Convince me to spurn MS A-S for Ewido

[psaulm119]

I have been a rather happy user of MS Anti-Spyware ever since it came out. After getting the Zapchast trojan (which dropped an IRC client into my system), I am getting skeptical about my previous anti-malware defenses. I see that Ewido is active not only against spyware, but also trojans. Is this a realistic analysis? I would expect these to get picked up by an av, not by a spyware program.

Apart from this apparent advantage, is there any other benefit from running the freeware Ewido version compared to MS Antispyware?

[hollywoodpc]

There is a huge advantage !!!! ANOTHER layer of protection . The scabner is free , as you stated . Sooooo , why not use it to scan your system to POSSIBLY detect what MS misses ? No program is perfect so , back up M$ with Ewido by scanning your system every so often .

Hope that helps :-\

[psaulm119]

{QUOTE-> There is a huge advantage !!!! ANOTHER layer of protection . The scabner is free , as you stated . Sooooo , why not use it to scan your system to POSSIBLY detect what MS misses ? No program is perfect so , back up M$ with Ewido by scanning your system every so often .

Hope that helps :-\ <-QUOTE}

This sounds like you would advocate using the scanner on a routine basis for scanning, as opposed to running it in the background (actually, it took me a while to realize what a scabner was). :-* Seriously, that's not a bad idea, although I was thinking about the real-time protection--not only for myself, but for Joe User out there who may not know much about this stuff and would be much more likely to start running a secure comp if he didn't have to run 8 programs to get it that way. I'm thinking about using Ewido as a substitute for MS Anti-spyware, not only using Ewido's scanner, but also its real-time protection.

Actually, I hadn't thought of using just its scanner function. I use Ad-Aware for that. How would you compare these two for a routine spyware scan--Ewido and Ad-Aware? Is Ewido significantly better?

[hollywoodpc]

Scabner !!! LOL . Sorry about that .
I like Ad aware ok . Ewido , in my opinion , is much stronger . Ewido detects ALL types of malware . Ad Aware does not . As frar as running real time , I think Ewido MIGHT be better because it detects more than M$ . But , M$ is free as is the Ewido scanner . I am very well protected but , I use Ewido as a scanner just to back up my real time stuff . M$ and Ad Aware are more for detecting spyware . Ewido goes after virii , trojans , and so on . It certainly detects spyware as well . Ewido is much more in depth than the other two mentioned . Just a suggestion but , run M$ AND Ad Aware as you wish . I WOULD install Ewido and use it as a scanner IF not as real time protector , Did I spell scaBner right this time ?:blink:
By the way , I run an Ewido scan maybe once evry couple of weeks as I have alot of faith in my AV and At and AS programs .

[psaulm119]

OK another read at the Ewido site let me realize that the freeware version doesn't offer real-time protection, so its only function would be for the routine scan. And yes, your remarks about its ability are well taken-- it sounds like it catches so much more than Ad-Aware. Man I kinda grew up (on the internet) with Ad-aware (shows you how long I've been around). But at least if the claims on the site can be believed, Ewido must be a much more powerful scanner than Ad-Aware.

[hollywoodpc]

AdAware is very good at what it does but , it is really ONLY for spyware . And even for that , you should use a backup to work with it like M$AS . One might catch what the other may miss .
As for Ewido , how can you go wrong ? Free AND detects ALOT fo crap ! Nice utility in my opinion . And it IS good at what it does . It will even find a virus that your AV caught and keeps in the quarantine area . SWEEEEET

[q1aqza]

When MS starts charging for AS then that might be a good time to make the switch to Ewido for real-time.

[psaulm119]

{QUOTE-> When MS starts charging for AS then that might be a good time to make the switch to Ewido for real-time. <-QUOTE}
If they start charging. They certainly are keeping their options open (by committing themselves to 6-month blocks only for free useage IIRC), but they might reason that a more secure Windows world is better for their bottom line in the long run. I mean, even ISPs now are (one would suppose) paying av companies for security packages that the ISP companies can allow thier customers to download for free. My take on this is that they figure they spend less on tech support when their customers are protected to begin with.

Not that MS does tech support for us, but you get the idea.... :P

[Notok]

MS has stated that they will not charge for MSAS at any time. They thought about it in the beginning, but quickly changed their minds. Rumors surface periodically, but they are quick to kill them.

Ewido is/was primarily an anti-trojan scanner, but includes detection for just about everything since the lines have blurred. The major advantage of Ewido is in it's true memory scanning, which (afaik) nobody else can match (in addition to the large database). Ewido has a reputation for being able to pry things out of memory that no other scanner is able to. It is also very easy to use, IMO much easier than MSAS, and is much better than MSAS at removing.. MSAS may be okay at keeping things off if you run resident, but it's reputation for removing is really not all that great.

Personally I see malware in the area of trojans (including spyware that uses many of the same techniques) as the area that's more important to focus on. Ewido does an excellent job and will detect a wide array of malware often missed by antivirus programs. IMO it's well worth the price for the full version.

[vinzenz.ewido]

After re-reading this thread I've to mention you guys that we're not scanning for all kinds of malware.

Almost. But not all.

We're not scanning for viruses (and currently not planing doing so ), but for trojans, worms, keyloggers, a.s.o. We're scanning for rootkits, too but aren't unfortunately abled to remove them all at the moment ( But work is in progress ;) )

Additionally we're scanning for Hijackers, Adware and Spyware.

BR
Vinzenz

[psaulm119]

Hey I like what I'm hearing. Actually, I started this thread a while ago. I see now that Ewido does cover a fair amount of malware more than MSAS does, so I use MSAS as my real-time malware protection, and I run periodical updates and scans with Ewido. So you don't need to convince me any more, but thanks for the updated information. :)

[Yannis]

Hi to all of you
I want to add my humble opinion here. I use the paid version of Ewido which offers real-time protection and daily updates.I think is just great.
I also use MSantispyware as long as it is free.
Best regards
Yannis
:)

[q1aqza]

{QUOTE-> MS has stated that they will not charge for MSAS at any time. They thought about it in the beginning, but quickly changed their minds. Rumors surface periodically, but they are quick to kill them.

QUOTE]

That's interesting to hear. It's surprising considering the purchase of Giant must have cost something quite significant - well significant to me but probably not to M$ !!!

I just can't help feeling that they won't give us something for nothing unless perhaps they eventually integrate it into the OS at some future date.

If it is always going to be free why only the licence 6 monthly ? I'm not disputing what you say, if it does remain free in the foreseeable then great !!

[DonKid]

I'd like to know if Ewido can unpack files like upx, pe, etc.

Best Regards,

DonKid.

[Edwin024]

I think that the six months thing is because of the beta character of the program. Kaspersky does the same now with their beta's.

[peter.ewido]

{QUOTE-> I'd like to know if Ewido can unpack files like upx, pe, etc.

Best Regards,

DonKid. <-QUOTE}

Absolutely :)

{QUOTE-> Generic unpacking supports the following crypters: Aspack, Exegriper, FSG, JDPack, Lamecrypt, Morphine, Neolite, Netwalker, PCShrink, PEcompact, PECrypt, PEPack, PKLite, Squeezer, StonesPeCrypter, UPX, Winkript <-QUOTE}

[hollywoodpc]

Peter . You are not allowed to answer . lol . Love Ewido ! It detects AND removes many things . I stated that earlier . It is an excellent choice . As for M$ . They will not charge until they screw it up enough . THEN they will steal your money by telling you that you MUST use it with Windows or else !

[DonKid]

Thanks Peter.

[strangequark]

I thought eWido detected and deleted M$ Anti-Spyware, if it does'nt it should.
Just joking ;D