Sophos Anti-Virus for Mac Home Edition

[JSG]

Newbie Here. Today, Sophos found the first threat in the year I've been using it t scan my MacBook Pro. When I tried to open the lock, I was asked for my password. I have no record of ever setting up a password for the purpose. But, apparently, I must have. How do I retrieve my forgotten password, or persuade the Sophos software to let me choose a different password? 

[Agile]

The password is your administrator password for your computer.  It was required for you to install Sophos Anti-Virus in the first place, and is usually required by the OS before allowing you to do anything else that affects the operating system.  Most people have it set for when they start up their computer as well.

[JSG · Accepted solution]

Thank you, Agile!

Much appreciated.  Now I understand why I didn't recall or make a note of the password originally.

A day or so after writing for help, I had independently identified the correct password -- though without understanding the process that you describe -- by exhaustively testing every password I'd been using this past year. Finally, I tried the password I'd -- purposely -- only used once before, when setting up my new MacBook Pro several years ago. Bingo. Surpised me (baffled me actually) because I had at that time determined not to use it again for another purpose, as a layer of protective insurance.  Your reply now clarifies the experience.

Thanks, again.

JSG