If you find that your current anti-virus program either will not allow Emsisoft Anti-Malware to run, or that Emsisoft Anti-Malware shuts down your current antivirus program – don’t worry. Unlike Malwarebytes, Emsisoft Anti-Malware is also an antivirus. We want you to make the right choice — and that choice is letting Emsisoft be your antivirus program as well.
Why? First, Emsisoft is one of the few antivirus programs to score 100% on AV Comparatives last test (March 2013). If you look at the chart at the bottom of this article you’ll see it ranks above some very known programs. Secondly, Emsisoft is a powerful anti-malware program which helps you recognize and avoid the most ubiquitous software wrappers, bundlers, hijackers, rogues, scareware, rootkits, Trojans, and other nefarious software that is becoming a daily threat to almost everyone who surfs the Web.
So, if you are using an antivirus suite like McAfee and it will not allow you to install Emsisoft — or if Emsisoft shuts down your current antivirus — make the right choice and choose to use Emsisoft. You’ll be making the right choice in antivirus protection and in anti-malware protection.
To learn more about Emsisoft Anti-Malware please visit this page.
This chart comes from AV Comparatives Independent March 2013 Antivirus Testing. You can download the full article in PDF format here.
How does your current antivirus compare to Emsisoft Anti-Malware?
I have followed Cloudeight’s advice (as usual) and installed Emsisoft Anti-Malware and all is well. Now I would like to know; would Cloudeight recommend to uninstall/turn off, any of my other security programs such as, Malwarebytes and MSE, etc? Or, would it be better to leave MSE running as well as Emsisoft for a greater coverage/protection? What about Malwarebytes, better leave running, turn off, or uninstall? (uninstall only if a waste of resources) Currently, I have malwarebytes turned off.
I really appreciate and value all that Cloudeight does for their subscribers, being one, and would like to suggest that when they give advice on new/better security software, also, what is the best options/settings for our current security software, obviously, depending on what we are using. I currently use, SuperantiSpyware, Malwarebytes, MSE and now Emsisoft. I might add, I follow what Cloudeight recommends pretty much to what they say and I totally agree with their strong urging to use a password manager. I use Roboform desktop and mobile, absolutely magic, can take the mobile version on USB drive, with me any where I go and do all my online business on any computer all without having to, TYPE ANY OF MY PERSONNEL INFO on any computer, only just my master password for Roboform and then remove the USB drive, leaving none of my personnel info on that computer. Because I don’t have to type in any data, I can be confident that if there is any malware/key loggers on that computer, I don’t have to worry and besides, I don’t have to remember any of my passwords or login data, I tell you, SIMPLY JUST PLAIN MAGIC. I add, I don’t know when I last had any problems with highjackers, malware, or the like, THANKS TO CLOUDEIGHT AND THEIR GOOD ADVICE AND HELP. I am sure, using a password manager has also helped greatly, besides security software. Also, after installing and UPDATING Emsisoft it found no problems on my computer. (I hope that is a good sign) My computer starts in less than a minute mostly and is quick and responsive, a mid range computer running XP, so that is a good sign.
With great thanks to Cloudeight Internet, Jeff.
I can agree with Jeff 100%. I always follow their advise when it comes to my computers. I trust what they say and know that they test everything they offer to us as their friend and customer. I have not found any computer repair business that is as honest and caring about a customer than TC and EB. These two are the backbone of all their subscribers having working computers that are not filled with junk. We, their customers, need to support them as best we can and keep them in business. Keep up the great work TC and EB and thank you for your hard work and caring.
I bought the program but it shut down Windows Defender and ruined my beloved Smileycons so I uninstalled it.First time I’ve had a problem with ANYTHING recommended by these two! My loyalty is still with them and will continue.
It does not ruin Smileycons. All you have to do is set a rule to Exclude it from Emsisoft protection. Additionally, we have covered this on our Thank You page and in the email we sent you when you purchased the program. There are some legitimate programs which use methodology similar to malware — especially programs that need to access the Internet constantly — like FTP programs, Website Editors and Smileycons. All you have to do is override Emsisoft and check the box that says Exclude this program from protection — only do this with programs you know and trust.
