App Review Emsisoft Anti-Malware Home 2025

[KnownStormChaser]

You're watching too many movies, don't you think? Do you think real life is just like in the movies?

Just an example most people might know. Kitboga or Scammer Payback are other examples.

 

[KnownStormChaser]

And you think they are just gonna hang up when they are kicked out? Lol

It will make their job harder, I know that much.

 

[Trident]

It will make their job harder, I know that much.

It will add 5 min to the scheme. Don’t worry, it’s not like they are busy doing anything else other than scamming.
It’s a nice to have feature in any case, but it’s still gimmicky. Furthermore, not all scams require access to banking. That’s just one scam (the refund one). Scams that require the victim to wire money, use gift cards or Bitcoin will not be affected by Banking Protection.

 

[RansomwareRemediation]

Very bad result :/

 

[piquiteco]

I believe this tool wasn't meant for malware, but it is to help stop those remote access scammers that use AnyDesk or TeamViewer, etc to steal money from your bank accounts.

F-Secure's banking protection helps, I won't deny that, as do BD's Safepay and K's Safe Money. They all serve the purpose of protecting your browser session when you access, for example, internet banking. But what if your computer is compromised? I wouldn't trust the protection offered by antivirus software. It's all a mystery.

 

[piquiteco]

Just an example most people might know. Kitboga or Scammer Payback are other examples.

Yes, that's right, I know you know about this subject.

 

[piquiteco]

Very bad result :/

Are you currently using BD? Off topic, just a quick question out of curiosity.

 

[piquiteco]

Like in the movie The Beekeeper.

Now, seriously, no kidding. In the case of The Beekeeper, the SCAMMER used social engineering, and on top of that, he targeted an elderly woman who knew nothing about technology, only how to turn on the computer, so there's not much to say. She didn't even know it was antivirus software. It's difficult to talk about here, but SCAMMERS take advantage of vulnerable people, as is the case with the woman in the film. Of course, it's all fictional, just to clarify.

 

[piquiteco]

This “privacy” is a masquerade for Emsisoft to increase revenue per license, by investing little to nothing (if BD updates are not proxied) in cloud architecture. This is then presented as “privacy preservation”. But does it do the job?

Do Emsisoft signatures all come from BD?

 

[Trident]

Do Emsisoft signatures all come from BD?

Yes, in the past they had their own engine that was focused on PUPs. For many years now, Emsisoft doesn’t mention anything about the second engine, so I would assume it’s discontinued. Even if it’s not, it’s not really focused on malware detection, that’s Bitdefender’s job.

Emsisoft continues to develop their behavioural blocking, long time ago known as Mamutu.

 

[piquiteco]

Emsisoft continues to develop their behavioural blocking, long time ago known as Mamutu.

You know everything, huh? Your memory is like a Wikipedia encyclopaedia.

 

[anirbandutta01]

Emsisoft is a New Zealand-based security solution provider that is well known to the general public.
Formerly known as A-Squared and running on Ikarus, Emsisoft has been using Bitdefender's engine in addition to its own since 2014.
The security solution has evolved significantly over the years to adapt to current threats.
Let's see how it performs in testing.



Interface :

The Emsisoft interface has not changed but remains simple and consistent.
It is still a little technical in some respects, but the publisher does its best to guide users who are confused by the rules or settings.
I installed its extension.
The solution consumes a lot of RAM, but the PC remains fluid.

Web protection: 10/10
All links are blocked.

Fake crack : 1/1
Blocked

Malware Pack : Remaining 33 threats out of 143
I expected better behavioral blocking.
Emsisoft is still an excellent scanner, but its behavioral blocking has become much less reliable.
The machine becomes severely infected and is ultimately destroyed by GDI malware that modifies the MBR, blocking all actions.
Really disappointed.

Final scan : PC destroyed

Final opinion:

Emsisoft remains an excellent scanner, no complaints there.
Its web protection is also very effective, performing flawlessly.
However, its behavioral protection needs a major overhaul: several malware programs, such as scripts and RATs, slipped through undetected.
Worse still, a GDI malware program got through and destroyed the system.
Emsisoft remains a good antivirus program, but one that should be used with caution.
If you are a high-risk user, Emsisoft is not for you.

