Emsisoft A-Squared Free

[John Bull]

I have for a long time used A-Squared Free as a manual infection sweeper and loved it. My real time online protection is AVG9 and Comodo Firewall Pro with Defense Plus, it works perfect. I also use Sandboxie which is about the best security you can get. You lock `em in the sandbox and there they stay, nowhere to go.

A-Squared Free has now been integrated with A-squared Anti-Malware which is a real time online program.
I do not want conflicts with my AV program. I used A-square Free very often as a manual sweeper and it was impressive, I liked it very much, but I do not either need or want yet another real time program.

Having been conned into installing A-Squared Anti-Malware and finding it is not what I want, I uninstalled every trace of it and re-installed A-Squared Free. Guess what ? When I tried to update it, I got a panel up giving me no option but to go for a 3 day trial or to register and have a 30 day trial of A-Squared Anti-Malware.

Well, I can do without Nagware and certainly can do without something I do not want. So, Emsisoft, you go on your chosen path and I will go on mine by resorting back to MalwareBytes that takes a fraction of the time to update than Emsisoft and does just as good a job.

One of the main irritations of A-squared Free was the time taken to update - I could feel myself getting older by the minute.

I fully understand the business economics of integrating a Freebie with a pay program. It tries to induce users to pay for something that is otherwise Free. The result is Nagware and updating problems. Comodo did just that with their Firewall and CIS-v4. Well OK they try their best to coax users into a "purchase" syndrome and that is commercial practice, but users are not that gullible and find an alternative.

John B
Bull

[andyman35]

What you need is the new Emsisoft Emergency kit,their new portable product.

http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/eek/

[wtsinnc]

I had the exact same experience with A-Squared free yesterday; no option to update it, only the nag screen.
So like you, I uninstalled and kept Malwarebytes free as my only installed malware scanner.

It's really too bad top-of-the-line freeware applications such as Avira and now A-Squared are no longer designed for use; only promotion and migration to the paid alternatives.

Oh well; at least SOME quality nag-free alternatives still exist.
Who knows about this time next year.

[TheKid7]

When I got that nag screen on A-Squared Free, I switched to Emsisoft Emergency Kit. I then uninstalled A-Squared Free.

[vasa1]

-{ Quote: "What you need is the new Emsisoft Emergency kit,their new portable product.

http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/eek/" }-

How does this get updated for latest definitions?

[TheKid7]

-{ Quote: "How does this get updated for latest definitions?" }-

When you open the Emsisoft Emergency Kit Scanner (It is basically A-Squared Free.) you are asked if you want to update it. You can also update the Emergency Kit Scanner in the same way as you did A-Squared Free. The updated signatures are stored in the "Signatures" folder which is in the "Run" folder.

Be sure to "check" the 'don't show again' box of the Registration Nag Screen.

The exe to open the Emsisoft Emergency Kit Scanner is named "a2emergencykit.exe" and is located inside the Run folder.

[vasa1]

-{ Quote: "When you open the Emsisoft Emergency Kit Scanner (It is basically A-Squared Free.) you are asked if you want to update it. You can also update the Emergency Kit Scanner in the same way as you did A-Squared Free. The updated signatures are stored in the "Signatures" folder which is in the "Run" folder.

Be sure to "check" the 'don't show again' box of the Registration Nag Screen.

The exe to open the Emsisoft Emergency Kit Scanner is named "a2emergencykit.exe" and is located inside the Run folder." }-

Okay and thanks! I did have A-Squared Free for a while but the updates used to be quite large!

[J_L]

It's the worst nagware I've seen in a long time (version 5 "free").. Bloated too.

[Noob]

Why bloated?
IMO it's very very good :D

[Narxis]

OMG just learn to read! You can download the new Anti-Malware, register it and choose the FREEWARE license OR just download the portable Emergency Kit.

[J_L]

-{ Quote: "OMG just learn to read! You can download the new Anti-Malware, register it and choose the FREEWARE license OR just download the portable Emergency Kit." }-
Care to take a screenshot? Do you know how much stuff it installs, in regards to processes/services?

There's no point for this program IMO since Hitman Pro and VirusTotal includes it.

[Narxis]

-{ Quote: "Care to take a screenshot? Do you know how much stuff it installs, in regards to processes/services?

There's no point for this program IMO since Hitman Pro and VirusTotal includes it." }-

Yeah sure, no point to install any antivirus because we have virustotal, anubis and threatfire. ::)

[J_L]

-{ Quote: "Yeah sure, no point to install any antivirus because we have virustotal, anubis and threatfire. ::)" }-
Looks like you can't answer my questions.

