CISO Tribune

Vendor comparison · 2 companies

Malwarebytes vs Sophos

Malwarebytes sells antivirus, VPN, identity theft protection and scam detection software for personal devices such as computers, tablets and phones. Sophos sells security solutions managed through Sophos Fusion, a single cloud-based platform for IT security protection. CISO Tribune files both under EDR and XDR and MDR and managed SOC. This page sets the two records side by side: what each sells, where it is based, who owns and funds it, the customers it names and its recent news, each fact numbered to its source.

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  • Malwarebytes
  • Sophos
Malwarebytes vs Sophos: Products, Customers and Funding Compared
MalwarebytesMalwarebytes sells antivirus, VPN, identity theft protection and scam detection software for personal devices such as computers, tablets and phones.malwarebytes.comSophosSophos sells security solutions managed through Sophos Fusion, a single cloud-based platform for IT security protection.sophos.com
What it sells
  • Premium Security[4][5]Antivirus designed to protect personal devices and data in real-time.
  • Browser Guard[4][5]Blocks unwanted and unsafe content while browsing.
  • Privacy VPN[4][14]A VPN for staying secure and private on Wi-Fi or hotspots.
  • Identity Theft Protection[4][5]Scans the dark web and other sources for personal information.
  • Mobile Security[4][5][7]Malware detection before installation on Android devices.
  • Android Virus Scan[7]A free Android virus scan for malware, spyware, keyloggers and more.
  • Sophos Fusion[6][7][10]Sophos Fusion is a single cloud-based platform for managing IT security protection.
  • Sophos Firewall[1][10]Sophos Firewall includes features for higher education, K-12, and primary and secondary institutions.
  • Sophos Managed Detection and Response[7]Sophos describes fully managed, 24/7 detection and response.
Categories
Headquarters
Santa Clara, United States[3]Oxford, United Kingdom[2]
Founded
2008[2][4]Not stated on its pages
Ownership and funding
Not stated on its pagesOwned by Thoma Bravo since 2020[3][7][8][9]
Named customers
Not stated on its pages
  • Jotun[4]
  • National 9/11 Memorial & Museum[4]
  • London South Bank University[4]
  • Town of Gilbert[4]
  • DFS Group[4]
Recent news
  • October 5, 2026Malwarebytes launched Scam Link Check, a free web tool that lets anyone check whether a website link is safe before clicking it.[19]
  • July 22, 2026Malwarebytes appointed Michael Weissman to its Board of Directors and hired Joey Klein as Senior Vice President of Product.[20]
  • July 22, 2026Malwarebytes appointed Netspend CEO Michael Weissman to its board.[10]
  • June 3, 2026Malwarebytes launched a free reverse phone check for consumers to identify potential scam numbers.[9]
  • May 6, 2026Malwarebytes appointed Chung Ip as Chief Financial Officer.[18]
  • October 1, 2026Sophos launched CISO Advantage, an agentic AI service that links security operations to security strategy, rolling out across North America, the UK and Europe.[5]
  • July 15, 2026Sophos announced Sophos Fusion, a defense system combining its endpoint, network, email, cloud, identity and security operations products in one architecture.[6]
G2 and Gartner Peer Insights
  • G2: listed, seen November 3, 2026[11]
  • Gartner Peer Insights: Not stated on its pages
  • G2: listed, seen November 4, 2026[8]
  • Gartner Peer Insights: Not stated on its pages
Who it fits
From its own pages, Malwarebytes sells mainly to individuals and families who want to protect personal devices. Its pages also reference security for personal and business devices and for a team's devices. Malwarebytes offers protection for Windows, Mac, Chromebook, Android, and iOS devices.From its own pages, Sophos sells mainly to distributed and growing enterprises with complex networks, which its XGS 2U firewalls target. Sophos also sells firewalls for SMB and branch offices, and plug-and-play security for smaller branch offices and remote sites. Sophos Firewall includes features tailored to higher education, K-12, and primary and secondary institutions.
Last verified
November 9, 2026September 27, 2026

Where they overlap

  • EDR and XDR is the primary category of both Malwarebytes and Sophos; both are also filed under MDR and managed SOC.

