Sophos has integrated new adware and spyware protection into its Endpoint Security suite for corporates. It also includes a client firewall to protect company machines when they are operating beyond the company network.

The client firewall was developed by Agnitum, after Sophos acquired a license to use its technology last year. John Shaw, group product manager at Sophos, said it was needed as 'users are frequently connecting to the Internet directly, via wireless hotspots in airports, hotels and cafes, independent of corporate intranets'.

Sophos doesn’t compete in the highly competitive consumer market so won't be directly threatened by Windows Live OneCare, Microsoft's all-in-one anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall and data backup product.

Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos, is content to let competitors such as Symantec to have their 'playground punch-up' with Microsoft in the home user market. 'Microsoft will distract our competitors and allow us room to focus on the enterprise side', he says.

In contrast Raimund Genes, Anti-Malware CTO for Trend Micro, feels that 'Sophos underestimates the benefits of having a home user install base to aid in the identification of malware'.