A2 (A Squared)

[Anne Carle]

I've been using the freeware version of A2 for many months now. I
can't say whether it's good or not as my puter always comes up clean
when I run it, but I also run Spyblaster, AVG, Zone Alarm (commercial
version) and Trojan Remover (commercial program) with cable and a
router. Updates are frequent, and their database of malware is
impressive

There is no "immunization" function with the freeware version, but
that is offered with the commercial version.

Does anyone know enough about how it works to know whether it's worth
the space on a hard drive? <G>

Anne

 

[Andreas Kaestner]

Anne Carle ([email protected]) schrieb/wrote:

I've been using the freeware version of A2 for many months now.

Here's the link to the software: http://www.emsisoft.com/en/

Does anyone know enough about how it works to know whether it's
worth the space on a hard drive? <G>

And here's the link to the forum: http://forum.emsisoft.com/ )

 

[Mark Warner]

I've been using the freeware version of A2 for many months now. I
can't say whether it's good or not as my puter always comes up clean
when I run it, but I also run Spyblaster, AVG, Zone Alarm (commercial
version) and Trojan Remover (commercial program) with cable and a
router. Updates are frequent, and their database of malware is
impressive

There is no "immunization" function with the freeware version, but
that is offered with the commercial version.

Does anyone know enough about how it works to know whether it's worth
the space on a hard drive? <G>

I have it, keep it updated, and run it occasionally. Don't ever recall
it finding anything on my machines. Then again, I know what I'm doing.

I have found it to be an invaluable addition to the "toolbox" I use when
asked to dis-infect malware laden machines.

 

[Lew/+Silat]

In

I have found it to be an invaluable addition to the "toolbox" I use
when asked to dis-infect malware laden machines.

What else is in your toolbox?

 

[John Corliss]

I have it, keep it updated, and run it occasionally. Don't ever recall
it finding anything on my machines. Then again, I know what I'm doing.

I have found it to be an invaluable addition to the "toolbox" I use when
asked to dis-infect malware laden machines.

Mark, are you saying then that it's detected and removed stuff from
infected computers that you've worked on? I've been running it for a
long time now (constantly updated), but it's never found anything on my
system.

 

[Mark Warner]

Mark, are you saying then that it's detected and removed stuff from
infected computers that you've worked on? I've been running it for a
long time now (constantly updated), but it's never found anything on
my system.

Sure has. So far, I haven't been able to figure out how to
install/update/initial run without having internet access, due to the
required registration/activation required on first run, but I'm working
on that.

 

[Aaron]

Mark, are you saying then that it's detected and removed stuff from
infected computers that you've worked on? I've been running it for a
long time now (constantly updated), but it's never found anything on my
system.

If you system is clean, even the best Anti trojan in the world won't be
needed of course.

That said, A2 squared is better than nothing, but IMHO it's main strength
comes from the A2 guard (not available in free), which detects malware
based on behavior, while the scanner is pretty much a "gimmick"

From the author of A2 sqyared

http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=89620&page=1

"Comparing ewido and a-squared is kind of pointless. The idea behind both
programs is completely diffrent.

Ewido put all their efforts in building a reliable and powerfull engine
focusing in detecting known threats. Thats why ewido has a superior
engine above all AT applications available currently - compareable to KAV
in AV sector. Maybe their engine is even more powerfull than several AV
engines out there.

A-squared is built around very powerfull heuristic based concepts. We
never planned to have a reliable scanners - its more a gimmick. We put
all our effort in building a system to detect malware without relying on
signatures and other "old school detection techniques" and we surely
focus on detecting new threats. Maybe we are DrWeb of AT .

Sure we can scan files too, but we defnitly won't achieve such a high
detection rate as ewido when it comes to file scanning only. On the other
hand ewido has heuristics, but won't detect as many new threads generic
as we do."


So it seems Ewido free scanner might be a better bet.

 

[SLLD]

I would like to have it but it blocks my download manager and I will NOT try
to download without a resume feature
I will use another prduct no matter how good it is...

 

[Anne Carle]

I would like to have it but it blocks my download manager and I will NOT try
to download without a resume feature
I will use another prduct no matter how good it is...

I'll use your note to say thanks to all of you--it's the banter
between real users here that is most helpful in deciding the program's
worth to me. I've read extensively about the program and drop in the
forum occasionally, but I don't feel I've gotten enough information.

FWIW...I have to run EndItAll before I run A2 or I do freeze up. I'm
running Win98.

Anne

 

[John Corliss]

Sure has. So far, I haven't been able to figure out how to
install/update/initial run without having internet access, due to the
required registration/activation required on first run, but I'm working
on that.

Yeah, that kinda turned me off when they pulled that on me. I was
working on a friend's computer in my house and she doesn't have an
internet account or any email account. I suppose though, for purposes of
registration one could establish a Yahoo account, assuming they will let
you use that. Also I noticed this little nugget:

"An internet connection is required to install a-squared Free correctly."

