Many of you have responded to our article about Avast. A few of you have hinted at or just full-out accused us of writing the article about Avast to increase sales of Emsisoft.
First let me say – that is not true. It would absolutely insane for us to recommend something that didn’t work, or to recommend something that had a price tag when there is something free that does the job just as well. We are never going to do that. We based that article on facts not wishful thinking, hyperbole, or greed. We showed scan results from on computer protected by Avast — but we could have show scans from many other computers, supposedly protected, by Avast, which were just as badly infected with malware.
We have been around since 1996 and we have never once recommended anything out of greed, even though many times we have walked on the precipice of going out of business.
We have been offered commissions as high as 75% by other antivirus companies (including Norton) to recommend their security suite. This happened several years ago. If our motivation were to make money and leave our readers in the lurch we would have recommended Norton, because 75% of $70 is a pretty hefty commission. And heaven knows we need the money — but we are not going to sell out and start recommending things just because we can make money on it.
Everything we’ve ever recommended is something we use or would use if we had the need for it. We recommended Microsoft Security Essentials for several years — it’s free. And we stopped recommending it, not because Emsisoft came along, but because Microsoft had literally let every one of its MSE users down. It went from a top-ten antivirus to the bottom or near the bottom of the list of 25. That’s a fact – not conjecture. It’s not our wishful thinking or our greed that made us stop recommending MSE. We stopped using it because it had gone from being a great anti-virus program to a poor anti-virus program. Yes it’s still free: Do you want free software or do you want to be protected?
We recommended Malwarebytes (free version) for years and years. And we’ll tell you the truth — we would not have stopped recommending Malwarebytes if Malwarebytes had not left all their users in the lurch by suddenly deciding not to detect or remove the most pervasive and obnoxious malware. We would have never stopped recommending them if they had not secretly violated their users (and our) trust. Again, this is based on facts. We tried, for a long time, to get Malwarebytes to stop letting its users down and return to being the great anti-malware program they once were. We wrote to them, we wrote articles about this, and we even supported them for a while during this time and gave them the benefit of the doubt — we gave them time to fix Malwarebytes. Again these are facts.
Read this article “What’s Going On With Malwarebytes” written June 7, 2013.
Or this article, first published on June 22, 2013. Or this one, entitled: “Malwarebytes: The End of the Line“– written on July 12, 2013.
We gave Malwarebytes a month to fix their program. Only because of the failure of Malwarebytes (free version) to fix their once-great program, did we begin testing other anti-malware programs. After exhausting the list of free anti-malware programs – some of which were ironically malware themselves – we found Emsisoft. We started testing it right after we realized that Malwarebytes was probably not going to respond to its customers’ or our pleas to stop selling out to multi-billion-dollar malware-makers like ASK.com and Conduit — practically begging Malwarebytes to forget greed and protect the millions of people, including us, who relied on them for protection from malware.
We tested Emsisoft for several weeks on our test computer and we threw everything at it we could find. Then, before we announced our recommendation, we put it on our own work and personal computers. We had our friends and family members test it too. We found nothing else that even came close to Emsisoft when it came to protection from malware – and it was pure serendipity that Emsisoft turned out to be one of the best anti-viruses too.
We contacted Emsisoft during our testing and asked questions, and they immediately answered them. We were impressed: Not only did they have a great program, they actually were great people who were willing to go out of their way to answer our questions and address our concerns. We figured if they were that responsive to us, they’d be responsive to our customers as well.
It doesn’t matter if we make a commission on Emsisoft or if we’re a reseller. We would have never recommended it if it wasn’t the best anti-malware / anti-virus we have found. We could have made tens of thousands of dollars recommending unnecessary firewalls or selling McAfee or Norton or Trend Micro of many of the others.
We recommended AVG at one time until it lied to its users and tried to trick them into upgrading to the pro version by saying they were not going to offer a free version anymore. They backtracked that, but they also became a company we didn’t trust and still don’t. And while their antivirus may be acceptable – their antimalware component is very poor. In fact, AVG installers emulate malware by trying to get you to use AVG Safe Search and install a useless AVG toolbar . We pulled our recommendation of AVG and the recommended Avast, which was also free.
