CNET Editors' review
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 Emsisoft:
Scans your computer for malicious software like 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.
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All versions:
3.8 starsout of 448 votes
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Current version:
3.8 starsout of 5 votes
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My rating:
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Results 1-5 of 5
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"No real time protection"
Version: Emsisoft Anti-Malware Free (Previously A-squared Free) 5.1.0.19
Pros
Good detection rate
Cons
Like Malwarebytes, no real time protection.
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"Ok scanner and remover."
Version: Emsisoft Anti-Malware Free (Previously A-squared Free) 5.1.0.19
Pros
Scanner and remover.
Cons
"Protect your PC from harmful threats", they cannot say this unless it has realtime protection which the free version does not have.
Summary
It does not protect, it removes. Once you're infected and the malware has done it is suppose to do, whats the point of this remover being protecting the system? They should change the link describtion.
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"Seemed to work for me"
Version: Emsisoft Anti-Malware Free (Previously A-squared Free) 5.1.0.19
Pros
Found a great many malware files, much more that Super Antispyware or AVG.
Cons
Deep scan took about 6 hours.
Summary
I used this in conjunction with RKill to recover from the "System Fix" Trojan, which is really nasty. It was the latest 30-day free trial (not actually free) version. It found and removed 78 malware files while Super AntiSpyware (free) and AVG (free) found only a handful. I'll probably buy it at the end of the 30 days.
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"Much Faster Scan"
Version: Emsisoft Anti-Malware Free (Previously A-squared Free) 5.1.0.19
Pros
new version reduces full scan from >8hrs to 1hr17min (avast full scan takes 55 to 60 mins)on my netbook with atom z520, 1gig ram, and xp sp3. older versions seem to have found some legit malware. often very highly rated by testers. free!!!!
Cons
older versions sometimes had false positives. slow update downloads. odd program update-clicked on download, looked like normal download, instead of usual installer an uninstall window appeared. clicked on it and a square was removed. i had to google emsisoft to redownload it. the program is very large and uses a lot of resources.
Summary
not perfect, but worth having to use as an additional tool. now that it has a reasonable scan time, i will probably use it every week or two. thank you emsisoft.
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"Nice on demand Antivirus And Antispyware scanner."
Version: Emsisoft Anti-Malware Free (Previously A-squared Free) 5.1.0.19
Pros
Scans for everything, root kits, viruses, spyware, trojans, keyloggers, adware, worms and bots.
Cons
As of today, Cnet hasn't yet updated to the latest version, 6.0. Takes a while to do a DEEP scan, 42 minutes on my windows7 machine. I don't know how it got by me, but it downloaded "Hijackfree", a completely different process and port monitoring program at the same time.
Summary
I was looking for a replacement for adaware, which I used as a scanner only, and this fits the bill. It's a very responsive program that isn't boggy on my system like adaware was. You may want to check the developer's site for the latest release. Don't download the old version here, as I did, only to have the program alert me to an update. It really stunk. It is free for the on demand scanner only, not the full product. The scanner is very power hungry, maxing out my cpu much of the time it was scanning. It seems like a good tool to have on deck. I'm not thrilled Hijack Free was installed at the same time, but I may even keep that.
Results 1-5 of 5
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