Product Information
macOS Catalina (10.15) was released on October 7, 2019. Technology Support Services will be testing Catalina with our 'standard' software to ensure it is compatible.
PLEASE NOTE that macOS Catalina will not support 32-bit software and may require you to upgrade your software (beyond what is supported by Technology Support Services). Please read How to Determine Which Apps May or May Not Work in macOS Catalinafor more information.
Recommendation
Applies to the following Sophos products and versions Central Mac Device Encryption 1.5 Supported operating systems macOS Catalina 10.15 macOS Mojave 10.14.
macOS Catalina (10.15) is supported by Academic Technology / Technology Support Services.
If you have OS X 10.12 (Sierra) or an older version, we strongly recommend that you upgrade to at least macOS 10.13 (High Sierra). Apple is no longer supporting OS X 10.12 (Sierra).
- Resolved an issue with Sophos Central Encryption failing to send the recovery key to Sophos Central. MACDP-462: Resolved an issue in which the recovery key was missing after upgrading to macOS High Sierra. MACDP-726: Resolved an issue with SophosEncryptionD not handling the unexpected output of diskutil information.
- Sophos Home Premium for Mac review: Up-to-date features at an unbeatable price. For features, price-per-computer, and ease of configuration, Sophos comes out on top. By Glenn Fleishman.
You will need one of the following models in order to run macOS Catalina:
- Macbook (2015 or newer)
- MacBook Air (2012 or newer)
- MacBook Pro (2012 or newer)
- Mac mini (2012 or newer)
- iMac (2012 or newer)
- iMac Pro (2017 or newer)
Recommended minimum hardware:
- 20 GB of free space
- 4 GB minimum memory
Please read How to Determine Which Apps May or May Not Work in macOS Catalinafor more information.
| Software | Supported |
|---|---|
Active Directory | |
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC Adobe DC, Acrobat 2017 are compatible with the new macOS 10.15 Catalina. | |
Adobe Creative Cloud Versions 2020 and 2019 are compatible. | |
Adobe 32-bit Applications (legacy Adobe apps and Adobe CS6) | |
Adobe Flash Flash Player installs and appears to work fine. No official support statement from Adobe regarding macOS 10.15 Catalina support. | |
Adobe Photoshop Photoshop 20.0.7 and later versions work with macOS 10.15 (Catalina) but have these known compatibility issues. You may want to remain on your current version of macOS until these issues have been resolved. Photoshop Elements version 2020 is compatible with Catalina | |
BigFix Client Client version 9.5.14 is compatible with Catalina. | |
Camino (Canvas) Canvas is accessible from any computer or mobile device with a Web-standard browser. Canvas supports the latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Safari | |
Cisco AnyConnect (VPN) Our VPN system was upgraded to support Catalina on 11/13. Your Cisco VPN client should prompt for an upgrade if you're running Catalina. | |
Duo Duo 2FA has been working with macOS 10.15 Catalina. We are unable to locate any official notice on the Duo website to support this. How do I resolve Duo Prompt display issues related to iOS or macOS content restrictions?
In addition to the instructions above, please also make sure that JavaScript is enabled in Safari on your macOS or iOS device. | |
ExamSoft Examsoft has announced it has updated its latest version of Examplify (2.06) to be compatible with Catalina (10.15) Law Technology Services recommends Law Students wait until after their 2019 finals. | |
Google Chrome Chrome supports macOS 10.10 and higher. | |
MATLAB MATLAB supports macOS Catalina 10.15 | |
Microsoft Office Office 2016 for Mac needs to be v15.35 or newer. Check the version in one of the Office apps. Example, go to Word > About Microsoft Word (or whichever Application you are checking). If you have Office 2011 for Mac or before, do NOT update to Catalina because Office will stop working. Office 2011 for Mac is no longer supported by Microsoft and there is no workaround for this. | |
Mozilla Firefox Version 70.0.1 is fully supported. | |
Printer Logic Last release of Printer Logic (August 2019) only officially supports up to Mojave (10.14). Our testing shows it seems to work fine. | |
SafeConnect Impulse Point is pushing out a Mac Policy Key on Monday, October 21 to support macOS Catalina. Testing is not completed. | |
SmartPrint Pharos supports current version of Uniprint clients (Poup 9.0.10) and macOS 10.15 Catalina. | |
Sophos Home (Personally Owned Computers) Version 9.9.4 or above is required. Additional steps are required to successfully install Sophos Home.
