Although Mac users may see that an upgrade to the Big Sur operating system is available on or after Thursday, Feb. 11, Information Technology Services strongly recommends all employees avoid updating University-owned computers to prevent problems with anti-virus protection.
This recommendation includes faculty and staff at the Health Sciences Center.
If you upgrade a WVU computer to Big Sur, it will prevent important updates to Sophos anti-virus software, and your computer won’t be fully protected. You will also see several pop-up windows after every reboot and will be unable to act on the instructions. These pop-ups will persist until Sophos provides a compatible software update. Sophos has indicated a fix should be available this spring, and ITS will announce when it’s safe to update your WVU computer.
Personally owned computers that are using the version of Sophos available via freeav.wvu.edu are safe to upgrade. ITS testing has not identified any compatibility issues with that personal-use product, called Sophos Home.
If you have already installed macOS Big Sur on a WVU computer and have encountered problems, call the ITS Service Desk at 304-293-4444 or contact your college or department IT team. If you work at HSC and have problems, contact the HSC ITS Help Desk at 304-293-3631, option 1.