Thank you for the test @Shadowra .

 

[Khushal]

Yes, in the past they had their own engine that was focused on PUPs. For many years now, Emsisoft doesn’t mention anything about the second engine, so I would assume it’s discontinued. Even if it’s not, it’s not really focused on malware detection, that’s Bitdefender’s job.

Emsisoft continues to develop their behavioural blocking, long time ago known as Mamutu.

AVs in 2025 being unable to block MBR malware is a horrendous result. Coming to EMSI's own engine i am not sure how much it is being worked on at the moment but one thing is for sure that it does not like everything toolbar.

 

[RansomwareRemediation]

Are you currently using BD? Off topic, just a quick question out of curiosity.

I usually change my antivirus from time to time, I just installed Avast Premium Security, x?

 

[piquiteco]

I usually change my antivirus from time to time, I just installed Avast Premium Security, x?

So, it's basically the same as me. I'm currently using McAfee. I asked about BD because I haven't seen it in a while. I was a little curious to know if anything had changed.

 

[piquiteco]

AVs in 2025 being unable to block MBR malware is a horrendous result. Coming to EMSI's own engine i am not sure how much it is being worked on at the moment but one thing is for sure that it does not like everything toolbar.

Many AVs do not detect PUAs/PUPs because they are not malware. Although they may often seem harmless, they can cause a series of problems, such as changing your browser's home page, installing search bars from unknown sources, and even adding extensions to your browser without your "consent". That's right, even Comodo (CIS) detects PUPs as malware and moves them to quarantine. I mentioned this because I used CIS. The good news is that adware has fallen into disuse, and today PUPs are no longer a problem. Even if your AV does not detect them, they can be easily removed. However, I would prefer that all AVs detect and move these pests to quarantine as well, as is the case with EMSI and MWB products.

 

[roger_m]

Although they may often seem harmless, they can cause a series of problems, such as changing your browser's home page, installing search bars from unknown sources, and even adding extensions to your browser without your "consent".

Those things rarely happen these days. Most PUPs are considered as such, because they often are promoted with misleading and exaggerated claims of how much they are needed and how better your PC will work, if you purchase the full version. Often, once installed, there are regular popups trying to get you to buy them. But in the case of popups, such apps are often classified as adware, rather than PUPs, even if they're not adware in the traditional sense of installing additional adware components on your PC.

 

[Sorrento]

It is a pity as used it from the beginning (a squared) at times, it has become obvious that its been getting behind the times for a while, & although it still does a good job, & as a subscriber I had already decided I wasn't going to renew anymore with more advanced systems around now - Again it is a shame but things move on.

Thanks for another good review that has taken much time & effort to do!

 

[Khushal]

Many AVs do not detect PUAs/PUPs because they are not malware. Although they may often seem harmless, they can cause a series of problems, such as changing your browser's home page, installing search bars from unknown sources, and even adding extensions to your browser without your "consent". That's right, even Comodo (CIS) detects PUPs as malware and moves them to quarantine. I mentioned this because I used CIS. The good news is that adware has fallen into disuse, and today PUPs are no longer a problem. Even if your AV does not detect them, they can be easily removed. However, I would prefer that all AVs detect and move these pests to quarantine as well, as is the case with EMSI and MWB products.

Agreed but this toolbar does nothing of that sort.

 

[Harputlu]

This “privacy” is a masquerade for Emsisoft to increase revenue per license, by investing little to nothing (if BD updates are not proxied) in cloud architecture. This is then presented as “privacy preservation”. But does it do the job?

On device analysis are limited, the solution needs to take a decision in milliseconds with minimum performance impact. So that’s the result of on-device.

Actually, the biggest problem is that while its competitors are developing rapidly, it is lagging behind. In addition, resource consumption is very high in this era.The only thing I like about it right now is that they don't fill the program with unnecessary features.