- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows XP/2003/Vista/Server 2008/7
- Date added: January 24, 2010
- Total Downloads: 2,005,949
- Downloads last week: 25,216
- See full specifications
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 382 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.
What's new in this version:
Version 4.5.0.24 is a bug fixing release.
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User reviews
- Average user rating: 0 stars Not yet available
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 3 of 3 user reviewsSee all 3 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
Version: A-squared Free 4.5.0.24
"Effective and Strong detection virus and malware"
Pros: It scan in slow mode althought u choose fast scan, but very detail search and delete permanently.
Cons: As the signature increases, I detect some of my file which 2 years long never have it before and mention it high risk.
Summary: a-squared free is freeware, although the service recommend me to download a-square anti-malware. It works and runs remain best as always. So try it, and as it is trustable anti-malware
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Version: A-squared Free 4.5.0.24
"An excellent, and free, virus and malware scanner"
Pros: Found a trojan that other programs had missed
Cons: Updates are somewhat slow, but no big deal
Summary: Thorough with different scanning options. I run it once a week as a backup to my primary program. Program and interface easy to use and understand.
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Version: A-squared Free 4.5.0.24
Pros: Detects and removes almost any piece of malware
Cons: Sometimes you may accidentally delete an infected explorer.exe file which could result in a very unstable situation... So keep in mind to check detected files. Some false positives but they are worth the detection level ;)
Summary: I have been testing almost every antimalware the past 3 years, including antivirus, antispyware and other products and my firm beleif is that with a squared u are definately not going to have any infections undetected. I beleive in light weight anti... read more >>
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