I sent them a message expressing my dislike for their new (and IMO
unreasonable) installation requirements.

 

[John Corliss]

If you system is clean, even the best Anti trojan in the world won't be
needed of course.

Heh. Right. Well, that does reflect well on me I suppose.

That said, A2 squared is better than nothing, but IMHO it's main strength
comes from the A2 guard (not available in free), which detects malware
based on behavior, while the scanner is pretty much a "gimmick"

From the author of A2 sqyared

http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=89620&page=1

"Comparing ewido and a-squared is kind of pointless. The idea behind both
programs is completely diffrent.

Ewido put all their efforts in building a reliable and powerfull engine
focusing in detecting known threats. Thats why ewido has a superior
engine above all AT applications available currently - compareable to KAV
in AV sector. Maybe their engine is even more powerfull than several AV
engines out there.

A-squared is built around very powerfull heuristic based concepts. We
never planned to have a reliable scanners - its more a gimmick. We put
all our effort in building a system to detect malware without relying on
signatures and other "old school detection techniques" and we surely
focus on detecting new threats. Maybe we are DrWeb of AT .

Sure we can scan files too, but we defnitly won't achieve such a high
detection rate as ewido when it comes to file scanning only. On the other
hand ewido has heuristics, but won't detect as many new threads generic
as we do."

So it seems Ewido free scanner might be a better bet.

Really. On the other hand though, it might not be a bad idea to run both.

 

[John Corliss]

So it seems Ewido free scanner might be a better bet.

But be sure to note this about Ewido also:

"Developed for Windows 2000 and XP"

 

[John Corliss]

I'll use your note to say thanks to all of you--it's the banter
between real users here that is most helpful in deciding the program's
worth to me. I've read extensively about the program and drop in the
forum occasionally, but I don't feel I've gotten enough information.

FWIW...I have to run EndItAll before I run A2 or I do freeze up. I'm
running Win98.

Well, I think the best reply in this thread to your OP was Aaron's
([email protected]). Certainly was of interest to
ME at least.

 

[Mark Warner]

Yeah, that kinda turned me off when they pulled that on me. I was
working on a friend's computer in my house and she doesn't have an
internet account or any email account. I suppose though, for purposes
of registration one could establish a Yahoo account, assuming they
will let you use that. Also I noticed this little nugget:

"An internet connection is required to install a-squared Free
correctly."

I sent them a message expressing my dislike for their new (and IMO
unreasonable) installation requirements.

I tend not to bitch at people who are offering me something for free. I
don't find their requirement unreasonable either. It *does* keep me from
using it on a machine that doesn't connect, of course. I regularly
provide malware cleanup services in people's homes, and prefer to
initially install, update, and run my tools offline. Many of them are
designed to be installed and updated ONline before running, but I've
figured out how to get around that in most cases. a2 is one that I
haven't been able to use that way.

That being said, it's not that big a deal. I usually run a2 later in my
cleaning routine, and usually by that time I've cleaned up enough crap
that getting on line at isn't a problem.

 

[ellis_jay]

Sure has. So far, I haven't been able to figure out how to
install/update/initial run without having internet access, due to the
required registration/activation required on first run, but I'm
working on that.

Mcafee Stinger will fit on a floppy, as the Avast scanner, both pretty
decent scanners.

--

Their ethics are a short summary of police ordinances: for them the
most important thing is to be a useful member of the state, and to air
their opinions in the club of an evening; they have never felt the
homesickness for something unknown and far away, nor the depths which
consists in being nothing at all. ___________Soren Kierkegaard

Ellis_jay

 

[Aaron]

Heh. Right. Well, that does reflect well on me I suppose.

Of course, I don't expect fairly experienced computer users to be hit by
anything trival, if you (or me for that matter) is infected, it's likely
to be something pretty unusual and rare.

Really. On the other hand though, it might not be a bad idea to run
both.

Well, the problem with this line of argument is that you end up with a
dozen scanners of Anti-viruses/trojans/spyware.

Not a big deal these days where storage costs are low though.

 

[Aaron]

But be sure to note this about Ewido also:

"Developed for Windows 2000 and XP"

A big trend these days, espically for security software. Difficult to
develop such tools for non-NT machines.

 

[John Corliss]

I tend not to bitch

My wording was as polite as possible. It wasn't really "bitching".

at people who are offering me something for free. I
don't find their requirement unreasonable either.

Well then, YMVs. My choice has been to simply not use the program on
other peoples' machines.

It *does* keep me from
using it on a machine that doesn't connect, of course. I regularly
provide malware cleanup services in people's homes, and prefer to
initially install, update, and run my tools offline. Many of them are
designed to be installed and updated ONline before running, but I've
figured out how to get around that in most cases. a2 is one that I
haven't been able to use that way.

This was my experience as well. But I really don't like programs that
require online installation. Too much "soft underbelly showing"
involved. Of course, online scanning isn't much different. I'll do that
on other peoples' computers (with their permission), but NEVER do an
online scan on my own machine.