Avast grew more and more bloated trying to be another Norton and Web of Trust (WOT) and an anti-spam, too. It became so bloated and annoying, we stopped recommending it when Microsoft finally released a great anti-virus called Microsoft Security Essentials (called Windows Defender in Windows 8.1). MSE was free and we recommended it until last fall when independent lab test showed it had fallen from a top-five antivirus program to a bottom-five antivirus program. MSE is still languishing near or at the bottom of the heap of antivirus.
For a while we recommend but MSE and Emsisoft (as an anti-malware) until we became aware that Emsisoft was not only winning awards for its anti-malware component but also for its antivirus component. That, combined with the continuing decline in the effectiveness of MSE ended our recommendation of MSE — and our recommendation of Emsisoft as our number one choice for anti-malware and antivirus.
Emsisoft is the first antimalware/antivirus we’ve ever recommended that is not free. If there were a free antivirus/antimalware which were as good, or even nearly as good, we would have recommended it.
Regardless of some of the comments we have gotten to our Avast article — we don’t make decisions based on how much money we could make. If we did, Darcy and I would be millionaires many times over. In the days when Cloudeight Stationery was the number one stationery site on the Internet – we welcomed over eight million visitors a year. We averaged 10,000 downloads a day and during holidays as many as 50,000 a day. We could have bundled our stationery with malware and made 50 cents to a dollar a download – but we never did that.
We could have recommended Norton, Kaspersky, Sophos, McAfee, Vipre, Zone Alarm and others, instead of the free antivirus programs we recommended from 1998 through 2013. That’s 15 years we could have been making money recommending antivirus programs and firewalls — but we didn’t.
We are never going to recommend something just to make money even if it means the end of our company. We would rather close up shop than violate the trust of our readers — and we have proven that many times.
We have never sold you out for money; we are not going to start now.
I am so sorry that people have falsely accused you! I have been with you for a very long time, although lately I have mostly Apple products because I didn’t want to participate in Windows 8, but I still support you and read your newsletter every week. Your integrity and impartiality is what drew me to you in the first place. I find it reprehensible that someone who obviously doesn’t know you, would make such an accusation. Obviously they do not know how close you came to closing, how much you sacrificed to get through that and that you are here because your sole purpose is to help others. May the Lord richly bless you, increase your numbers and allow you to stay in business as long as it brings you pleasure. Donna
Amen!!. Way to go. Your “oldies” knew all of that.
Simply put–AMEN TO ALL THE POSITIVES! We ‘oldies’ know you’re “THE GOOD GUYS” so please don’t listen to those who try to bring you down! One more thing–
A GREAT BIG THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP OVER THE YEARS, and yes doubters–it was all FREE!!
Some Folks are so used to being led astray that they expect it from everyone. You guys are a breath of fresh air for us. I am 68 years old & I have learned from you how to keep my PC in top condition. It makes me feel pretty good when my Daughter, Son-in-Law & 3 Grandkids all come to Grandma when they have a PC problem. You have never led me astray & I thank you for it.
Wow it is a shame that peeps has falsely accused you,They are just crazy…..Ya’ll are the best and I been a faithful customer of ya’lls wonderful business for a long long time and I WILL ALWAYS LISTEN TO YA”LLS ADVICE,Your the BEST!!!!!! God Bless ya’ll and all you do and may you continue to help us all and keep us aware of all that you say an do!!!!! ♥ ya’ll forever and a day ♥
anyone who has been with you should know that you would never sell us out.
Thank you for all you do!
Don’t take their accusations to heart TC & EB. They only accuse you because it would be something they would do if given the chance.
I have always known how true to your work you both have been. I have been with you since I ‘discovered’ your website etc. about 1999-2000. i have recommended your products and pages of advice over and over again as well as using both free offers and paid offers you have talked about. You are trustworthy and help many of us on a regular basis. THANK YOU! Just know so many of us do support you and understand that the accusations made appear to be coming out of jealousy because you actually have standards that many companies have shown they don’t have! You have shown it isn’t all about the money, it’s about the people who will do their best to keep a business as yours from thriving. Your business is a blessing to many and especially to me!
