Emsisoft Anti-Malware

Emsisoft Anti-Malware protects your PC from both viruses and potentially unwanted software. It comes with a 30-day free trial and, unlike other offerings, it can be very versatile in the way it detects threats and deals with them, thanks to its community network where it can check how other people have dealt with specific issues.

Pros

Limits app abilities: One of the most impressive features of Emsisoft Anti-Malware is its ability to allow you to use an app while blocking abilities that you feel uncomfortable with. Some of the abilities that can be blocked include keylogging, changing Web browser settings, or the installation of services, drivers, or software without your knowledge.

Community action system: If an application on your PC is misbehaving, the anti-malware software can resolve the situation on its own by referencing the actions of other people who've had to deal with the same issue. If a large enough number of people have performed the same action, the app will respond in the same way.

Various scanning modes: Like most modern anti-malware products, the app offers you several scanning modes, including the "Intelligent" mode, which in our tests took a total of 32 minutes. Prior to each scan, a definitions update is carried out; regular virus definition updates take about a minute to complete, but the initial one after you install the software can take ten times as long.

Cons

Potential for false positives: Since the app scans not only for malicious software but also for potentially unwanted apps, you may encounter false positives -- apps that do something useful but are detected as dangerous or unwanted. We recommend that you take malware and virus alerts at face value.

Bottom Line

Whether you're looking for a set-and-forget type of anti-malware software, or just want to have full control over your PC, Emsisoft Anti-Malware can be configured to do what you need. The software is especially powerful if you intend to leverage its community network, since this can significantly reduce the number of times you're required to take action.

Editors' note: This is a review of the trial version of Emsisoft Anti-Malware 9.0.0.4570.