a-squared Anti-Malware program

Dogpile · 07. Nov 2009, 02:07 AM

I see you have a 1 year free license to a-squared Anti-Malware coming up next week.

As I understand it this program runs with real-time protection, unlike the free version and it includes a virus engine as well as Mamutu.

Right now I am trying out MSE and using Windows firewall, and nothing else, except MBAM & SAS & SpywareBlaster.

Is this a replacement for MSE, or can it run alongside MSE? I was just thinking that maybe the anti-virus component was just for on-demand scanning like the free version and the real-time component was Mamutu.

Could you please advise what I should do concerning this offer?

Thanks.

Dogpile

J.L. · 07. Nov 2009, 05:18 AM

"Unlike other malware protection products, a-squared Anti-Malware was designed to run parallel with other antivirus and firewall software without troubles. In case you find a conflict with another software, our support team will help to solve the problem quickly. "
source: http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/antimalware/

The real-time componnents include Mamutu and real-time scanning (not sure if AV engine is used).

If you want to try it, I would recommend to make a disk image first or at least a system restore point. You don't need to uninstall MSE.

MidnightCowboy · 07. Nov 2009, 11:32 AM

Although A2 might be designed to run alongside other programs, MSE isn't that co-operative. This is mentioned in the Microsoft support data and you will find issues concerning this being reported in various forums.

Generally speaking there are highly valid reasons for not duplicating security software. Certainly by doing so your overall protection will be reduced and not increased. I've just had a long contact with the Bullguard techs over this very issue. I understood maybe 20% of what they were telling me but I'm not doubting their findings or their advice.

In my opinion (and to be able to make a proper evaluation) I would just try A2 on it's own and see how you get on. Windows firewall is fine, no need to change that.

Dogpile · 13. Nov 2009, 02:46 AM

Hello friends,

I decided to try using software that I had used before so I took MSE off and put Avira on, and replaced Windows firewall with Online Armor. Now I took the offer of 1 year a-squared anti-malware. All seems to be running okay together now. I know a-squared detects viruses, but is that only when I do a scan? I know part of it is memory resident from my tray icon. I thought that may be the Mamutu part. I just want to check to see if I am getting better protection running bothe Avira and a-squared at the same time.

a2guard.exe is using 30MB
avguard.exe is using 8 MB
a2service.exe is using 452k

Online Armor in total seems to be around 20 MB running 4 apps.

I have 1 GB of RAM so it's not really a problem, I just thought I would post my numbers to see how they compare to others. I use XP Pro SP3.

I see MidnightCowboy said to try and run a-squared by itself, but that was when I said I used MSE. So if you could advise now with my current software config, I would be grateful.

JohnnyDollar · 13. Nov 2009, 04:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dogpile

Hello friends,

I decided to try using software that I had used before so I took MSE off and put Avira on, and replaced Windows firewall with Online Armor. Now I took the offer of 1 year a-squared anti-malware. All seems to be running okay together now. I know a-squared detects viruses, but is that only when I do a scan? I know part of it is memory resident from my tray icon. I thought that may be the Mamutu part. I just want to check to see if I am getting better protection running bothe Avira and a-squared at the same time.

a2guard.exe is using 30MB
avguard.exe is using 8 MB
a2service.exe is using 452k

Online Armor in total seems to be around 20 MB running 4 apps.

I have 1 GB of RAM so it's not really a problem, I just thought I would post my numbers to see how they compare to others. I use XP Pro SP3.

I see MidnightCowboy said to try and run a-squared by itself, but that was when I said I used MSE. So if you could advise now with my current software config, I would be grateful.

IMO if you have avira installed, then you don't need A2. If you have A2 installed, then you don't need avira. A2 uses the Ikarus anti-virus engine and a behavior blocker. Your going overboard IMO. From what I understand, A2 does on execution scanning but not read and write scanning with the current version.

MidnightCowboy · 13. Nov 2009, 09:16 AM

I'm with JohnnyDollar on this one. Why risk complicating things either for yourself and/or your PC? I know that every system reacts differently but the only program that I've used of this "complimentary" type which never game me an issue with anything else was Prevx, although the free versions has no real time protection and only limited removal capabilities. In my opinion the overall benefits of having A2 on the machine would lead me to remove Avira.

07. Nov 2009, 02:07 AM	#1 (permalink)
Dogpile Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 20	a-squared Anti-Malware program I see you have a 1 year free license to a-squared Anti-Malware coming up next week. As I understand it this program runs with real-time protection, unlike the free version and it includes a virus engine as well as Mamutu. Right now I am trying out MSE and using Windows firewall, and nothing else, except MBAM & SAS & SpywareBlaster. Is this a replacement for MSE, or can it run alongside MSE? I was just thinking that maybe the anti-virus component was just for on-demand scanning like the free version and the real-time component was Mamutu. Could you please advise what I should do concerning this offer? Thanks. Dogpile __________________ Never walk so fast, that you can't smell the flowers.

07. Nov 2009, 11:32 AM	#3 (permalink)
MidnightCowboy Chief Editor Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Brazil since 2006 Posts: 2,308	Although A2 might be designed to run alongside other programs, MSE isn't that co-operative. This is mentioned in the Microsoft support data and you will find issues concerning this being reported in various forums. Generally speaking there are highly valid reasons for not duplicating security software. Certainly by doing so your overall protection will be reduced and not increased. I've just had a long contact with the Bullguard techs over this very issue. I understood maybe 20% of what they were telling me but I'm not doubting their findings or their advice. In my opinion (and to be able to make a proper evaluation) I would just try A2 on it's own and see how you get on. Windows firewall is fine, no need to change that. __________________ Knows nothing and cares even less

13. Nov 2009, 02:46 AM	#4 (permalink)
Dogpile Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 20	Hello friends, I decided to try using software that I had used before so I took MSE off and put Avira on, and replaced Windows firewall with Online Armor. Now I took the offer of 1 year a-squared anti-malware. All seems to be running okay together now. I know a-squared detects viruses, but is that only when I do a scan? I know part of it is memory resident from my tray icon. I thought that may be the Mamutu part. I just want to check to see if I am getting better protection running bothe Avira and a-squared at the same time. a2guard.exe is using 30MB avguard.exe is using 8 MB a2service.exe is using 452k Online Armor in total seems to be around 20 MB running 4 apps. I have 1 GB of RAM so it's not really a problem, I just thought I would post my numbers to see how they compare to others. I use XP Pro SP3. I see MidnightCowboy said to try and run a-squared by itself, but that was when I said I used MSE. So if you could advise now with my current software config, I would be grateful. __________________ Never walk so fast, that you can't smell the flowers.

13. Nov 2009, 09:16 AM	#6 (permalink)
MidnightCowboy Chief Editor Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Brazil since 2006 Posts: 2,308	I'm with JohnnyDollar on this one. Why risk complicating things either for yourself and/or your PC? I know that every system reacts differently but the only program that I've used of this "complimentary" type which never game me an issue with anything else was Prevx, although the free versions has no real time protection and only limited removal capabilities. In my opinion the overall benefits of having A2 on the machine would lead me to remove Avira. __________________ Knows nothing and cares even less

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07. Nov 2009, 05:18 AM	#2 (permalink)
J.L. Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 279	"Unlike other malware protection products, a-squared Anti-Malware was designed to run parallel with other antivirus and firewall software without troubles. In case you find a conflict with another software, our support team will help to solve the problem quickly. " source: http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/antimalware/ The real-time componnents include Mamutu and real-time scanning (not sure if AV engine is used). If you want to try it, I would recommend to make a disk image first or at least a system restore point. You don't need to uninstall MSE.