| |
Sophos Central (University Owned Computers) Version 9.9.4 or above required (released September 2019). Version 9.9.6 will include a permissions popup to make installs easier. | |
Sophos Encryption | |
SPSS SPSS 26 now available and supported on Catalina SPSS 25 will not be officially supported on Catalina by IBM. | |
Zoom Web Conferencing Zoom is Catalina supported. Version 4.5.5 (5452.1010) |
Last Updated 1/9/2020
Long gone are the days when there were only a few thousand MacOS attackers. As of June 2020, the database at AV-TEST numbered over 240,000 MacOS malware variants. AV-TEST tested 14 current products for their protection, performance and usability, and is pleased to report favorable results.
Protection packages for MacOS Catalina14 security packages for consumers and corporate users put to the test
Older Mac users somewhat tend to shrug off the topic of malware protection for MacOS. One of the first counterarguments: 'Yes, but only a small number of viruses, Trojans and other threats are specially targeted to MacOS.' Perhaps that argument held water from 2008 to 2014, as up until that time, the AV-TEST database only counted 7,300 Mac malware samples. However: By 2016, there were already over 40,000, by 2018 over 80,000, and in 2020 there are now over 240,000 attackers for MacOS; time to beef up the defense.
14 protection packages put to the test
The latest test of the 14 products was conducted in the lab from May to June 2020 under the new MacOS Catalina operating system. All products were first tested in terms of protection using new MacOS malware samples. The lab then evaluated the performance, i.e. the load the respective security products placed on the system. Finally, usability was examined, in terms of how many false alarms were triggered by the software.
Included in the test for consumers were 9 products from Avast, AVG, Avira, Bitdefender, Canimaan Software, F-Secure, Kaspersky, NortonLifeLock and Trend Micro. The product solutions for corporate users from Bitdefender, FireEye, Fortinet, Sophos and Symantec were also in the test.
Each product was able to score a maximum of 6 points in each of the three test phases. Thus, the highest possible score achievable was 18. Among the packages for consumer users, 7 of the 9 products scored the 18 points. Only Avast and AVG had to make do with 17.5 points.
Among the solutions for corporate users, the products from Bitdefender, Sophos and Symantec received 18 points each. The packages from FireEye and Fortinet followed with an excellent score of 17.5 points.
In the test, 9 security packages for home users and 5 solutions for business users were evaluated under MacOS Catalina
' tabindex='0'>Security solutions for MacOS CatalinaIn the test, 9 security packages for home users and 5 solutions for business users were evaluated under MacOS Catalina
10 of the 14 security solutions tested were able to detect 100 percent of the malware deployed in the test
' tabindex='0'>Detected malware under MacOS Catalina10 of the 14 security solutions tested were able to detect 100 percent of the malware deployed in the test
2
Detected malware under MacOS Catalina
Protection: which product is fit to fight the foe
In the test phase involving protection, all participants were required to detect the AV-TEST reference package containing new, select MacOS malware. The outcome for most packages was outstanding, with 100% detection. Among the packages for home users, only the tool from Bitdefender exhibited minor weaknesses: 98.8 percent. Among the solutions for business users, only Sophos and Symantec achieved the 100 percent. The other solutions from Bitdefender, FireEye and Fortinet were at 98.8 percent. All products earned the full 6 points in this test phase.
Performance: which product uses too many resources?
Regardless of whether the Mac is being used at home or in the office, a protection solution is not allowed to place an excessive load on the system. That is why the lab evaluates the load behavior of each product. For the performance test, a large number of files are copied onto a Mac without protection software, downloads are performed, applications launched or apps installed. The time required is clocked and used as a reference. Later, the lab installs each individual protection solution, repeating all the work steps, thereby measuring the time required. In the past, this test was a huge problem for many products. Luckily, that is no longer the case.
