Is it possible to still obtain Mac SAV v8

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zoespbf wrote:

I'm sure Sophos still has the software available, though unsupported. Is there a Sophos ftp site I could go to?

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We don't make older versions of the software available, sorry.

Why...other than that's just the way it is?

If the software is accepted "As Is", with the known limitations, why shouldn't it still be available. It really doesn't cost you extra to leave it accessible. The software worked once, and for existing installations, it still works. There are people out there (like me), right now, who, for various reasons, refuse to upgrade their system, partly because of their existing specialized use and the time, work, and cost involved in replacing its capabilities; and partly because they just don't otherwise want or need to get on the upgrade merry-go-round.

Sure! It would be nice to have the latest and the greatest with all known threats dealt with; but frankly, when your options are getting, say, 0% or 50% of the pie, getting 80% of the pie sure looks tempting. It ain't perfect, but neither am I.

Hi Zoespbf,

I did some asking around to see if there was any way we could help you out with this. What I learned is that even if you "accept the software as is" - unsupported, no updates, etc, under the pretense that 80% of the pie is better than 0% - what's really happening is we're enabling our users to continue using seriously outdated operating systems, which, in our opinion is a big risk.

Essentially, it's because we don't believe in giving our users a false sense of security, and running AV software that is years and years out of date is just that.

Indeed it is a false sense of security, no AV can protect you for the unpatched vulnerabilities in an unsupported OS version (by Apple), that machine shouldn't probably connect directly to the Internet.

Also, I might be wrong, but the current definitions might not even be compatible with the older version. So, you could still run the program but you wouldn't have any malware definitions to work with.

Serra,

I'm old enough and been around enough to realize the limitations--of anything. I don't get a false sense of security. As I said before, I have Norton on my computer right now and it's more out-of-date than v8 is. I made a conscious decision to NOT upgrade my system because I really didn't want to do what needed to be done to completely update my capabilities which serve me basically well. I bought an inexpensive HP laptop running Win8.1 which I'll be upgrading to 10 in September or October. It came with "Webroot" so I've got reasonable protection to do my basic web work (I really don't surf a lot or dangerously, but the 'stuff' is out there nonetheless). I've relegated my Mac to accessing the web on a restricted basis, but I do use it still...right now as we speak. For my important stuff, when I don't want to worry about malware that I pick-up prospectively or have already picked up unknowingly watching my keystrokes, I use the PC. As long as the OS is supported and there's resultant support available for whatever AV software I have I'll make sure it's updated--and that's where the rub comes in. I can't update Norton. So if I can find a software that 'more' up-to-date I'm sort of ahead of the game. Plus, I may not want to delete Norton--it occasionally stops a threat; but Norton doesn't do malware. That's where Sophos comes in. I can use them 'together'--but not at the same time.

I'm the kind of person who tries to solve problems in the most efficacious way AVAILABLE to me. The problem won't or might not go away, but I can lessen it's impacts.

Look, I don't expect to be able to find a substitute. You can't blame a girl for trying though.

Specimen,

Read my response to Serra.

Uno Question though. V8 if it were available at all would come unsupported--right. That means I can't update the software I download--period. I play with what I get, and I know that--or at least I thought I did.

What you're telling me leads me to the conclusion that the program does NOT come with a set of pre-installed and compatibie definitions (outdated/stale though they may be); but has to go to momma for them, and momma can only serve up what she has in the 'frig right now ?!?! ...But doesn't that defeat the whole point about no support, because in effect I'd be getting updated definitions (assuming they were compatible)?!?!

No, because the whole point of an AV is to be up-to-date, the biggest threats are always the most recent ones, if you are a bad guy you will use the most recent malware to compromise users, you'll have more chances of being sucessful. Whne you install a AV the first thing it does is to look for the latest definitions.

What you should be concerned about, even if your browsing habits are 'safe', is 'safe' sites that get compromised and explore vulnerabilites in your outdated browsers.

You will not like to hear this, but personally, as someone who runs an up to date system, I would prefer Sophos resources would be focused on keeping such systems safe.

I also advise you to uninstall Flash and Java from that machine, there are no updated versions of those plugins for your OS, and they are extremely vulnerable to attacks.
Do not do any online banking on that machine also.

Specimen,

It's precisely because of banking that I purchased the (inexpensive) HP--to enable me to access my bank and vendor websites. That and my email and facebook is all that I really use the internet access from that machine for--NO browsing. It also gives me portability when/if I need it.  Thanks for the advice about Flash & Java. I've reduced my use of the Mac for browsing, but I do use it and carefully, so for now at least I'll leave Flash and Java intact. The hard drive is almost 10 years old, so it's on borrowed time. When it goes I'll replace it, but I probably won't reinstall any of the internet related apps--just the 'functional' apps that serve my needs and don't rely on the internet. I'm a gal who still has her flip-phone, and I'm happy as hell (my hero is Leroy Jethro Gibbs, btw  :smileylol:). I'll probably use that as an opportunity to come into the 21st century, and get a smart phone to extend my internet access (which btw I refuse to use for banking--gotta have a wired connection for that). If I really want to do 'heavy' internet access (which isn't very often), I plan to use the computers at my library. It's only about a mile away and they have stronger AV protection than I have. They have a 2 hour time limit which, in most instances, is more than enough. If they restrict access to certain sites, it's all the better--I likely wouldn't want to go there anyway.

BTW !!

I'm the kind of a person, or at least I've developed into one, who believes she's not perfect and life's not perfect. Solutions to problems aren't perfect either. I'm satisfied if I can find the most usable (economically, simplistically, and functionally speaking) solution give the plethora of limitations that I might be facing. I don't have to have the latest and greatest and most perfect solution. Just one that's efficacious.