Good-bye to a-squared AntiMalware

Question

Having used this paid version (as an on-demand scanner only) for over a year (and only because it was offered free from a website) I have to say I'm disappointed in it. My first and major concern is the high rate of false positive detections (mostly by the Ikarus AV module). I got a bit tired reporting these FPs to Emisoft. Unlike with say MBAM, these FPs were neither quickly fixed, nor indeed even always fixed. More info:http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2334423,00.asp The Ikarus module (the AV component of a2-AM) does not have the best track record. Ikarus does not participate in the independent testing by AV-Comparatives, and no longer submits to VirusBulletin's VB100 certification (where it has always failed certification). Secondly, is the time updates take: way too long. The daily signature update today took 15 minutes for a 12 MB(!) download via my fast cable connection. My last update was yesterday- heaven help anyone who doesn't update daily! This is unacceptable for a paid product. Paying customers expect faster and dedicated servers, and updates this large are absurd. Thirdly, is the time a Smart Scan takes: 37 minutes is way too long.  (Lord knows how long a full scan would take). MBAM Free's quick scan (~4 minutes) is a lot faster, and from everything I see, more effective at detection and removal. To be fair, a2-AM does have a Quick Scan that only takes a few minutes, but it only scans ~2,000 files, and does not include heuristics. By comparison, MBAM Free's Quick Scan looks at >100,000 objects, and does include heuristics. And Defender's Quick Scan looked at 20,000 files in 38 seconds. Finally (and this is admittedly a minor irritant) is the necessity to enter a barely decipherable code to exit its background guard.============================== All that said, I still like the a-squared Free version as an on-demand scanner. Without Ikarus, its FP rate is low, and the tests I have seen show it to have a high detection rate of malware. And its forum support is very good. Its update and scan times, alas, are no better than the paid version. I still have yet to find any anti-malware program worth purchasing. I continue to place my faith in Windows Defender for realtime protection.

joe53 · Answer

Hi RD: I've been a big fan of a2 Free for years, but now am embarrassed. I have the latest version 4.5.0.11, which I did not realise included the Ikarus AV, as far as I could tell. Yet I see the download site says it does. The GUI  of a2 Free mislead me, I guess. It does not show the Ikarus horse, unlike a2-AM. To be honest, I haven't used a2 Free much in the past year, as I was preferring a2-AM. For the reasons stated, I have abandoned a2-AM.  I guess I'll have to report back on my experience with a2 Free in another 6 months. Doh!

dalem29 · Answer

After taking advantage of the full version that was offered free a year ago, I am using the free version. I have noticed very few FP in that period...5 or 6 total. But woe to the user who lets the dreaded 30 hour or so mark go by without updating. I got busy earlier this week and overlooked one computer and had to download the whole 44+ MB. I wish they work that out of the system, but guess they can't because of having the two engines. And I agree that the 11 or so MB update a couple of days ago was rediculous. I usually just do the smart scan, will have to see how long the middle one takes.

Still can't update MBAM on XP computer, but can on the Vista. ky331 says it is most likely because my connection, which will be high speed before the snow flies. As it is now I just download the new versions when they come out and try to update, and then doing a full scan regardless.

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