Where they differ, field by field

  • Malwarebytes is also filed under Identity threat detection and response. Sophos is also filed under Firewalls and NGFW.
  • Malwarebytes lists Premium Security, Browser Guard, Privacy VPN, Identity Theft Protection, Mobile Security and 1 more. Sophos lists Sophos Fusion, Sophos Firewall and Sophos Managed Detection and Response.
  • Malwarebytes is headquartered in Santa Clara, United States. Sophos is headquartered in Oxford, United Kingdom.
  • Malwarebytes was founded in 2008.
  • Sophos is owned by Thoma Bravo, since 2020.
  • Sophos publicly names Jotun, National 9/11 Memorial & Museum, London South Bank University, Town of Gilbert and DFS Group.

How they differ

Malwarebytes sells antivirus, VPN, identity theft protection and scam detection software for personal devices such as computers, tablets and phones. Its products include Premium Security, Browser Guard, Privacy VPN, Identity Theft Protection, Mobile Security and Android Virus Scan. Sophos sells Sophos Fusion, a single cloud-based platform for managing IT security protection, along with Sophos Firewall and Sophos Managed Detection and Response. Sophos describes its managed service as fully managed, 24/7 detection and response.

Malwarebytes is headquartered in Santa Clara, United States, and was founded in 2008. Sophos is headquartered in Oxford, United Kingdom, and has been owned by Thoma Bravo since 2020. Malwarebytes sells mainly to individuals and families, while Sophos sells mainly to distributed and growing enterprises with complex networks, and also offers firewalls for SMB and branch offices. Sophos publicly names Jotun, National 9/11 Memorial & Museum, London South Bank University, Town of Gilbert and DFS Group as customers.

On October 5, 2026, Malwarebytes launched Scam Link Check, a free web tool for checking whether a website link is safe before clicking it. On July 22, 2026, Malwarebytes appointed Netspend CEO Michael Weissman to its board. On October 1, 2026, Sophos launched CISO Advantage, an agentic AI service that links security operations to security strategy. On July 15, 2026, Sophos announced Sophos Fusion, which combines its endpoint, network, email, cloud, identity and security operations products in one architecture.

What it sells: Malwarebytes

What Premium Security does[4][5]
Malwarebytes Premium Security is an antivirus solution designed to protect personal devices and data in real-time. Malwarebytes says Premium Security stops sophisticated cyber threats that traditional antivirus tools often miss.
What Privacy VPN does[4][14]
Malwarebytes Privacy VPN helps people stay secure and private when using Wi-Fi or hotspots. Malwarebytes Privacy VPN can be used on iPhones and iPads, as well as Android, Windows, and Mac. Malwarebytes Privacy is a no-log VPN that never tracks, stores, or shares any of your network data.
What Identity Theft Protection does[4][5]
Malwarebytes Identity Theft Protection scans the dark web and other sources for personal information. It provides live agent-supported identity recovery, credit monitoring, and reporting, backed by up to $2 million in identity theft insurance.
What Mobile Security does[4][5][7]
Malwarebytes Mobile Security detects before installation some of the most harmful malware, including trojans, spyware and ransomware. Malwarebytes Mobile Security is free to download on both Google Play and the App store.
What Android Virus Scan does[7]
Malwarebytes offers a free Android virus scan to protect a phone from hackers and cyber threats like malware, spyware, keyloggers and more. Malwarebytes alerts people before they install and run potentially harmful software or apps on an Android device.

What it sells: Sophos

What Sophos Fusion does[6][7][10]
Sophos Fusion integrates natively with Sophos solutions and 500+ third-party technologies. The Sophos Fusion dashboard consolidates all alerts. Fusion AI is the intelligence layer within Sophos Fusion.
What Sophos Firewall does[1][10]
Sophos Firewall includes built-in policies for CIPA and predefined activities. Sophos Firewall includes features like SafeSearch, YouTube restrictions, and keyword filtering. Sophos Firewall uses dynamic firewall rules and lateral movement protection to isolate a compromised host.
What Sophos Managed Detection and Response does[7]
Sophos quotes simple per-user and per-server pricing with no hidden extras. Sophos describes three Response Modes.

