- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows Vista, Windows 95, Windows NT 4 SP 3, Windows Server 2008, Windows XP Itanium 64-bit, Windows 3.x, Windows 7, Windows XP, Windows 98
- Date added: February 26, 2009
- Total Downloads: 1,479,557
- Downloads last week: 14,564
- See full specifications
A newer version of A-squared Free is available.
(Download doesn't provide access to previous versions of this program.)
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 356 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: Seth Rosenblatt on February 20, 2009
A-Squared Free 4 is one of the better free malware removers, but it's not flawless and some users question its efficacy.
The program starts off with a sluggish detection file update that also requires a program restart. This took about 10 minutes. Normally, though, it opens to the Security Status page. From there, you can run scans, update the program, access the A-Squared knowledge base, and choose from among 20 display languages. Program options are arranged on the left nav, and they are Security Status, Scan PC, Quarantine, Logs, and Configuration tabs. Scan PC contains four scanning options: Quick, Smart, Deep, and Custom. Quick Scan is the fastest and most superficial, while the Deep Scan can take several hours.
If you choose a scan that examines your cookies, the app will recommend closing your Web browser. Custom not only lets you choose which folders to scan, but also lets you opt out of heuristic, tracking-cookie, and spyware-remnant scans. There is also a whitelist, from where you can add folders or files, which is accessible at the bottom of the main Scan tab panel. The Quarantine tab uses a spreadsheet-style layout to manage isolated files, and the Configuration tab has options for Context menu scans, Update behavior, and Permissions settings. The Quarantine tab has a neat option to rescan quarantined objects after a definition file update.
There's one annoying design quirk: important options like the whitelist are placed in the bottom left of the active panel, making them accessible only by a text link. For a standalone antimalware program that lacks a built-in scheduler and antivirus features, A-Squared Free 4 is a secure choice.
Publisher's description
From Emsi Software :Scans your computer for malicious software (Malware), including Trojan Horses, Dialers, Worms, Spyware, and Adware. A-squared Free is specialized in finding and removing them securely. The disk scan checks all files on your system disks for Malware. The scanner scans for Spyware Traces. Free daily online updates provides the best protection.
What's new in this version:
Version 4.0.0.46 includes database update and bug fixes.
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User reviews of A-squared Free 4.0.0.46
- Average user rating: 3.8 stars out of 356 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 23 user reviewsSee all 23 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
Version: A-squared Free 4.0.0.46
Pros: Does everything it's meant to and found a couple of nasties others had missed
Cons: A bit slow.
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Version: A-squared Free 4.0.0.46
"Leaps and Bounds Better than Malwarebytes!"
Pros: New updates at least 3 or more times a day. Antivirus & Malware scanner!. Excelent GUI. Great control of specific options in the application. Changing persmisions for different users.
Cons: Nothing at all!.
Summary: Uninstall Malwarebytes, after installing this you won't need it anymore!.
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Version: A-squared Free 4.0.0.46
Pros: It worked quite quickly and found some things that my other things had missed.
Cons: It didn't check a few things that I wanted it to do.
Summary: I will continue to use the other programs I have, along this one, that will probably make a more complete package.
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1 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Version: A-squared Free 4.0.0.46
"ideal as additional antivirus"
Pros: thorough, deep and effective scannning, simple interface, easy to use.
It is capable to detect threats that other AV can miss.
I use this program together with Avira and I am very satisfied. Both programs have passed test very good.Cons: A scan takes a long time.
There is no real-time protection. -
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Version: A-squared Free 4.0.0.46
"Compliments My Security Needs"
Pros: Does a good job at finding things others may miss. Reliable and better than some other "name" products.
Cons: May be a bit slow but can be tolerated considering the good job that it does.
Summary: A good product to use in conjunction with and to compliment my other security scanners.
- See all 23 user reviews Write review
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