I think people who are saying these things really don’t know your guys’ history. You have always been honest and forthright with your readers. You are not afraid to call a spade a spade, and stand up to those who would con the public with adware, spamware, and other assorted PUPS and resource-intensive malware. People who know you realize that you follow the straight and narrow, and call it as you see it. I think the vast majority would agree with me. Now days, you have to be careful about every download. Some programs don’t work as they claim, and others bundle software within legitimate downloads. I trust your take on programs that you write about, and when you give us warnings about certain things out there on the internet, I listen. Thanks for all you do every day! So many of us depend on you for good, sound computer advice. Even many computer “experts” have sold out to the other side for a dollar. Your reputation is worth far more than all the dollars you will ever get.
You have convinced me that Emisoft is truly the best program. On this computer I have Microsoft Security Essentials, AVG Free and Malwarebytes. They do not always work . I would like to purchase the Emisoft program from you. Does it come as an installation disk or is it a download? I am assuming I won’t need the other three and they can then be uninstalled… correct? I heard it is difficult to remove avg. I am not a computer expert. Please quote me a price for the program and a price for purchasing the program – you install and AVG gone Sharon Halverson
I do not like to use my credit card on line but will send a check you can verify before you service my computer, should I decide to have you do it Sharon Halverson
Sharon, your credit card and/or debit card is “online” every time you use it at a store. The only way to avoid that is to use cash only. Swiping a card at a store immediately puts it on the “web” by pulling funds from your bank and transferring it to the POS (point of sale). Don’t worry about using it with Cloudeight – they use PayPal as an option and that’s worked for me for years. Price for Emisoft can be found in the usual Cloudeight full-version InfoAve emails. If you don’t get it, sign up for it. I think the last price quoted was $39.99 for use on
up to 3 computers. That was in the June 6th email. Hope that helps.
I’ve been with you for years. I trust you and so do others who have read your newsletters and followed your advice for years. Ignore the naysayers. They are not worth your time or ours.
I am sorry that people have actually accused you of the things you say. I don’t believe for one minute that you guys would do that. I hope those people are in the minority and that you are receiving enough support over this so that you don’t get discouraged about doing what you do.
As long as you brought it up, I would like to add one thing of my own about Malwarebytes. I wish you would have given them another chance. Because I had purchased MBAM when they had that lifetime license, I continued to run it, alongside my Emsisoft. First, let me say that when they came out with this new version I wrote asking them if this meant that the lifetime license I purchased was not going be be any good for getting the new version. Much to my surprise they wrote back and informed me that those who had lifetime licenses would be able to download and install the new version under that license.
Secondly, I would like to say that as far as some of these PUPs that can be pretty ugly, MBAM has caught several of them on my computer that Emsisoft did not pick up. I point this out only to verify that MBAM kept to their word to take a step back and start picking up these PUPs again. I feel much safer for having it running alongside Emsisoft.
Hi thanks for your comments. We have re-tried Malwarebytes and found it lacking. We have worked on thousands of them protected by MWB and found them infected. No doubt MWB has waffled back and forth between coddling malware companies, especially the multi-billion dollar ones. Do you really want to trust a company that waffles back and forth as to what kind of company they want to be. They have two faces and one has to always check which face they’re wearing.
MWB, unlike Emsisoft, detects so called “tracking cookies”. However, no matter what scary name one attaches to cookies, they are text files, they do not execute, they do not slow down computers, and they are not programs — so they can’t be malware – no matter what they call them.
We (and Emsisoft) would never claim absolute 100% detection of everything. No program can. Emsisoft is in the 98 – 99 % range.
We based our opinions on facts — and on experience with hundreds of computers each month. Malwarebytes has made a big deal about coming back to the right side of things — but do you want to trust a company who claims to protect you that provably sided with malware companies less than a year ago.
We have not seen much improvement in Malwarebytes in the past year – although it is certainly better than it was last year at this time when it detected and removed virtually nothing.
Everyone deserves a second chance, but when you’re dealing with malware, why waste your time on a company who tried to get away with joining the dark side and then, after then darn near ruined their computer, swiftly returned to the light – only to save their company. What does this say about them as people?
Emsisoft isn’t 100% perfect — no security program can make that claim. But the company’s employees and owners are good people who actually listen to suggestions from customers, from Darcy and I, and who go way out of their way to help their customers. They have stepped in and personally helped customers many times.