Secondly, Emsisoft was one of only 3 antivirus programs which scored 100% protection on 3 different independent lab tests. Defender (Microsoft Security Essentials on Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7) scored 90.7%. Obviously Emsisoft provides better antivirus protection too. So I’m not sure why you’d need defender running — maybe you can give me your reasons.
Learning a program is essential to getting the most out of it. You tossed Emsisoft before you gave it a chance. Please take some time, ask some questions and learn the program and you will be much less likely to get malware on your system.
I’m interested in looking into Emsisoft for the additional malware protection……..I currently get Norton Antivirus Protection Suite free from my cable/internet provider……it’s included in my monthly fee and makes the total bill a bit easier to swallow…..so tossing Norton away in favor of Emsiisoft doesn’t sit well….Don’t want any conflicts between Emsisoft and Norton….should I still go for it (Emsisoft)?
Norton is intrusive and invasive and a resource hog, but if you like it, keep it. It will conflict with Emsisoft — as Norton conflicts with many things. Keep this in mind: We have worked on computers with Norton protection which were full of malware to the point where browsers were broken. Norton does not protect you from the kinds of things you’re most likely to encounter. Viruses, rootkits, Trojans and worms are relatively rare compared with computer wreckers like Conduit, MyWebSearch, BibleStudy Toolbar and dozens of others which corrupt browsers and slow computers to a crawl. Additionally, Norton scored 95% on actual virus dectection — Emsisoft was one of three that scored 100% detection. So make the right decision here. Just because something is free, doesn’t mean it’s worth it.
Recently because of your recommendation I installed Emsisoft for the malware protection. I use Bitdefender for antivirus. I understand from what you said about Emsisoft and what I have read in addition that it is antivirus as well. Please confirm that I can get rid of Bitdefender. I always appreciate your help and counsel. Thank you for all you do for us in computerland.
Some antivirus programs work well with Emsisoft. BitDefender is a good antivirus, but according to independent labs AV Comparatives and VB Virus Bulletin, Emsisoft’s anti-virus component ranks as one of only three to score a perfect 100% on detection of real world viruses.
Installed Emsisoft as manual-run only. Ran it. Found two items. Clicked the quarantine button, little thingy popped up, “processing”. Then it disappeared. Items still listed. Did it again. Still listed. Maybe that’s how the interface works? Clicked Next. Message: you have harmful items – quarantine now? Yes. Processing. Still there. Quit. Not impressed.
Did you contact Emsisoft support and tell them so they could help?
First of all you don’t give any details, you just say “items” — what items. So please provide Emsisoft Support the details so they can assist you.
We never ever said Emsisoft was perfect — perfect software is as hard to find as a perfect person. But we are 100% sure that those who have installed it will not be reinfected with the same malware over and over. We are certain we won’t see crippled or corrupted browsers on computers which are clean and on which Emsisoft Anti-Malware installed.
We tested it on many different computers, we have sold a great many programs, and the feedback is 95% favorable.
Not every computer is configured the same; not every computer has the same software installed; not every computer is maintained the same.
If you’re not willing to write to Emsisoft Support to find the answer to your problem, then I will assume you are just posting this to be contrary.
Those who are unhappy generally are louder than those who are. So if you don’t give Emsisoft the details of your problem and let them help you solve this issue on YOUR computer, then you’re really not serious about giving the program a chance.
Our goal, our mission, is and always has been to protect those who read our newsletters and follow this site — good advice and to keep them protected from the increasing amount of trickery on the Web.
Software wrappers (bundlers) are nothing but clandestine ways to get junk software installed on computers so the makers of those malware programs can earn money from their deceit. And while that’s a problem, and it is not right, the kind of junk that comes bundled with most software these days can ruin browsers — even corrupt browsers, consume huge amounts of resources, cause high CPU usage, damage Windows, hijack searches, and threaten every user’s privacy. And we are certain, there is no better program right now that can warn people when they’re about to install malware on their computer, or when they are visiting the site of a known malware distributor, or when they are on a site which is poisoned by nefarious scripts — or when they encounter scareware, rogues, viruses, rootkits, keyloggers, Trojans and worms.
And we stand by our recommendation. We have seen dozens and dozens of computers and browsers ruined by malware. We have seen hundreds and hundred of computers loaded with so much malware that problems were starting to occur.