[justenough]

Thank you Emsi for making the EmergencyKit available, it is ideal as a lightweight on-demand scanner, and is a better solution for quick on-demand scans than using the full-featured Emsi Anti-Malware. That they would make this available for free earns them a lot of good will from me, and I will be a paying customer soon, which a nag screen definitely wouldn't get them, quite the opposite. Of course, the fact that they make some of the best-rated security software matters, too.

[Narxis]

-{ Quote: "Looks like you can't answer my questions." }-

I don't want to answer your questions. I want to help John Bull and the others to solve their problem. They want free a-squared and i told them how to get it. No need to bash a product because you think it's unnecessary.

[justenough]

-{ Quote: "Looks like you can't answer my questions." }-

Emsi A-M is full-featured security, which includes a BB, which I think may be the same as their Mamutu. For light weight o-d scans, use the new EmergencyKit. Or if you just don't like those choices for some reason, don't use them at all, and you won't have anything to complain about. But I didn't see the nagware you did.

[J_L]

-{ Quote: "Emsi A-M is full-featured security, which includes a BB, which I think may be the same as their Mamutu. For light weight o-d scans, use the new EmergencyKit. Or if you just don't like those choices for some reason, don't use them at all, and you won't have anything to complain about. But I didn't see the nagware you did." }-
Why do they advertise it as the free version then?

[Noob]

Didn't they change the name to "Emergency Kit", anyways what if they call it free, doesn't everyone do that ;D ;D

[John Bull]

All these posts are exceptionally good. Some do and some don`t. Well that`s what life is all about, a wonderland of opinions and choice.

My own view after a long time using A-squared Free without a hitch or any Nagware in sight AND on reading all your kind and informative posts is :-

1. With AVG9, Comodo Firewall Pro and Defense + and other reputable Freebie sweeper programs off line, I no longer need this newly applied hassle and registration mandate, regardless of their tweak to get it "Free".

2. Add to that SANDBOXIE and Emsisoft becomes totally redundant. it has been erased from my computer.

My computer is as clean as a Surgeons scalpel.

John B

[progress]

-{ Quote: "When I got that nag screen on A-Squared Free, I switched to Emsisoft Emergency Kit." }-

I think that's the easiest way :)

[andyman35]

What never gets mentioned much is Hijackfree which comes as part of the Emergency Kit and AM (Emsi Free too?).It's a great aid to malware removal IMO.

[Triple Helix]

-{ Quote: "OMG just learn to read! You can download the new Anti-Malware, register it and choose the FREEWARE license OR just download the portable Emergency Kit." }-

That's what I did and it only runs 1 very small service in free mode!

TH

220278

[1972vet]

Greetings folks. I am interested if anyone has noticed that the option to use the freeware license is merely a method to bypass the 30 or 33 day trial period, going straight for the limited freeware copy and not some shortcut to get on with using another free version of what we all knew as a2 free.

I had a2 free installed until last Friday...had it for years. When I updated it on Friday, to my surprise, I found the antimalware had installed and during the installation it advised me to uninstall the a2 free version. It also stated in one of the following steps that I could keep it if I wanted but it was useless to scan with.

As per the very words on the Emsisoft download page:
-{ Quote: "Free version

When downloading, you'll get the full version including all protection features for 30+3 days for free. Afterwards the unpaid software switches to a limited freeware scanner mode that allows you to scan and clean your PC whenever you want, but does not include the protection features against new infections." }-
...I take that to mean the same thing that was presented to me during the installation of the a2 Free version Friday update...that it was ok to keep but worthless to scan with beyond that date. Why would anyone want that?

Certainly, the programs database would include an awful lot of signatures that would allow you to detect during a scan and you can still clean those off of your system using that free version...but why wouldn't you want to use almost ANYTHING else that is current? Huh? If anyone here does have more information about this version and it's ability to keep a user's system clean beyond the 23rd of July then please keep me posted. If you can prove that, please do so as I would love to continue using this free product, but not one that is out dated. Thanks!

[bellgamin]

I uninstalled A-square Free, mainly because its integration into A-squared Anti-Malware turned it into a bloated monstrosity, replete with nag screens & agonizingly slow updates.

If Emsisoft thinks that trying to force-feed me bloatware is the way to get me to buy their product, they are sadly mistaken.

[justenough]

Bellgamin, not sure why you are having the trouble with Emsi A-M. I had it installed for a month, and then it became the O-D version no problem. And you do know you can just replace it with EmergencyKit? That's what I did yesterday, and it seems to work without a hitch.

[andyman35]

-{ Quote: "

As per the very words on the Emsisoft download page:

Free version

When downloading, you'll get the full version including all protection features for 30+3 days for free. Afterwards the unpaid software switches to a limited freeware scanner mode that allows you to scan and clean your PC whenever you want, but does not include the protection features against new infections.

...I take that to mean the same thing that was presented to me during the installation of the a2 Free version Friday update...that it was ok to keep but worthless to scan with beyond that date. Why would anyone want that?

