Sophos Web Protection provides enhanced protection against web threats. It includes the following features:
Web pages that operate proxy services, or offer proxy software, with the specific intent of defeating security and control. Web pages that purposefully allow users to browse the Web by hiding their IP address, or other personal identification information, in order to bypass local filtering policies and access any Web page. Sophos Web Security and Control Test Site This test site contains pages classified by SophosLabs for the purpose of testing our web security and control products. Note that some pages are classified as potentially offensive or dangerous however the page content itself should be considered safe for viewing in all circumstances.
- Live URL filtering
- Scanning of downloaded content
- Checking of the reputation of downloaded files
Live URL filtering
Live URL filtering blocks access to websites that are known to host malware. This feature works by performing a real-time lookup against Sophos's online database of infected websites.
When access to a malicious website is blocked, the event is recorded in the scanning log. For information about viewing the scanning log, see View the scanning log.
Content scanning
Content scanning scans data and files downloaded from the internet (or intranet) and proactively detects malicious content. This feature scans content hosted at any location, including locations not listed in the database of infected websites.
Sophos Web Security Appliance
Download reputation
Download reputation is calculated based on the file's age, source, prevalence, deep content analysis and other characteristics.
Sophos Web Security
By default, an alert will be displayed when a file with low or unknown reputation is downloaded. We recommend that you do not download such files. If you trust the file's source and publisher, you can choose to download the file. Your action and the file's URL will be recorded in the scanning log.
For more information about download reputation, see knowledgebase article 121319.
Web protection configuration settings
By default, web protection is enabled: access to malicious websites is blocked, downloaded content is scanned and the reputation of downloaded files is checked.
For more information about the web protection settings and how to change them, see Configure Sophos Web Protection.
Supported web browsers
Web protection is supported on the following web browsers:
- Internet Explorer
- Edge
- Google Chrome
- Firefox (except for download reputation)
- Safari (except for download reputation)
- Opera
Web content accessed via an unsupported browser is not filtered and will not be blocked.