IT security and data protection firm Sophos has announced the availability of a free Mac anti-virus product for home users. Based on Sophos’s flagship security software, which protects over 100 million business users worldwide, Sophos Anti-Virus Home Edition for Mac is available for consumers to download at no charge.

This security solution provides automatic detection against existing and new threats for Mac OS X. It also incorporates strong disinfection capabilities, capable of removing malware infections that may already be present on the Mac computer, the company said.

Although malware is more common on Windows than it is on Macs, there is a growing concern that, as Mac OS X market-share continues to grow, the operating system will become a more attractive target for cybercriminals.

“While most businesses recognise the importance of protecting their Mac computers from malware threats, most home users do not,” said Chris Kraft, product management vice president at Sophos.

“By offering free, industrial-strength security to home users, we aim to protect Mac users against today’s and tomorrow’s Mac threats. Everyone knows that Macs are beautiful computers - Sophos wants to lend a hand to keep them that way.”

Sophos Anti-Virus Home Edition provides automatic on-access detection, running in the background - meaning Mac users are constantly protected against Windows and Mac viruses, worms, spyware and Trojans.

It detects both Mac and Windows malware, and is backed by SophosLabs, Sophos’s global network of highly skilled researchers and analysts, protecting businesses from known and emerging malware - viruses, Trojans, spyware and rootkits. SophosLabs ensures that Sophos Anti-Virus Home Edition can even proactively stop brand new unseen threats before they can install on your Mac. Sophos has also launched a dedicated Mac support forum to allow users to interact with others in their community and get any questions answered about the product or Mac security.

http://sophos.com/freemacav