Sophos Anti-Virus: what the version number means

This article describes the version numbering system used for Sophos Anti-Virus.

Other products, e.g. PureMessage for Windows/Exchange, have their own version and release numbers.

Versions 4.5.0 and 5.0.0 and above

The name of each product incorporates a version number in the format X.Y.Z For example, Sophos Anti-Virus 4.5.0.
The version number changes when the following updates are made to the software:

• When significant new features are added to existing software, the first digit 'X' increases.
• When some new features are added to the software, the second digit 'Y' increases.
• When a maintenance version of the software is released which incorporates a patch or a fix, but no new features are added, the third digit 'Z' increases.
• When a new version of the Sophos Anti-Virus engine is released, the third digit 'Z' increases.

Earlier versions of Sophos Anti-Virus

The Sophos Anti-Virus virus data version number for all platforms increments by one each month. Any additional software updates are also indicated. For example, 3.88.1 (December 2004), 3.89.0 (January 2005). In 3.88.1:

• 3 is the main Sophos Anti-Virus version number
• .88 is the virus data version number
• .1 is the software update version number.

For example, in December 2004, the Sophos Anti-Virus version was set to 3.88.0 for all platforms and the virus data version was set to 3.88. If a software update was issued on a particular platform, the Sophos Anti-Virus version would become 3.88.1 for the first update, 3.88.2 for the second update, etc. In January 2005, when the virus data number incremented to 3.89, all Sophos Anti-Virus versions were set to 3.89.0.