We don’t see any need to use Malwarebytes and we don’t recommend it. How do you know if and when Malwarebytes will abandon its customers again?
What PUP did malwarebytes find that emsisoft did not? Emsisoft is very responsive to anything when it comes to security, and they will look into any new pup that is not being identified. Thanks for your feedback.
Darcy
Hi, I to have a comment about Malwarebytes. I kept my Malwarebytes even after you installed Emsisoft which I have running all the time. Malwarebytes is of course not running all the time, but every Friday I do what I call my clean up and run Super Anti Spyware and the long one in Emsisoft. and then I do run Malwarebytes. I really like Emsisoft, but MWB’s found several pups one time and also a Trojan. This after running all of the others first. It found one other pup after those. But I wouldn’t know which ones, Emissoft has not found any pups so far. And that is good. Just some other things and has helped kept me from some other things that it has found. That is why I like it and it is the one I depend on all the time. But saying this I will still run MWB’s after it like always, since it did find those pups and the Trojan. It has only been the 2 times that it found anything, but that was enough I guess to just keep on running it last each week. I have been with you for sooo long, since I first found your very first Stationery and that was ages ago it seems.
And have learned 90% of what I know about PC’s from you. The other % from my hubby. And now we both look forward to Friday when the Newsletter is in our mail. keep up the good work and bless you both.
I, like many more people, rely very heavily on your information and help that you offer. I, in all the years of using your site, have never seen you lead people astray. How many people can live up to that – very few that I know of and I think you should be exceptionally proud of that! There are so many of us that only wish we could do more to help you along the way. You are the exception in this day and age and there are so many of us who truly respect and admire you for that. Thank you very much for all the effort that you put into what you do. We, who know you, are very proud of the effort you make on our behalf.
I think that you both are the greatest and I trust you completely. I don’t know how I would have made out without all your great advise. I know that things change over time and you are always there to advise us of the changes to keep us safe. I just wish that I could do more to help you and your business. Love you both…take care! <3
I’m sorry for the spelling mistake…It should have said, “I don’t know how I would have made it without all your great advice”
Gerry – hang the spelling error….that comment came from your heart and it read just fine.
I have been with you since 1996 and anyone who thinks that you are in it for the money has got rocks in their head and don’t realise the work that you must put in for the good of so many others. Your knowledge and expertise is astounding, and although faced with tough times you have soldiered on and continued to give wonderful advice and give back to all of us the benefit of your knowledge. Keep up the good work and you can be very be proud of your efforts that have helped so many of us.
I second Betty’s comment! I also have been with the both of you since 1996, and if it weren’t for the two
of you, I wouldn’t have learned how to use my computer. I’m 70 now and got into computers late in the game, and learning about the internet was a puzzling and scary adventure. You helped me through many difficult trying times, when I was about to say screw it all!
So to those people whom question your honesty, where is there integrity?? TC & EB, keep up with the astounding work your doing, and know we are behind you 200%…
Hi TC & EB,
Having been with you since the start of CloudEight I can even give a personal guarantee to anyone that your site is for the benefit of members and visitors, and is NOT for profit.
Too many people in our current society want to complain, moan and whine over lots of situations, with many wanting their name in lights with two seconds of “Here I Am, Look At Me” syndrome.
I would also like to have the ability to put the complainers in your shoes and see how they would fare with the great amount of time, effort you put in, and FREE computer tips which allow individuals to fix minor problems themselves, instead of paying a technician.
Keep up the great work which you do, every barrel of satisfied people has a dissatisfied person, and laughing at that person’s ignorance brings great joy.
Kind Regards……………….
Amen, to all of the above comments, you guys are the only ones that I trust to tell me the truth!
By the way, I love Emsisoft and it is the first protection for my PC that I have ever paid for because I so trust you guys and will forever! I too, have been with you from the git go and will be with you forever!
So much of the software has changed over the years, and that is going to keep on happening, I know that and most of us do by now. Software changes, companies sell out to someone else and the new owners will change the software or the load or the content. You guys are the best protection I have as far as I am concerned!
It’s all been said above and I couldn’t say it any better. I have trusted you both for years and consider you my “Computer Bible”. You are a couple of extraordinary people and I appreciate the advice, help and protection that you give. Thank you TC and EB
Emsisoft will be getting my renewal in 2 months. Many thanks for your information and all your hard work. Thank you TC and EB.
