Malwarebytes is often hailed as the go-to antimalware solution for Windows computers. This Malwarebytes Review will explore the validity of that claim. Is Malwarebytes Premium the best antimalware for Windows? Do I really need an antimalware solution? Let’s explore. But before we do that let’s take a closer look at malware itself. Get 50% off with this latest Malwarebytes Coupon.

 

Summary

Real-time malware protection at a competitive price point.

What is Malware?

The term malware is short for malicious software – a malicious type of software that sets out to exploit or harm a given device or network. The earliest form of malware was the computer virus, the name for a program that infects other programs with its code, and replicates when the infected program runs. Many early viruses had no malicious payload; they just served to show off the coder’s skills, or even to give a shout-out to a loved one. Because viruses were first, we still use the name antivirus for software that protects against all kinds of malware.

 

Malwarebytes Premium

Malwarebytes Premium is a light, easy-to-use antivirus package that provides users with round-the-clock protection from a wide range of e-threats. The user interface is well thought out and simple to navigate.

 

Security Functions of Malwarebytes

Malwarebytes detects malware using a mark-based approach as well as heuristics. This implies that Malwarebytes has a malware database that it uses to identify malware on your system, and it also inspects documents for suspicious behavior to identify new malware that hasn’t yet been added to its data set.

Malwarebytes offers four distinct infection checks that you can browse:

Scan for danger. Examine critical areas of your device’s framework, memory, and startup programs.

Quick Scan. Filters dynamic contaminations from your memory and startup programs.

Scan to order. Filters any document or organizer that you require (counting the whole circle).

Scan a single file/folder. investigates a single document

It’s very important to note that Malwarebytes doesn’t have a default full framework filter option, so if you want to scan your entire system for malware, use the Custom Scan option and select the options in general.

 

Is Malwarebytes secure?

Malwarebytes is a secure antivirus management tool. Their advanced infection detection methods and a few security features protect against a wide range of online threats. All things considered, it lacks a coordinated firewall. Furthermore, the free version only includes malware filters, and different highlights are locked behind a firewall.

It’s worth noting that Malwarebytes was recently targeted by a cyberattack. A portion of their messages was intercepted by the same assailants responsible for the SolarWinds hack. A portion of their internal messages was revealed in this manner. Overall, there is no evidence that any client information was compromised.

All things considered, you don’t need your PC to become a guinea pig – testing labs are for that. The organization chose to participate in AV testing in 2018, and its results have improved since then.

Although advanced users will appreciate this, I believe Malwarebytes should make it clear to less technically-savvy users that the best way to examine the entire device is with a Custom Scan of the entire plate.

 

Key Features

Constant Defense

Malwarebytes’ continuous security (available only on paid plans) includes four distinct layers of assurance:

• Web security.
• Malware and PUP removal.
• Ransomware defense.
• Use protection to your advantage.

This is a fantastic result that is comparable to most premium antiviruses. Malwarebytes’ web insurance was also extremely effective at obstructing phishing sites, recognizing roughly 90% of the known phishing locales I attempted to visit.

However, Malwarebytes’ ransomware insurance isn’t comparable to the following standard security. I used a ransomware test system to see if Malwarebytes could detect and prevent ransomware, and Malwarebytes blocked roughly 66 percent of the ransomware documents on my device. All ransomware recreations were immediately stopped when I used a similar test system on Norton, McAfee, and Bitdefender.

 

Browser Guard

Browser Guard by Malwarebytes is a free program that enhances Google Chrome, Edge, and Firefox. The augmentation protects against malware, advertisements and trackers, tricks, and PUPs.

Program Guard is extremely simple to use because all of the assurances are enabled by default. If you need to turn off specific layers of security – for example, if you know a site is secure but the augmentation is preventing you from entering the site – you can easily toggle every insurance on or off.+.