Questions about Malwarebytes and Sophos

What do Malwarebytes and Sophos sell?
Malwarebytes sells Premium Security, Browser Guard, Privacy VPN, Identity Theft Protection, Mobile Security and 1 more. Sophos sells Sophos Fusion, Sophos Firewall and Sophos Managed Detection and Response.
Are Malwarebytes and Sophos in the same category?
Yes. EDR and XDR is the primary category of both on CISO Tribune.
Where are Malwarebytes and Sophos headquartered?
Malwarebytes is headquartered in Santa Clara, United States. Sophos is headquartered in Oxford, United Kingdom.
When were Malwarebytes and Sophos founded?
Malwarebytes was founded in 2008.
Who owns Malwarebytes and Sophos?
Sophos is owned by Thoma Bravo, since 2020.
Which customers do Malwarebytes and Sophos name?
Sophos publicly names Jotun, National 9/11 Memorial & Museum, London South Bank University, Town of Gilbert and DFS Group.
Who are Malwarebytes and Sophos sold to?
From its own pages, Malwarebytes sells mainly to individuals and families who want to protect personal devices. From its own pages, Sophos sells mainly to distributed and growing enterprises with complex networks, which its XGS 2U firewalls target.
What have Malwarebytes and Sophos announced recently?
October 5, 2026: Malwarebytes launched Scam Link Check, a free web tool that lets anyone check whether a website link is safe before clicking it. October 1, 2026: Sophos launched CISO Advantage, an agentic AI service that links security operations to security strategy, rolling out across North America, the UK and Europe.

About Malwarebytes

Malwarebytes sells antivirus, VPN, identity theft protection and scam detection software for personal devices such as computers, tablets and phones. Malwarebytes says its all-in-one cybersecurity protects people from malware, viruses, scams and other online threats. Malwarebytes offers protection for Windows, Mac, Chromebook, Android, and iOS devices.[7][13]

Malwarebytes Premium Security is an antivirus solution designed to protect personal devices and data in real-time. Malwarebytes says Premium Security stops sophisticated cyber threats that traditional antivirus tools often miss. Malwarebytes says Malwarebytes Premium finds threats on 40% of devices that already have another antivirus installed. The free version of Malwarebytes lets people scan and remove threats from a device, but it does not give ongoing real-time threat protection like Malwarebytes Premium does.[12]

Malwarebytes Browser Guard blocks unwanted and unsafe content. Malwarebytes Privacy VPN helps people stay secure and private when using Wi-Fi or hotspots. Malwarebytes Privacy VPN can be used on iPhones and iPads, as well as Android, Windows, and Mac. Malwarebytes Privacy is a no-log VPN that never tracks, stores, or shares any of your network data. Malwarebytes Privacy uses the WireGuard® VPN protocol. Malwarebytes Privacy has 400+ servers in 30+ countries.[14][15]

Malwarebytes Identity Theft Protection scans the dark web and other sources for personal information. Malwarebytes Identity Theft Protection provides live agent-supported identity recovery, credit monitoring, and reporting, backed by up to $2 million in identity theft insurance. Single-device Ultimate plans include Individual Identity Theft Protection for one adult. Multi-device Ultimate plans include Family Identity Theft Protection coverage for up to two adults and ten kids. All Ultimate plans include a Personal Data Remover for one individual.[5]

Scam Guard is integrated in Malwarebytes Premium Security for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Browser Guard. Scam Guard detects in seconds whether a suspicious text, email, website, ad, or message is concerning. Malwarebytes states that Scam Guard queries are stored locally for 30 days. Malwarebytes is a supporting member of the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA).[5]

Malwarebytes Mobile Security detects before installation some of the most harmful malware, including trojans, spyware and ransomware. Malwarebytes Mobile Security is free to download on both Google Play and the App store. Malwarebytes for iOS can block calls from known and suspected scammers. Call Protection identifies calls from a list of known scammers. Text Message Filtering identifies suspicious texts and sends them to a junk tab in the Messages app. Ad Blocking stops Safari from loading ads and blocks ad trackers. Web Protection blocks websites that contain ransomware, phishing scams, and other online threats when used with Safari.[5][7][14]

Malwarebytes’ CEO Marcin Kleczynski created the first version of the Malwarebytes virus scanner after downloading a free game with malware. Marcin founded Malwarebytes in 2004 after accidentally downloading malware on his family computer. Malwarebytes is free to download on Windows, Mac, Android, and IOS devices. Malwarebytes offers a 60-day money back guarantee on all annual plans.[1][5][6][7][16]