Hi,
I had been very fond of MSE all the years and then defender. But when one realizes that it is on the last place in finding virus and malware then it is time to move on. Seems nowadays one has to pay for a good protection which is easy to use and not heavy eating up resources of the system. I tried Emisoft first on one machine and have it now on all machines.
On my XP machine I had many years Panda but made problems when an upgrade came out. I am very very satisfied with Emisoft and with the low price. I pay much more when I order direct at Emisoft.
What is wrong when you earn a little money with it and I get it anyway much cheaper as anywhere. I get from you nearly 3 licences for the price I would pay at Emisoft direct. I hope you keep the effordable offer from Emisoft licences that I can renew when the time has come.
Thank you for all the Information and the good work you do already so many many years.
It is your integrity that helps us so much in knowing what we can trust and you have proved it over many years. It is always hard to be accused of things that are untrue but be assured that your long-time followers know your motivation and that you don’t compromise. A good name is worth much more than money!!
Whoever these people are, they CLEARLY do not know you guys. All they would have to do is read one of your rants and know the kind of people you are.
There are 19 people comments be for before me and I AGREE 100% with all of them. I just renewed my Emsisoft for 3 years. That should tell you something 🙂
Arnie Brown
Anyone who would accuse you two of selling out either is one who has and is jealously trying to smear your good name or someone who has not been with you for many years, as I have, and hasn’t seen how you have consistently refused all opportunities to advance yourselves at the expense of clients. You even have the courage to change your recommendations when things change with a product (and this mess with Avast is not the first time a company has gone to the “Dark Side” and been outed by you) and explain why when most would never rock the USS PROFIT by being true to their customers. A far wiser person than I, Ralph W. Emerson, said, “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.” Well, your minds are not little (people come to me for computer help even though that is not my profession, and much of what I’ve learned and continue to learn has come from you), and neither are your hearts. Bless you for all you do for us!
Don’t sweat it. There will always be someone around to stir the pot. Your customers will always far outweigh the bad ones. Hugs to you both.
I am one of the ones that made comments on your Avast post, although I Never accused you of selling anyone out or trying to make money. I simply stated that I use Avast , Malwarebytes Pro, and SuperAntispyware and they work great for me. I work on my own computer because I can’t afford to take it elsewhere. I also can’t afford a lot of the programs that are recommended, though I do totally appreciate the great advice from you and have been with you since you started this newsletter. I wanted to clarify that I’m definitely not one of the ones accusing you of anything. If other people think you are just out for money then perhaps they need to remove themselves from your newsletter mailings and go elsewhere to stir the pot. I think the world of you both and highly trust your advice. Please don’t confuse me with the insulters. Have a great day!!
As I told you in a personal email — I guarantee you I’d find malware on your computer. Avast has no anti-malware component. Malwarebytes is only marginally efficacious ( and it depends on if they’re in he white-hat cycle or the black -hat cycle) and spyware is hardly an issue anymore. So again, I extend my offer — I’ll connect to your computer and if I don’t find any malware, I’ll give you a repair session free and Emsisoft free. If I do find malware, you agree to pay 50% of a regular session ($44.50). Deal?
Thanks,
TC
Apparently you didn’t read what I wrote. I take care of my own computer because I can’t afford to pay for all these programs. I followed your advice before and paid for the Malwarebytes Pro and I also followed your advice and put Superantispyware paid version on my daughter’s computer. I realize that things change and programs don’t always work as well as they used to. Whether or not there is malware on my computer, I’m not agreeing to pay for a session if you found any. All I simply stated is that my computer runs very well. I am a techie person and am not totally stupid when it comes to computers. As far as my post on here, I was a little offended because I never accused you or even hinted that you sell people out but the way your article was written, it sounded like we were all lumped together in our comments. And what I said about Conduit….. Malwarebytes Pro did find and remove it. That was just a fact and I stated it….. SuperAntiSpyware also finds conduit and removes it. I’m sure Emsisoft is a great program for those that can afford it and I’m happy for them that they can. I, however, cannot afford it so I use what I use(per your advice from before). It’s better than not using any protection at all…… I don’t think it’s right to get on here and see other newsletter recipients berating others for leaving their comments. I wasn’t attacking you in any way…..
