Ewido Update
Our item on "ewido" ( http://langa.com/newsletters/2006/2006-09-25.htm#1 )the new antispyware tool from the makers of the AVG antispyware tool, prompted some diametrically opposite responses:
On the negative side:
Hi Fred and Mike: FYI - PCMag had a different take on the ewido anti-spyware tool referenced in the 2006-09-25 edition of LangaList. Although I'm happy with Grisoft's AVG Professional and AVG Plus Firewall products I be hesitant to try their anti-spyware offering based on this review: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1993985,00.asp --David Browning
Hmmm. The PC Mag reviewer gave it 2 stars out of five, saying "Grisoft's ewido anti-spyware 4.0 costs the same as programs that do a much better job. Some recommend using the scan-only free version as a second opinion, but it flopped in my tests."
But, on the positive side:
Fred: I am a tech at a free PC-troubleshooting website... I can testify that ewido is a staple of our security team's arsenal-- it is one of the first things our team suggests in helping people remove malware/viruses form their systems. Usually an ewido log/ and a hijack this log are among the first tools used. I have seen these guys clean out some real nasties for people ... viruses/worms/spyware. I have used Adaware and spybot for years and had never heard of ewido before I joined PChelp-- I must say I have seen it get some things the other 2 missed-- while a multi-pronged defense is a necessity these days... ewido will move up fast, I think. ---Jeff Bates ( http://www.pchelpforum.com/ )
Fred, I have been using Spybot Search & Destroy, Pest Patrol and then ewido (ver 3,5) to check my computer once a week since May (4 months.) ewido caught 42 "nasties" (mostly third party tracking cookies) in that time frame. Spybot S & D doesn't seem to catch many and Pest Patrol gets at least 3 each time. After that ewido gets about 3 more. ---Arnold Musolf
Fred, Terrific newsletter. I've been using ewido for over a year. It was first recommended by Gizmo editor@techsupportalert.com in his monthly newsletter which I recommend to your readers. He also keeps an updated "The 25 Best Freeware Apps" list. I only recently had a problem w/Norton and wanted the latest Grisoft AVG. I noted then that ewido was then part of the Grisoft family. I haven't had a Trojan or any AV. I also like a2 from http://www.emsisoft.com/en/ . Their anti dialer and malware detector is frequently updated with many new signatures 2-3 times a week. Keep the good stuff coming. ---Tom Kubita
Yes, as Tom says, ewido's been around for a while, but V4--- the free "Grisoft-ized" version--- is new, and that's what prompted our discussion.
So, a reviewer says it's bogus, but users say it's great. What's going on?
I think these disparate views may be more an artifact of old-style software reviewing than anything else: I'm sure the PC Mag review is accurate as far as it goes; but the reviewer doesn't specify what PC the tests were run on; what OS was used; what malware samples were selected as test cases; and so on. Without essential info such as that, there's no way to predict if the your experiences will match the reviewer's. And, to me, a review that doesn't let you make predictions for your own real-life use is, well, pointless.
Real-life reports from a variety of sources, such as you get from reader mail (such as the above), Usenet Groups, BBSes, and son on, are often far more valuable than incomplete, sketchy reviews. I think this is one of the reasons why many old-school computer magazines are in steep decline--- much of the information they offer just isn't all that relevant anymore. In contrast, reader-driven publications and web sites are doing great: Real-life experiences trump artificial tests almost every time.
Be that as it may, the very best way to see if ewido will work for you is to try it yourself. It's free and--- as some of fellow readers report (PC Mag's opinion notwithstanding)--- it looks pretty good!
Digg
Del.icio.us
Reddit
StumbleUpon
Other
Permalink