" }-
To me that's just referring to the on-access scanner and the Mamutu component becoming inactive .It states that the protection features won't be included not that the detection won't be.

[Noob]

Bloated? I still don't get what's bloated xD

Engine, BB and Surf Protection?
Ohhh, you only want the scanner? Hehehe ;D

[ctrlaltdelete]

1972vet,

Emsisoft Anti-Malware with the limited freeware scanner mode has no realtime protection. It's the Emsisoft Anti-Malware scanner and can be updated and used for years.

You can also choose for the Emergency Kit Scanner (http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/eek/) instead. Check the images on the Emergency Kit page and you'll see it's a-squared Free with a newer design. No installation required.

[justenough]

-{ Quote: "To me that's just referring to the on-access scanner and the Mamutu component becoming inactive .It states that the protection features won't be included not that the detection won't be." }-

That's how it worked for me. I'm barely keeping up with this Windows security stuff, and I had no problems at all running Emsi AM trial, then AM free, and then changing over to EmergencyKit, so I have to think that Bellgamin and 1972vet ran into some sort of software conflict.

[Saraceno]

Free on-demand scanner with full definitions included. Free hijackfree. Excellent support forum.

What's to complain about? It's free! :P

Agree with noob, the full version with behaviour blocker and surf protection, all in one, is comparable to another person with a standard AV plus an additional two security programs. But bellgamin has a point, developers can always aim to improve efficiency with the program.

[jmonge]

the full paid version is very cool;)

[1972vet]

I must update this thread with information I received just now in an email from Mr. Christian Peters of "Emsi Software GmbH" support.

I sent the email just this morning requesting clarification on this issue...stating the confusion created by the way they chose their words in describing their latest freeware version of the new antimalware scanner, combined with the warning message one receives upon installation of the product, recommending removal of the old a2 program as being now useless and out of date.

Excerpt of his reply:
-{ Quote: "...the freemode version includes all new signatures also in the future " }-
So, with that, I have undertaken an effort to update a "Free Software" thread that I maintain on another forum and will once again choose to highly recommend the use of this excellent product.

I can attest to the effectiveness of their anti-malware scanner from having had a licensed copy some years ago. Now that it is indeed offered as a freeware program in lieu of the old now defunct a2 anti-trojan scanner as we once knew it, I am thrilled to include this product as one highly recommended for use as an on-demand scanner.

Outstanding support response too I might add. I have never received such a quick reply from any support person and NEVER on a Sunday. Awesome!

[bellgamin]

Up until yesterday, A-squared was the only freebie-with-nonfree-alternative on my computer. I only retained it because I still have sentimental memories of the ORIGINAL compact, highly efficient A-squared, as developed by programming genius Andreas Haak (http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showpost.php?p=681880&postcount=22). The original A-squared was Haak's successor to his beautifully conceived little anti-trojan proggie called ANTS (http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=1293). ANTS was a vicious nasty-killer in a very small package -- a beautifully crafted specimen of compact but effective programming.

-{ Quote: "Bloated? I still don't get what's bloated xD" }-
IMO, folks nowadays don't recognize bloat for much the same reason that a fish doesn't know it's wet, & a skunk doesn't know it stinks. :) 8)

When Emsisoft wanted to "update" A-squared by incorporating it into AntiMalware I clicked okay. That began a download of >102MB (!!!), which was proceeding at the blazing speed of 3.4kbps on my 11mbps broadband connection. I figured it would pick up speed in a bit so I went & made coffee. When I returned ~12 minutes later, it had downloaded not quite 100KB and was paused. I waited a minute or so for something to happen, & then I killed the connection & uninstalled A2. Sentimentality evidently has its limits. :shifty:

[Noob]

LOL, sorry for your bad experience ::)
Anyways, life continues and so the internet :)

[justenough]

-{ Quote: "IMO, folks nowadays don't recognize bloat for much the same reason that a fish doesn't know it's wet, & a skunk doesn't know it stinks. :) 8) " }-

You ought to see the size of my games compared to the good ol' days. Totally stinky and wet. Unless you want to see what they can do, that part isn't so stinky and wet.

I guess people have different criteria for judging their software. EmergencyKit seems pretty lean and efficient, and Emsisoft Anti-Malware seems like a complete solution with all its components, including a BB like Mamutu.

[bellgamin]

-{ Quote: "...Emsisoft Anti-Malware seems like a complete solution with all its components, including a BB like Mamutu." }-
Now Mamutu IS superb, no question. I am waiting for the Softpedia deal (http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=277717) to become a reality, at which time -- poof! I'm a customer.

-{ Quote: "You ought to see the size of my games compared to the good ol' days." }-
In the REALLY "good old days" 64K of RAM was considered to be a power computer, & programmers HAD to write compact code.