 

VPN (Virtual Private Network)

The Malwarebytes Premium + Privacy plan includes a VPN and includes over 300 servers spread across 30 countries. This is a lot of server areas for a VPN that comes with an antivirus – Norton and TotalAV both have about 30 server areas, while VIPRE’s VPN has around 80.

 

WireGuard protocol

This is one of the quickest and most secure protocols available from many independent VPNs, including ExpressVPN and CyberGhost VPN. Strict no-logs policy. Malwarebytes does not log or store client data, such as browsing history or association logs.

 

The Malwarebytes VPN does not have an off button

If your VPN connection fails, an off button will terminate your web connection. This is a significant VPN feature, and antivirus competitors like Bitdefender and Kaspersky both have an off button for their VPNs, so this is something I’d really like to see Malwarebytes remember for its VPN as well.

Malwarebytes’ VPN has fast speeds. To assess its performance, I first ran a speed test without the VPN, and then I ran another test while connected to a nearby US server (I’m in Canada). I also tested the VPN’s speed while connected to long-range servers.

 

Exploit Protection

Despite being remembered for the Real-Time Protection list, the Exploit Protection highlight deserves its own section. This is because this is a high-level security strategy that deals with exploit attacks against security flaws and programming flaws in applications.

These types of attacks are much more subtle than standard infections, as they only require you to open a contaminated page or file. Malwarebytes Premium, fortunately, looks after you: it “protects” vulnerable applications so that malicious code cannot exploit their security flaws.

 

Framework check modes

There are three framework check modes: Quick sweep, Custom output, and the Threat filter. Malwarebytes appears to have adapted to the market by changing some of its checking titles to more recognizable ones.

Keep in mind that Malwarebytes can run each type of output sequentially. You can’t, for example, run a framework output and then look at a specific record for antiviruses. Along these lines, plan them similarly.

 

Free Version

Malwarebytes antivirus comes in three flavors: Free, Premium, and Premium plus privacy. Let’s look into how they differ. Malwarebytes Free includes only the malware scanner and the Browser Guard augmentation. I only recommend this arrangement to clients who are looking for a quick way to remove a current malware infection from their device.

If you require 24-hour security, Malwarebytes Free is insufficient because it lacks continuous protection. While most free antiviruses aren’t particularly good, there are some contenders, for example, Avira Free, that incorporate both continuous malware protection and extra components, for example, framework tuneup devices and a VPN. So, if you need a free antivirus, there are better options.

However, if you’re willing to spend some money on an antivirus suite, Malwarebytes Premium is a good option for clients looking for a powerful antivirus scanner. Furthermore, Malwarebytes Free includes a 14-day free trial of Malwarebytes Premium, allowing you to test all of the top-notch highlights risk-free.

 

Premium Version

The Malwarebytes Premium version includes malware detection, continuous protection, and the Browser Guard expansion. You can conceal 5 devices with this arrangement, including Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.

The constant assurance alone justifies the upgrade from Free to Premium. With continuous insurance, you get additional layers of protection against online scams, phishing, ransomware, PUPs, and attacks that exploit bugs and weaknesses in your device’s security.

While Malwarebytes Premium isn’t as good as the best antivirus programming in 2022, it’s a good option for clients looking for a simple yet effective web security arrangement. Malwarebytes provides a 60-day unconditional guarantee.

 

Malwarebytes Premium + Privacy

Malwarebytes’ most expensive arrangement incorporates all of the elements of its Premium arrangement as well as a VPN. This is a good option for clients who want to combine Malwarebytes’ solid antivirus and phishing protection with a quick and dependable VPN. In any case, Malwarebytes’ VPN does not support streaming, torrenting, or working in countries with web restrictions.

In general, Malwarebytes Premium + Privacy is rated on a similar level to many of the top antivirus contenders, but it does not offer as many features. For example, Norton 360 Standard is less expensive than Malwarebytes, and Norton includes continuous malware assurance, web security, a firewall, a secret key director, data fraud insurance, and distributed storage. Bitdefender Total Security is also less expensive than Malwarebytes, and Bitdefender provides more additional features than most other brands. The one area where Malwarebytes excels, where the others fall short, is its ease of use. Its simple layout makes it a perfect fit for new users.

