A-Squared 3.0 final released

Thanks Andreas. I appreciate your explanation as to why the service remained after an un-install as I updated to 3.0 through 2.1. I also think your right that there should be no whining over a process that's needed for the betterment of a very good program like a-squared, although I was one of the whiners. It was your explainations that helped me to realize this though, and I now wonder if unlike you that Emsisoft isn't glad you left the business? Take care, and because of your help I'll most likely be using a-squared again.

 

Updates are incremental since 2005 around. But we have to bundle all daily updates to a new base file 2-3 times a year. Otherwise the update process for every single update would take very long if we would have 1000+ signature files to update. I understand your concerns about big updates, but a 10-20 MB update every 4-5 months should not be that big problem today. You should definitely try to get broadband internet if possible.

Regarding memory usage:
As the signature count doubled to more than 700,000 within the last year, the memory usage raised to about 60-70 mb. Now, the scanning service takes about half of that.

Edit: Some notes about the service:
As already described, the service was needed to be able to handle non admin accounts (which is default on Windows Vista). If you close all GUI parts of a-squared (Scanner, Guard, Security Center), the service unloads all components and remains in idle state. It does not take any CPU and uses only little memory. The reason why the service is not automatically shut down too is, that the UAC box would appear on every program start again to start the service. If the service is always running, you don't get the UAC window, except for software installation. On XP, the program would fail to start without the service when using a limited user account too.

 

You have just shot yourself in the foot because no self respecting XP user who runs as Admin will ever use your program now. I would not touch Vista with a 100 foot pole..it stinks too badly. I plan to use XP until 2014.

I've never used your program before but I installed it, and AVG AntiSpyware, tonight on a virtual machne running XP Pro SP1 because of a thread at dslreports about this ridiculous adding of unneeded services in XP because of Vista problems. Besides adding unneeded services to XP which I will not tolerate (and I have 2GB RAM but I don't run anything that is unnecessary) there is a serious security issue caused by this programming for Vista neutered users and that spilling onto XP and causing security holes. This abysmal programming on your part, and even worse on AVG's part (AVG shut down Explorer on my host machine when I tried to kill the unneeded service...their software is horrible but this latest version is especially bad), appears to cause a severe security hole in XP. Patrick Kolla understands the dangers of what you and AVG have done and he, wisely, has pulled back and is refusing to go the route that you two have done. Programmers who are lazy like you and who decide to cause serious security problems on XP with your Vista logo approved software are going to cause the premature death of XP. DAMN shame and so unnecessary. You should have coded separate programs ...one for Vista and one for XP.

I was able to get your program to function after I disabled the service but I wouldn't use it as I would not trust it to run on XP without causing the security problems that Dadkins (dslr thread) has discovered. Plus, I don't want some crappy service sitting there that I have disabled but can't get rid of...I have to live with only disabling AutoUpdating and some other Microsoft crap but I won't live with programs I install that stick unneeded services on my computer that I can't get rid of and that may cause serious security problems. Ironic that it is two security programs causing security problems on XP because of crappy programming for the horrendous Vista OS.

This problem that is evidenced currently by the latest versions of A2 and AVG is just going to get worse. When you read the contortions that UltraVNC has had to go through to try and get its excellent application to run on Vista...well, it turns your stomach and makes you even more determined to never use Vista.

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,18485477~start=0

 

These are in generall NT "problems". Actually they are not problems ... it his how the system works.

Obviously you don't have the slightest clue about how windows memory management works. The service is unused? Fine ... it will get swapped.

Cause a non-admin can do alter system parts using the service? Oh ... that might be the reason why a-squared has this little thingy:

http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/4776/as1fr7.jpg
http://img471.imageshack.us/img471/6015/as2qm2.jpg​

Thanks buddie ... I always asked myself what this might be good for ... .

The only problem I see is your lack of expertise while parotting gibberish you found in a random "dadkins" rant.

Actually ... you didn't understand Patrick. The posting is not about services. Its about a test an application has to pass wo get vista certified. You might have noticed neither a-squared nor AVG anti-spyware has that logo ... guess why ... .

So before you are ranting about laziness try to actually read and understand a text. Thanks.

And dadkins has any expertise in that kind of field? No? Thought so ...

Honestly? The only irony I can find is that you are working as an Administrator all the time and are worried about security.

 

That would be what the entire worlds XP user base ... umm whats a few million people here and there, they are idiots right? You're the biggest wise ass around here.

Don't even get me started on it, lets just say its a waste of perfectly good forum space.

Care to elaborate ... wait lets not I've heard enough drivel for one morning. How about some credible links that show this "security risk".

Last I checked this was a free country if you didn't like software don't use it, but then again this isn't your style you like to bitch and moan about it.

And this is coming from the biggest software engineer on this board? Have you *EVER* coded a single line of code what about designed a software? Umm nope you haven't done anything, so what gives you the right to call the above programers "lazy", if you're so "bright" why don't you contribute code to this project. Oh yeah, thats right you can't.

I've read the entire thread and NOWHERE did I see any proof how this so called "security risk" came about. Delusions of paranoid mind perhaps?

P.S.: Now you actually have to read my replies.

 

I skip over chopped up posts. If you want me to seriously consider any comments from you please write your responses in coherent paragraphs. Take the time to write properly instead of chopping your replies so they make no sense except in the NARROW DISTORTED sense that appears to be the only way in which you are able to think. You need to be able to see the entire picture and to then frame a response that takes all of it into consideration. That cannot be done by chopping your replies. Chopping your replies is a tactic used by those who cannot see the larger picture and the larger picture is what this is all about.

My post was directed at the CEO. The CEO for A2 needs to reply.

 

Sorry Marylin you're not going to get any favors from me I'm not about to "clean up" my post as you put just because you want me too. If you don't like it don't read it. I don't care I got my point across. Last time I checked this was a public forum and I can reply to whomever I please even you. I don't have to justify my actions to you of all people. If you don't like my posts complain, thats what you do anyway ... Muuuuuuu.

So how long till we see another MuMu?

EDIT: Almost forgot if you're gonna call me narrow minded show me where did I NOT agree with someones point of view who's "knowledgeable" and not some opinionated user.

 

From what I just read... It seems you don't have a response to the replies said to you.

Chopping up replies is... Better than saying well here you said "Blah Blah Blah" but that doesn't make sense because "Blah Blah Blah" ... When instead you could just quote it... And then write the sentence.. It's the same thing.

The BIG picture is A-Squared works fine, stop trying to bash a good product.

BTW, incase you don't quite understand this... This post was directed at YOU. So YOU need to reply.. You being... Mele20. Incase YOU didn't know it was YOU.

 

Mele20, please do me a favor and don't criticize things you don't understand.

Please buy some professional software architecture books to learn how the Windows system and especially the security and process model works. Then let's talk again about our 'crappy' service.

But I have to admit that we have been really lazy, to not implement the service architecture earlier in a-squared Anti-Malware.