As to modern-day programmers, there are 10 kinds of them -- those who know binary and those who don't.

[1972vet]

-{ Quote: "
IMO, folks nowadays don't recognize bloat for much the same reason that a fish doesn't know it's wet, & a skunk doesn't know it stinks.
...When Emsisoft wanted to "update" A-squared by incorporating it into AntiMalware I clicked okay....12 minutes later, it had downloaded not quite 100KB and was paused. I waited a minute or so for something to happen, & then I killed the connection & uninstalled A2. Sentimentality evidently has its limits." }-
I firmly believe a short wait of a few minutes trumps the system that won't boot. Had you waited patiently, your system would be equipped with an excellent piece of freeware most useful for the "Second Opinion" on demand scanner.

As today's malware is quite capable of converting your system into a rather expensive paper weight, I would recommend a reconsideration of the value of sentiment vs patience. Some of today's malicious code contains quite a bit of bloat, more so than most anti-malware programs...perhaps check yourself for moisture/odor and see if your analogy applies in your own situation.

[hayc59]

-{ Quote: "by bellgamin Up until yesterday, A-squared was the only freebie-with-nonfree-alternative on my computer. I only retained it because I still have sentimental memories of the ORIGINAL compact, highly efficient A-squared, as developed by programming genius Andreas Haak (http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showpost.php?p=681880&postcount=22). The original A-squared was Haak's successor to his beautifully conceived little anti-trojan proggie called ANTS (http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=1293). ANTS was a vicious nasty-killer in a very small package -- a beautifully crafted specimen of compact but effective programming." }-

bellgamin, now those were the days!! I still have a copy of ants and original a2 programs!!
memories
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=5404

[bellgamin]

-{ Quote: "As today's malware is quite capable of converting your system into a rather expensive paper weight, I would recommend a reconsideration of the value of sentiment vs patience." }-
Your error lies in assuming that you know whereof you speak concerning my security needs & assets. I have a superb wall of layered security. Asquared was not one of the bricks. Just a souvenir pebble.

-{ Quote: "I still have a copy of ants and original a2 programs!!" }-
Grrreat collectibles! I envy you. My Windows oldies got mis-laid along the way. But I still have a plethora of programs for Commodore 64, Atari 800, & Apple//c, some of them coded by yours truly.

Bumper sticker of yore -- 4th 220316 IF honk THEN

[Narxis]

-{ Quote: "the full paid version is very cool;)" }-

Yep, one of the best antiviruses on the market.:thumb:

[blacknight]

I like and trust very much A-Squared, but not so for Mamutu. I like his flexiblity but, in the past, it had not good results in the test, Matousec but I believe others too.

[bellgamin]

-{ Quote: "Yep, one of the best antiviruses on the market." }-
Are you referring to Ikarus, the anti-virus component of Emsisoft AM? If so, I agree ... Ikarus is an excellent AV.

[emsisoft]

-{ Quote: "When Emsisoft wanted to "update" A-squared by incorporating it into AntiMalware I clicked okay. That began a download of >102MB (!!!), which was proceeding at the blazing speed of 3.4kbps on my 11mbps broadband connection." }-

I'd love to create a full antivirus engine that needs just 1 MB to download, really! But reality is, that today we face more than 4.5 million different types of viruses, trojans, spyware, etc. and we can't just drop the detection of the oldest 4 million. ;)

We have an average of about 20 bytes per malware signature available which must be good enough to detect variants and not cause any false alerts. That task isn't getting easier these days...

The slow download I guess was because several hundreds of thousands users downloaded the update the same time. The peak is alreay over so it should be much faster now.

[bellgamin]

-{ Quote: "We have an average of about 20 bytes per malware signature available which must be good enough to detect variants and not cause any false alerts. That task isn't getting easier these days..." }-
Cloudy weather ahead, perhaps? (Not to be too subtle -- are you considering the full-on cloud approach?)

-{ Quote: "The slow download I guess was because several hundreds of thousands users downloaded the update the same time. The peak is already over so it should be much faster now." }-
Sounds reasonable to me, Mairoll-sensei. :thumb:

By the way -- Online Armor & Mabutu (referred to as "Mama Butu" in my office) are the 2 Emsisoft apps that I most admire. TWO great security apps that don't need no stinking sigs, brah. ;)

I already own a long-term paid license for OA. I had a license for Mama Butu but it expired recently. I shall buy Mama again when the moon over Softpedia is full, & the wolfbane is in bloom.
220330

[Narxis]

-{ Quote: "Are you referring to Ikarus, the anti-virus component of Emsisoft AM? If so, I agree ... Ikarus is an excellent AV." }-

No, but Ikarus is good too. :)

[emsisoft]

-{ Quote: "Cloudy weather ahead, perhaps? (Not to be too subtle -- are you considering the full-on cloud approach?)
" }-

Do you know how cloud antivirus technology works?