Malwarebytes on the record

Sources

Malwarebytes full record

  1. [1]threatdown.comMalwarebytes (ThreatDown) · threatdown.com · undated page, accessed September 27, 2026 · Tier A
  2. [2]Malwarebytes announces acquisition of leading online privacy company cyrus 301908393Malwarebytes via PR Newswire · prnewswire.com · published August 24, 2023 · Tier A
  3. [3]CompanyMalwarebytes · malwarebytes.com · undated page, accessed September 27, 2026 · Tier A
  4. [4]All-in-One Protection: Antivirus, VPN & Scam Guard | Best AntivirusMalwarebytes · undated page, accessed October 26, 2026 · Tier A
  5. [5]Scam detector | Real-time free scam detection for iOS and AndroidMalwarebytes · undated page, accessed October 26, 2026 · Tier A
  6. [6]How to Speed Up Your Computer | MalwarebytesMalwarebytes · undated page, accessed October 26, 2026 · Tier A
  7. [7]Android Virus Scan | Scan your Android phone for virusesMalwarebytes · undated page, accessed October 26, 2026 · Tier A
  8. [8]Malwarebytes Appoints Chung Ip as Chief Financial OfficerMalwarebytes · published May 6, 2026 · Tier A
  9. [9]Malwarebytes Launches Free Reverse Phone Check to Help Consumers Identify Potential Scam NumbersMalwarebytes · published June 3, 2026 · Tier A
  10. [10]Malwarebytes Strengthens Consumer Growth Strategy with Appointment of Netspend CEO Michael Weissman to BoardMalwarebytes · published July 22, 2026 · Tier A
  11. [11]Malwarebytes for Teams Reviews 2026: Details, Pricing, & Features | G2G2 · undated page, accessed October 26, 2026 · Tier C
  12. [12]Antivirus with VPN | MalwarebytesMalwarebytes · undated page, accessed November 3, 2026 · Tier A
  13. [13]Malwarebytes tools & solutionsMalwarebytes · undated page, accessed November 3, 2026 · Tier A
  14. [14]Ad Blocker for iPhone | Ad Blocker for iOSMalwarebytes · undated page, accessed November 3, 2026 · Tier A
  15. [15]VPN for crypto | MalwarebytesMalwarebytes · undated page, accessed November 3, 2026 · Tier A
  16. [16]Antivirus for Gaming | Antivirus for Gaming PCMalwarebytes · undated page, accessed November 3, 2026 · Tier A
  17. [17]Malwarebytes Brings Real-time Scam Detection and Threat Intelligence to AI Conversations with Claude ConnectorMalwarebytes · published April 29, 2026 · Tier A
  18. [18]Malwarebytes Appoints Chung Ip as Chief Financial OfficerPR Newswire · published May 6, 2026 · Tier A
  19. [19]Malwarebytes Launches Free Scam Link Check So Anyone Can Verify a Link is Safe Before They ClickMalwarebytes · published October 5, 2026 · Tier A
  20. [20]Malwarebytes Strengthens Consumer Growth Strategy with Appointment of Netspend CEO Michael Weissman to BoardPR Newswire · published July 22, 2026 · Tier A

Sophos full record

  1. [1]ProductsSophos · sophos.com · undated page, accessed September 27, 2026 · Tier A
  2. [2]Sophos completes secureworks acquisitionSophos · sophos.com · published February 3, 2025 · Tier A
  3. [3]Sophos announces completion of take private acquisition by thoma bravoSophos · sophos.com · published March 2, 2020 · Tier A
  4. [4]Case studiesSophos · sophos.com · undated page, accessed October 10, 2026 · Tier A
  5. [5]Sophos launches ciso advantage bringing ciso level security strategy within reach of every organizationSophos · sophos.com · published October 1, 2026 · Tier A
  6. [6]Sophos fusion ai native cybersecurity defense systemSophos · sophos.com · published July 15, 2026 · Tier A
  7. [7]Sophos: Cyber Resilience for the Agentic AI EraSophos · undated page, accessed October 28, 2026 · Tier A
  8. [8]Sophos Firewall Reviews 2026: Details, Pricing, & Features | G2G2 · undated page, accessed October 28, 2026 · Tier C
  9. [9]Sophos Reviews, Ratings & Features 2026 | Gartner Peer InsightsGartner Peer Insights · undated page, accessed October 28, 2026 · Tier C
  10. [10]School Protection | SophosSophos · undated page, accessed November 4, 2026 · Tier A
  11. [11]XGS Series Firewalls - Distributed Edge - Enterprise & Campus - 2U ModelsSophos · undated page, accessed November 4, 2026 · Tier A
  12. [12]Compare 200 and 1000 Series Sophos Switches - Multi-gigabit ModelsSophos · undated page, accessed November 4, 2026 · Tier A
  13. [13]Free Quote: Sophos MDR for Microsoft DefenderSophos · undated page, accessed November 4, 2026 · Tier A

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