 

What is it like to use Malwarebytes?

Because Malwarebytes is so fundamental, you’d think it would have no effect on the appearance of your PC. Unfortunately, that is not the case. The test labs discovered that it reduced the speed of normal tasks by 9.1 percent on average.

This is better than Windows Defender, which dragged the framework down to around 12.5 percent. Nonetheless, there are many snappier alternatives, with F-Secure SAFE causing only a 6.1 percent lull.

 

 

Malwarebytes Browser

The free browser extension for Google Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge, blocks advertisements and protects you from third-party trackers, malware, tricks, and PUPs (potentially unwanted programs, e.g. spyware, adware, etc).

Noxious Website Protection Malwarebytes includes the Malicious Website Protection component to help you avoid visiting trick and phishing sites. Furthermore, it prevents the installation of malware or potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) on your device.

This useful component is also known as URL sifting, and it works in a straightforward manner: it naturally checks and squares both harmful spaces and IP addresses by blocking relevant DNS inquiries. Remember that the Malicious Website Protection feature is only available to Premium Malwarebytes members.

 

Isolated data

When Malwarebytes antivirus detects a contaminated file on your device, it immediately kills it by placing it in the quarantine area. Regardless, if you are certain that the record is secure and that the issue is a phony one, you can reestablish it and return it to its original location. You could add the record to the Allow list. Malwarebytes will then stop targeting it in future sweeps.

 

Privacy

A VPN is included in the Malwarebytes Premium + Privacy plan. It’s truly one of the best VPN and antivirus bundles available. The service covers 34 countries and has 400 servers, which is a little on the low side when compared to dedicated VPN providers. In any case, there should be a lot of places to connect with.

The VPN incorporates the WireGuard tunneling protocol, which is very popular right now among VPN administrations. Given that not all dedicated VPN specialist organizations have it, this is a significant accomplishment for Malwarebytes.

Furthermore, their connection will be protected by 256-cycle encryption. This implies that no programmer will want to use it for animal power. Furthermore, Malwarebytes employs a strict no-logs strategy, which results in no secondary access to your data.

 

Plan Features and Price

Malwarebytes $0.00 for free virus scans Virus detection, continuous insurance, ransomware prevention, and exploit protection Premium + Privacy for $29.99/year Virus detection, continuous assurance, ransomware mitigation, exploit security, and VPN $59.98/year

 

Trial

When your 14-day Premium trial period expires, you will be left with the free version of Malwarebytes antivirus. Is there any advantage? Indeed, everything it does is check your device and remove any existing dangers.

As a result, it requires one of the most important aspects of any antivirus program – continuous assurance. That implies you require another antivirus solution to protect you while browsing the web or carrying out your regular tasks.

Obviously, Malwarebytes Free is a good option if your PC is infected. Furthermore, we should get genuine – most free antivirus programs do not provide continuous security, so we shouldn’t be too harsh on Malwarebytes.

In any case, I might want to see even more free highlights from now on. If not, Malwarebytes will most likely succumb to the opposition.

 

Last Word on Malwarebytes Premium

Malwarebytes Premium worthwhile purchase for those who are looking for a solid solution to keep malware at bay. You go through it during your 14-day trial period. After a while, you should consider purchasing a yearly membership if you require the program to continuously protect your device.

This version incorporates everything covered in this Malwarebytes audit: the various types of sweeps (including the daily Threat check), all Real-Time Protection highlights (Web, Malware, Ransomware, Exploit), and the possibility to get Device Alerts that warn you about security issues with gadgets.

Malwarebytes Premium currently has a rebate – it costs $29.99 per year. It only supports one device and is available for Windows, iOS, Android, macOS, and Chrome devices.