It can't replace classic signature scanning, never ever, because that wouldn't make any sense.

Let me describe it in short:

A classic signature scan works that way: A malware sample is received by the AV vendor. Vendor makes a signature from it (like a fingerprint, hash, etc.). Vendor sends that signature to the client. Client scanner enumerates all files on the harddisk, calculates the fingerprints and compares them with the signature database. If it's a match, we've found a virus (or maybe a fp).

In opposite, cloud antivirus works like this: Client scanner does not have signatures at all (or just very limited set + whitelists, etc) but it calculates a number of hashes from local files. Like creating the signatures on the client instead of the analysis lab.

It also calculates some environment variables for each file to determine how likely it is for a specific file to be malware. Why? Each calculated hash must be uploaded to the cloud for a comparison with the server based big signature database.

Please count the files on your HDDs to see how many hashes that would be. Simply too many for a complete upload. So the scanner must lower the number of uploaded file hashes. It does that by using several filters that exclude files that are most likely clean. Means it excludes files in advance without even scanning them!

That's a big risk and the reason why cloud AVs always fail for full disk scans. They're simply not made to scan the whole disk, but instead they do a great work when it comes to protection as they can see the system as a whole to determine if a new downloaded file may be dangerous. Cloud antivirus is a protection concept, not a file scanning concept.

If you ever wondered why e.g. Hitman Pro, which uses the Emsisoft scan engine on the servers, has different scan results compared to Emsisoft Anti-Malware, it's because it doesn't upload/scan each file of the disk. Just those which look suspicious in the 'heuristic' determination.

Emsisoft Anti-Malware (http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/antimalware/) already uses cloud technology where it makes sense. E.g. at the behavior blocker to check online if a file is a known good file or to gather the other user's decisions on a specific file. We've also made MalAware (http://www.malaware.com/), a full cloud based scanner. But it also does not scan the whole disk, but only specific regions where Malware usually hides.

[Saraceno]

Great thread, thanks bellgamin for keeping things rollin and others for chimin in. (good ol shortenin of wordz, keep it real!) :)

I am seeing great results cloud scanners as their server database becomes more expansive, at the same time, I seem to rely more on signatures when scanning an external drive.

[bellgamin]

-{ Quote: "Do you know how cloud antivirus technology works?

It can't replace classic signature scanning, never ever, because that wouldn't make any sense.

Let me describe it in short:" }-
Mairoll-sensei,

Superb explanation! I have copied it to my knowledge base for use by computer students at the High School where I taught until I retired a second time.

Two questions (dumb ones, no doubt) . . .

1- Right now my HIPS+FW maintains hashes (MD5) of files on my computer, as does my integrity checker (SHA-1). Thus, one or both of these security applications will detect even the slightest change in one of the files on my computer.

2- Your narrative said "Each calculated hash must be uploaded to the cloud for a comparison with the server based big signature database."

3- Q1: As long as a hash check is done by my own computer (via my HIPS/FW & integrity checker) WHY would a hash check need to be done *again* by the cloud?

4- Q2- In other words, after a handshake between my computer & the cloud (at install time & weekly thereafter), why couldn't submissions from my computer to the cloud be confined to ONLY those hash mis-matches and new files that are detected by my OWN computer's HIPS/FW?

[emsisoft]

Please don't mix signature hashes with integrity hash checks.

Hashes can be used in many variants for different purpose.

E.g. if you download a non digitally signed program from a website and want to be sure that nobody has altered the file on the server, you can use an integrity hash checker to calculate a MD5 or SHA1 hash of your finished downloaded file and compare with the published hash information on the vendor website. When the hashes are equal, you can be sure that the downloaded files was not manipulated.

A digital code signing certificate does bascially the same btw (the information you can see in the "Certificates" tab on file properties of all Emsisoft files). As long as the file is valid signed, you can be sure that it was not manipulated.

To Q1: The hash is not calculated by the cloud. The locally installed scanner calculates the hashes from file content. Only the 32 or 40 char hash strings are uploaded to the cloud in order to compare them with known malware hashes in the server cloud database. That must be done only once for each file of course.

When a file is being changed, the scanner must upload the new hash again to do the actual "scan".

But remember that a hash is never that good in detection as an advanced virus signature that is made blurred in order to be able to detect different variants with one signature.

