you might as well just ask them to do it anyway.