Sophos Anti-Rootkit

Overview

Sophos Anti-Rootkit was a free rootkit detection and removal tool developed by Sophos. It was designed to identify and remove hidden rootkits that could compromise system security and evade traditional antivirus programs. The tool was primarily used by security professionals and IT administrators to scan for stealth malware threats.

Features

• Detects and removes kernel-mode and user-mode rootkits.
• Scans system memory, registry, and files for hidden malware.
• Provides a detailed report of detected threats.
• Allows users to manually review and remove rootkits.
• Portable and does not require installation.

Compatibility

Sophos Anti-Rootkit was compatible with:

• Windows XP
• Windows Vista
• Windows 7

The standalone tool has been discontinued and its functionality has been integrated into Sophos' full security suite.

Usage

1. Download Sophos Anti-Rootkit from a trusted security source.
2. Run the executable as an administrator (no installation required).
3. Start the scan to detect rootkits in system memory, files, and registry.
4. Review the results and remove any detected threats.
5. Restart the system to complete the cleanup process.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• ✔ Effective rootkit detection and removal.
• ✔ Portable and easy to use.
• ✔ Free for both personal and enterprise use.

Cons

• ✘ Discontinued and no longer updated.
• ✘ Requires manual review of detected threats.
• ✘ Now only available as part of Sophos' full security suite.

Alternative Software

• GMER – A popular rootkit detection and removal tool.
• TDSSKiller – Kaspersky’s rootkit removal tool.
• Malwarebytes Anti-Rootkit – A free tool for detecting and removing rootkits.

Developer

• Company: Sophos
• Status: Discontinued (Integrated into Sophos security products)

External Links

• Sophos Official Website
• (No standalone download available)