I forgot to add that I didn’t receive the personal email that you are talking about. I would have responded to you there instead of here if I had. It wasn’t tagged as spam either so I don’t know why I didn’t receive it…
Good people are good people. It’s that simple. I too am a very devoted member of Cloudeight. I depend on TC & EB to keep me up and running. I am 77 yrs old, and am beginning to suffer those little memory blurps. So what with changing technology and my memory blurps, I need Cloudeight’s help now and again….and I trust them completely. God bless & keep TC & EB & co. They have earned and deserve our support.
Thank you, TC & EB
Nuff said—I feel sorry for the complainers.–They too are living is this world of greed. Too bad they were so late getting to know you. They are probably going by the answer. “if it sounds too good to be true –it probably is”. Not so in this case. Thank you TC and EB
Hey there my go to guys, you know the old saying ( the proof is in the pudding) it is easy to talk about something being this way or that way but until you can prove what you are saying is true then all it amounts to is gossip. The way i look at it is how many of us out here would do what you guys do for nothing. Just as i thought. You are always going to have naysayers in everything so let this stuff roll off your backs and remember all of us out here in cloud land believe in you 2 rascals and also remember we aint gonna let yall down because we know you aint gonna let us down. So both of you guys have a wonderful blessed day and sleep like a couple of new born babies tonight. PS I know if there are any English teachers on here reading this and me throwing in those aints and yall have all but passed out after reading this comment.
Hang In There Guys
( HogMan)
I agree 100% with all the positive replies. I am not good with words so this reply is to tell you that I was one who always used Avast. I paid for one of you to connect to my computer and clean it up. It isn’t young anymore and neither am I. Darcy connected to my computer and worked so hard to clean up my computer. Found “tons” of Mayware which she got rid. I also had her uninstall Avast and I had her install Emsisoft Anti-Malware. I would rather pay for a good anti-ware and virus program than worry about becoming infested. The cost is nothing, no more worrying. My old computer is running better than I am. I apploud Cloudeight. I have been with you from the very beging.
Such cool supporters! They have great stuff to say and I agree with all of them. Trust is not automatic; it is earned and you two have earned it over and over. Thank you for your service to all of us out here!
I think both of you are the BEST & have always been a GREAT help to me over the years! Blessings to you both & please never stop all you do! ♥
I am one of the “oldies”. I have followed you & followed your recommendations since 1997? These people making the accusations, are “spinning their wheels” & have no idea what they are talking about.
Your integrity and devotion to you readers/followers is beyond reproach. If at any time you recommended something, & then found out it would be bad for us, you always did a follow-up and explained, with examples & references to additional information, for us to look at if we chose to.
Do these people really think I would be with you all these years if you were about profit & gave false information?
Refer these people to me & I will tell them to place blame on all the scammers, which is who they are really mad at!
Keep up the good work! I will continue to support you in any way I can until you lead me down the wrong path as some of the others have.
Ah! Not to worry about those Cyber Bullies. It is a sad thing anymore. When we were young we were taught one of the best rules, “If you can’t say anything nice about someone, don’t say anything at all.” Well, now-a-days it seems that there are more and more that don’t seem to know the meaning of the word “nice”. They just surf around looking for people to snarl at.
You just need to know that you two are exceptions to the rule. Wonderful people who are always trying to do what is best for everyone. I have always trusted your advice or opinions and always will. Times change, products change… you have no control over that. Products that were once the best, sometimes turn out to be the worst. I hate to say it, but look at what Microsoft has done to us! They change things so fast that one becomes leary of even purchasing their stuff because we all know it might be obsolete before we even learn how to use the darned stuff.
You have loyal followers; always have, always will. As for those who complain about you; well, they don’t need to be on your site. Plain and simple. They are neither handcuffed nor shackled, they know the way to the door.
Hope you both have a wonderful day!
Sunny
I discovered your site in 2000 and have been amazed at the wealth of knowledge you two have and pass on to us so freely and in impeccable honesty !
Thank you!
Well TC-I do detect/love your wild sense of humor injected now and then. Darcy must have to give you that look when you pick on her. ;)))
We who have read here long enough have grown to love and trust you both.