[Noob]

Wow, complex debate ::)

[ejames82]

this is one of the best threads i have seen at wilders for quite a while. with just enough "moisture" and "aroma" to push the envelope.

where my wife works, kids are allowed to use the computers. my wife was given one of these computers. it was horribly infected.

i had an assortment of antimalware type programs available. adaware, asquared free, malwarebytes, superantispyware, and spybot.
the only one that would scan at this time was asquared free. the others would not even scan. it was a while ago and i can't remember why. asquared free found hundereds of objects. after that i was able to scan with the others, but it takes that one scanner to crack the hard shell. i was eventually able to completely clean the computer. it was even verified by a hijackthis analyst.

i don't care if it's the emergency kit that i have to have now or the antimalware program, i will have the emsisoft equivalent to asquared free if it's available to me. i certainly have benefitted from their software.

[MrBrian]

I stopped the autorun of a2guard.exe using AutoRuns with no ill effects so far. Don't try to disable the Emsisoft service however.

[John Bull]

Well I never ! After dumping A-Squared due to their new AM feature which I do not want together with the fee and Nagware that goes with it, I discovered this Emsisoft Emergency Kit 1.0 :-
http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/eek/

I downloaded it and it appears to rely on a number of files and no software is installed. It is a stand alone job. There is my icon sitting on the Desktop, I click it, get the panel up, click RUN and up comes this EEK It is exactly the same as my old A-Squared Free, not a scrap of difference. It updates and scans just the same and I do not have the problem of the AM stuff, fee or Nagware.

End of story - I have my A-Squared Free back as it always was.

John B

[progress]

-{ Quote: "
End of story - I have my A-Squared Free back as it always was.
" }-

I agree, Emergency Kit is a-squared free with 102 mb ::)

[doc77]

it's worthless to try and please a user like you then, it's a portable on demand scanner with amazing detection, for free, it isn't an installer and yet people complain about the download size ::)

[John Bull]

-{ Quote: "it's worthless to try and please a user like you" }-

I have no idea what sort of "Doc" you are, but obviously not a "Doc" in civil behaviour.

Perhaps if you take the trouble to read all the threads I have taken part in, you just may begin to appreciate that there are a GREAT NUMBER of people on this Forum who have helped me tremendously, for which I have always thanked them sincerely.
You obviously have something lacking.

Not to worry - You are now on my ignore list, have a nice day.

John B

[dirsweld]

I don't believe he was addressing you in that post, Mr Bull.

[doc77]

guess John didn't notice the post directly above mine that I was responding to, LOL

[Ibrad]

I know the topic as changed a bit but I got a question for one of the Emisoft staff, I understand that A-Squared is now Emsisoft Antimalware but now requires you to register for a free license key to the free version. Why change from how A-Squared Free was where it was download, update, and use? I really liked it that way, I do not mind registering but make it optional and without a trial for the PRO which can conflict with AV's (from how I read the announcement it said Emsisoft Pro is now with it till you register for the free key?).

[bellgamin]

-{ Quote: "Not to worry - You are now on my ignore list, have a nice day." }-
Keep this up for no good reason & you will soon have the forum all to yourself. ;)

[jmonge]

john behave man;D

[ejames82]

i agree with ibrad. it's no big deal to register. i was already a member of their website. i had to hunt down my username and password and i was in. i got the antimalware version. i don't think i got the pro version. i don't see pro anywhere. i'm pretty sure it's the free version.
even if you're not a member, go ahead and register. it's a company that's been around for a long time and will continue to be around for a long time. it's worth it.

what i've been reading on here, they give you two excellent alternatives to choose from. either register and get the antimalware version or get the emergency kit that doesn't even need to be installed. i think it's really good of them.

[Narxis]

Emsisoft Anti-Malware 5.0 (beta updates enabled):

* Freeware license option in setup wizard added.
* Freeware use without user account registration added.
* Several minor licensing bugfixes.

[Get]

-{ Quote: "Keep this up for no good reason & you will soon have the forum all to yourself. ;)" }-

I got migraine when reading this topic:o literally, so I switched to reading some of it and this post made me laugh;D. Thx:) . Not having read everything I just want to say this: Emergency Kit = A2free standalone which is great and made me very happy, because I thought a2free was gone. The size doesn't matter, because you can place it on whatever drive you want. Now i'm gonna lie down:wacko: .

[Tarnak]

So what happens when your pro version expires, and you choose not renew? I have dropped to 3 day trial mode which extends the expiry date.

I am registered, so conceivably if I do not purchase the software, it should revert to the free version. After all, they have my registered details.

I don't want to have to download a new exe file. That, really would p*** me off. ;) :(

P.S. I am waiting for this ephemeral discount! ...mentioned here > Softpedia discounts! > http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=277717

Perhaps, I shouldn't hold my breath.

Edit: Added P.S.

[Boyfriend]

-{ Quote: "Do you know how cloud antivirus technology works?