Among the products for consumers, nearly all packages receive the full 6 points for a very low system load. Only the security packages from Avast and AVG are somewhat more noticeable when copying files: earning just 5.5 points. Among the solutions for corporate users, the testers witnessed no irregularities at all in Bitdefender, Fortinet, Sophos and Symantec: full 6 points. Only FireEye slightly slowed down the installation of new programs: 5.5 points.
Usability: which product tends to trigger false alarms?
A protection solution is naturally required to differentiate between malware and normal applications. Using over 390,000 normal files, the lab tested how well the protection packages were able to do this. Each solution was required to scan the files, and in an ideal scenario, not trigger any alarm. Moreover, the testers also installed new programs and evaluated whether the relevant protection software blocked anything in the process. The result was outstanding: Nearly all protection solutions earned the full 6 points in this test. Only the Fortinet solution for corporate users was wrong once: 5.5 points.
For the perfect test result, the protection solution for MacOS received the full 18 points
' tabindex='0'>Bitdefender Antivirus for MacFor the perfect test result, the protection solution for MacOS received the full 18 points
With 18 points, Avira's MacOS protection package achieved a full point score in the test
' tabindex='0'>Avira Antivirus ProWith 18 points, Avira's MacOS protection package achieved a full point score in the test
This Finnish solution for consumer MacOS users received the maximum achievable score of 18 points
' tabindex='0'>F-Secure SAFEThis Finnish solution for consumer MacOS users received the maximum achievable score of 18 points
The MacOS software for endpoints achieved only perfect results in the test, earning the maximum score of 18
' tabindex='0'>Symantec Endpoint ProtectionSophos For Mac Catalina Update
The MacOS software for endpoints achieved only perfect results in the test, earning the maximum score of 18
The Sophos solution for MacOS endpoints demonstrated impeccable results in all test phases, thus garnering a score of 18
' tabindex='0'>Sophos EndpointThe Sophos solution for MacOS endpoints demonstrated impeccable results in all test phases, thus garnering a score of 18
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Avira Antivirus Pro
4
Symantec Endpoint Protection
Sophos For Mac Catalina 2019
Additional special tests without a rating
Especially in companies, Mac and Windows PCs often collaborate in a single network. If a Mac is attacked by Windows malware, nothing really happens. But in such a case, the Mac can be harnessed as a vector to spread the malware. That is why the lab – in a test without any rating – evaluates whether the protection packages for the Mac also detect Windows malware. What's more, the lab also examines the detection of PUAs – potentially unwanted applications. While PUAs do not pose any direct threat, they can annoy users and usually put a load on the network and devices.
For the additional tests, the lab used over 3,000 Windows malware samples and just under 4,000 collected Windows PUAs. The results speak for themselves. In terms of malware, the products, with the exception of Canimaan Software and Fortinet, showed detection rates from 95 to 99 percent. There was a similar positive outcome with respect to PUAs: Nearly all the packages achieved detection rates around 95 to 99 percent. Only Fortinet and Sophos allow PUAs quite free rein.
Sophos Home Mac Catalina
Improved protection can't hurt
Sophos For Mac Catalina Island
Admittedly, there is a vast difference in the number of malware samples for MacOS compared to Windows. But the lower number does nothing to diminish the risk of the MacOS malware samples. Because Macs have been able to boost their market share in recent years, they are increasingly coming into the gun sights of cyber attacks. Even traditional Mac magazines report that the impenetrable protective shell on the Mac is now only a myth. No myth are the good results of the evaluated security packages for consumer and corporate users. Many solutions achieved the full 18 points – the packages showing slightly weaker results still achieved an excellent 17.5 points. With this high level of security, when choosing the right package, consumer and corporate users alike can even focus more on the convenience of the solutions.
Test reports from June 2020
The best antivirus software for MacOS Home User
All results ›Test reports from June 2020
The best antivirus software for MacOS Client Business User
All results ›