We see the damage with our own eyes every day. And for years we trusted Malwarebytes, and recommended it, and when we became aware that it was not detecting most of the most ubiquitous malware anymore, we told our readers what we were finding. But still we gave them a chance; we wrote to Malwarebytes and gave them a chance to respond.
We went two months hoping they’d just tell us why they changed. They never did. And in the meantime we tested a lot of security programs, but none were what we were looking for; none were what our readers needed most — something to warn them whenever malware tries to secretly install on their computers. When we tested Emsisoft, for two weeks throwing at it every malicious file we could find and it protected our machines, we knew we had found the right program for MOST of our readers.
And it’s not perfect – no software is. You’re disappointed but you never gave it a chance. You never wrote to Emsisoft support and gave them details. If you don’t do that, and give the program a chance, you should not criticize it – for it may well be it’s your computer configuration or other software you have installed that is causing the problem — and yes there’s a chance it’s a problem with Emsisoft too. But if it is, Emsisoft will tell you what to do — and your input will help them make the program even better.
I did not see anything listed in the graph Real World Protection test in March 2013 for MSE Antivirus??? Was that not used for a reason?
They didn’t participate. They scored 90.4%; Emsisoft scored 100%.
I’m excited to try Emsisoft! Just to be clear, if Emsisoft is used as an antivirus, what steps do I take with MSE? Whatever you suggest is what I’ll do. Thanks for all the hours & hours of dedication & hard work you’ve put into finding and recommending Emsisoft for us! (Your loss is our gain, Malwarebytes! You shoulda played nice with TC & EB!)
In the AV Comparatives Test Emsisoft scored 100% in the virus detection test, MSE scored 90.4%. I think that while we are aware that a lot of those viruses used in the tests are unlikely to be encountered on the Web, the numbers speak volumes. While MSE is a good free solution, it offers no real protection against malware or rootkits. The two most famous anti-virus programs, McAfee and Norton were in the 96% and 94% range. Not only are these almost double the cost of Emsisoft for less virus protection, neither of these provide malware protection either.
In our tests, Emsisoft A.M. exceeded our expectations — based on its malware detection alone.
Their support is world-class and so is their program. For less than $3 a month you’re getting the best anti-malware and the best anti-virus – along with great support.
We are now both using Emsisoft AM as our only anti-malware and antivirus and we’re confident its doing its job. The minute we feel it is letting us down (and you down) we’ve got direct contact with the CEO and we’ll let him know our concerns — and we’ll bet our concerns are addressed right away in a manner acceptable to us and our readers.
Thanks,
TC
iNTERESTED IN ANSWER TO pj’S QUESTION.
I bought Emsisoft and it found some infections but 5 of them could not be quarantined so I went to the support page and over the past couple days, they have been working with me to get rid of the offenders. Somewhere along the line, the 5 infections disappeared from the scans but I printed off all the instructions on what to do just in case I get infected again. Is there any kind of software out there that will notify you if you click on a bad site or to warn you against clicking on a bad site? Thanks TC for watching out for us.
Thanks Connie. Keep in mind, registry traces are not infections, but leftovers from previous infections which, for whatever reasons, were not completely removed.
I just installed Emsisoft in place of Malwarebites. Now I learn that it is also an anti-virus program. I have Norton installed and plan to keep it but….. some little birdie told me that one should not run two anti-virii programs. Can you help put me straight on this issue? Thanks a lot for your continued advice.
I won’t even go into $60-a-year Norton. It scored 94% (ave) in 3 independent virus testing lab tests — Emsisoft scored 100%. Emsisoft is 1/2 the cost and provides better anti-virus protection (provably) and malware protection which Norton claims to but does not. So you make the decision on what to keep — I would not run two antivirus programs on my computer. And you know I’d never run Norton on my computer because I think my system resources should always be used wisely.
But – it’s your money and your computer. You decide.
If I allow Emsisoft to revert to free, I understand I will have to do a manual to remove malware, but what about the virus protection? Will I no longer have real-time virus protection? Or, will I have to rely on any virus being removed when I run a scan?
You will not have any real-time protection if Emsisoft reverts to free, and this includes anti-virus protection. If you allow it to revert to free, you will need to install a real-time anti-virus program.
Will my Microsoft Essentials interfere with Emsisoft?