It can't replace classic signature scanning, never ever, because that wouldn't make any sense.
Let me describe it in short:
......................
We've also made MalAware (http://www.malaware.com/), a full cloud based scanner. But it also does not scan the whole disk, but only specific regions where Malware usually hides." }-

Very nice explanation emsisoft. Thanks for great info. Although I was not 100 % sure about cloud security working methodology, but I preferred to avoided it and choose classic scanning approach for great security (without live internet connection 24 x 7 x 365).

[Ibrad]

-{ Quote: "Emsisoft Anti-Malware 5.0 (beta updates enabled):

* Freeware license option in setup wizard added.
* Freeware use without user account registration added.
* Several minor licensing bugfixes." }-

Great news! I am going to try this out soon (the free version).

[progress]

-{ Quote: "guess John didn't notice the post directly above mine that I was responding to, LOL" }-

It's too late now, you are on his ignore list Mr. Doc ;D

[Noob]

-{ Quote: "It's too late now, you are on his ignore list Mr. Doc ;D" }-
HAHAHA yeah, that's why we quote sometimes ;D

[John Bull]

I have been made aware that my post No.56 towards doc77 was apparently subject to mistaken identity, I have PM`d him with my sincere apologies, which I also extend to the Forum and other readers.

John B

[dirsweld]

-{ Quote: "I have been made aware that my post No.56 towards doc77 was apparently subject to mistaken identity, I have PM`d him with my sincere apologies, which I also extend to the Forum and other readers.

John B" }-

Well done, Mr Bull! Always good to see a man take responsibility, even if it is for 'mistaken identity', rather than for the reaction itself.;)

[Tarnak]

-{ Quote: "So what happens when your pro version expires, and you choose not renew? I have dropped to 3 day trial mode which extends the expiry date.

I am registered, so conceivably if I do not purchase the software, it should revert to the free version. After all, they have my registered details.

I don't want to have to download a new exe file. That, really ..." }-

Apparently, it does revert to freeware mode, after all, as per screenshot.

P.S. I just click on Get 30 more days to test, and I am away...hopefully that 'special' I mentioned above earlier will materialize. ;)

[justenough]

Hey thanks Tarnak. Didn't notice the 30 extra days. Surely we'll get the promised special offer in that time. :-\ Maybe?

[Noob]

Wow, so its 60 days trial? xD

[Tarnak]

-{ Quote: "Hey thanks Tarnak. Didn't notice the 30 extra days. Surely we'll get the promised special offer in that time. :-\ Maybe?" }-

You're welcome. :)

-{ Quote: "Wow, so its 60 days trial? xD" }-

I wish...but I took the 3 days trial, offered initially, instead of the 30 days.

So, it is 3 days + 30 days for a total of 33 days. ;D

[pajenn]

Guys, give Emsisoft Commandline Scanner (http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/cmd/) a try (formally A-Squared Commandline Scanner). It's the same scanner as A-Squared Free but with the command line component only - no nags or any other crap. You just have to set up a bunch of batch files for basic operations and are you all good to go.

For example, I have it extracted to Z:\My Programs\a2cmd (no install required), and I keep all the batch files in a subdirectory called Commands. You can add a whitelist.txt for exclusions. Here are a few examples of my batch files:

a2update.cmd to update:
-{ Quote: "..\a2cmd.exe /u" }-

a2smart_reportOnly.cmd to do a smart scan that records a log only (no quarantine), excludes certain file types and uses my whitelist to skip certain large folders that would slow the scan down:
-{ Quote: "..\a2cmd.exe /smart /l=logs\smart.log /xe="7z,ahk,avi,img,iso,mp3,mpeg,mpg,sna,tib,vdk,vmdx,vmem,vmsn" /wl=whitelist.txt" }-

a2cmd_C_exe.cmd to scan and quarantine infected exe-files on C:\ :
-{ Quote: "..\a2cmd.exe /f="C:\" /h /n /q=../quarantine /l="logs\logC_exe.log" /x="exe"" }-

It's a bit of a hassle at first but once you get the hang of it you won't ever want to go back to A-Squared Free.

As for context menu scans, you can setup your own context menu shortcut using one of many programs designed for that sort of thing. I use the following command with Filemenu Tools which scans the selected files/folders and produces a log file of the results (no automatic quarantine for me):
-{ Quote: "Program: Z:\My Programs\a2cmd\a2cmd.exe
Arguments: /f=%FILEPATHS% /a /h /r /l="%FOLDERPATH%\a2log.txt" /xe="avi, iso, mpeg, mpg, mp3"" }-

Fwiw, I've added many of my own context menu shortcuts for things such as Open with Notepad2, Search with BareGrepPro, Run PowerCmd from here, Move Application (to move program with Funduc Application Mover 4), ...

[Noob]

-{ Quote: "You're welcome. :)



I wish...but I took the 3 days trial, offered initially, instead of the 30 days.

So, it is 3 days + 30 days for a total of 33 days. ;D" }-
OH, LOL hahaha i though it was 60 days xD

@pajenn
I love this, i learned to use it a few months ago and this have been one of my main tools xD ;D ;D

[emsisoft]

-{ Quote: "I know the topic as changed a bit but I got a question for one of the Emisoft staff, I understand that A-Squared is now Emsisoft Antimalware but now requires you to register for a free license key to the free version. " }-

The latest build 5.0.0.67 does not require registration to use the freeware mode. The setup wizard offers an option to directly jump into freeware now. :)

[John Bull]

As I said earlier, I went for the Emergency Kit stand alone job and will never regret it, I have my A-Squared Free back with no strings attached.
http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/eek/

Further discussion to me is pointless.

John B

[blacknight]

Well, let me spend some word about A-Squared-Antimalware :) : it has been, in the free version, my security on demand scanner for many years, and it always did a great work for me. Actually, I have a payed license for another av that I trust equally. But, if I'm not wrong, there will be a special offer for it ( can you remind it please ? I can't find...). I think to purchase it, to thank Emsisfot for his security work, because I think that excellent security sw must be supported, also to help their development. :)

[justenough]

-{ Quote: "Well, let me spend some word about A-Squared-Antimalware :) : it has been, in the free version, my security on demand scanner for many years, and it always did a great work for me. Actually, I have a payed license for another av that I trust equally. But, if I'm not wrong, there will be a special offer for it ( can you remind it please ? I can't find...). I think to purchase it, to thank Emsisfot for his security work, because I think that excellent security sw must be supported, also to help their development. :)" }-

:thumb: to that last sentence, blacknight.

A special offer has been promised, we wait patiently.

[Ibrad]

Nice the free use is back, thanks everyone at the Emsi team :D

[J_L]

-{ Quote: "The latest build 5.0.0.67 does not require registration to use the freeware mode. The setup wizard offers an option to directly jump into freeware now. :)" }-
Should've been included in it a long time ago imo, but good job nonetheless.

[Noob]

Well that's the advantages when some Developers participate in forums :D

[TheMozart]

I remove the Emergency Emsisoft USB portable version Program because all of a sudden it started asking me for UAC rights. Anyone know why?

[ctrlaltdelete]

-{ Quote: "I remove the Emergency Emsisoft USB portable version Program because all of a sudden it started asking me for UAC rights. Anyone know why?" }-


Emsisoft Free Emergency Kit 1.0.0.11 released:

-> Requests Admin rights on startup in order to be able to scan all system areas.

See Emsisoft Change(b)log (http://changeblog.emsisoft.com/)

[Noob]

-{ Quote: "Emsisoft Free Emergency Kit 1.0.0.11 released:

-> Requests Admin rights on startup in order to be able to scan all system areas.

See Emsisoft Change(b)log (http://changeblog.emsisoft.com/)" }-
Nice, will update my tools :D

[Kid Shamrock]

-{ Quote: ":thumb: to that last sentence, blacknight.

A special offer has been promised, we wait patiently." }-
There is a new offer up at Softpedia, but it's for Mamutu only. It's been verified by Emsisoft as being valid. I don't know if there's an offer coming up for the full Antimalware program or not. http://news.softpedia.com/news/Mamutu-Price-Drops-to-35-on-Softpedia-150006.shtml

[justenough]

-{ Quote: "There is a new offer up at Softpedia, but it's for Mamutu only. It's been verified by Emsisoft as being valid. I don't know if there's an offer coming up for the full Antimalware program or not. http://news.softpedia.com/news/Mamutu-Price-Drops-to-35-on-Softpedia-150006.shtml" }-

Thanks for the head's up. $22 for 3 years? :thumb:

[sg09]

Good news indeed...:D

[toxinon12345]

-{ Quote: "Please count the files on your HDDs to see how many hashes that would be. Simply too many for a complete upload. So the scanner must lower the number of uploaded file hashes. It does that by using several filters that exclude files that are most likely clean. Means it excludes files in advance without even scanning them!

That's a big risk and the reason why cloud AVs always fail for full disk scans. They're simply not made to scan the whole disk, but instead they do a great work when it comes to protection as they can see the system as a whole to determine if a new downloaded file may be dangerous. Cloud antivirus is a protection concept, not a file scanning concept.

If you ever wondered why e.g. Hitman Pro, which uses the Emsisoft scan engine on the servers, has different scan results compared to Emsisoft Anti-Malware, it's because it doesn't upload/scan each file of the disk. Just those which look suspicious in the 'heuristic' determination." }-

-{ Quote: "But remember that a hash is never that good in detection as an advanced virus signature that is made blurred in order to be able to detect different variants with one signature." }-

Completely agree with you :thumb:
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=290061

[Noob]

Nice thread resurrection :P