MalwareBytes Free vs Paid - Comments Page 1

I use the paid version of both MalwareBytes and Kaspersky Internet Security at the same time. They seem to play together fine. While MalwareBytes may not show up on tests very well it has found some virus programs that Kaspersky did not.

I have the premium version of MalwareBytes running on 4 PCs of my own, and two owned by relatives. I'm quite happy with its performance. The nice thing about MalwareBytes, both Free and Premium, is that you can run a different antivirus program, and they don't interfere with each other.

I have used the free version of Malwarebytes for quite a view years now. When I run into a problem with a computer, the first thing I do is run the software and it usually finds something that everyone else missed. I really like the program but here at work we use a corporate version of antivirus.

Hi Bob,
great assessment as always.
The one place i differ is on that advanced windows care. its annoying, a memory hog, and it tends to reset certain settings on your machine to what IT considers optimal, which works.. at first. until it begins bogging the machine down.
and endless useless offers, and tools like memory cleaners? when's the last time you needed to clear memory to allow more processes?
its good, a great way to tune up your pc... but if i do use it to do so, i uninstall it shortly after as i find it far too intrusive and using far too many resources on all the machines i've tried it on.
it may as well be AVG free, lol.. popup screens and all. so i think, yeah, it does qualify as a PUP, anything that is modifying your machine and writing itself all over the registry smacks of distrust to me.
i had it break a few machines, granted, they were older, but removing it restored their functionality.
i use all the malware bytes free stuff to "second look" at my machine, and i agree also with you that its great for that purpose.
hope your summer is great,
peace!

MBAM is the only paid protector that I run on my main computer. As Bob says, it's not intrusive or obnoxious with messages and demands - and it has not let anything past it, as far as I can tell.

However, I have noticed two things:

1. Sometimes MBAM grabs 25% of my CPU cycles for a loooong period of time - not on the scheduled daily scan, but when I'm trying to do other work. My system fan ramps way up and stays there for 30 minutes or so. Seems to be worse when youtube or a video source is open on a webpage.

2. The last 2 upgrades have actually erased the main executable file from my system while displaying an "update failed" window. I have been able to recover from this each time by downloading the latest free version - and after an install and a reboot, the program is back and updated and my account data is all right where it should be. A bit unnerving.

Still my choice over that "Yoohoo - I'm here and working for you! Don't I deserve an upgrade?" AVG, and certainly over those !@#$%^ leechware programs from Norton and McAffee. They actually seem worse than viruses - more like ransomware, because it's almost impossible to get your system back and clean again once they have been accidentally installed.

MBAM gets my vote - paid or free.

I've used MalwareBytes Premium (or its equivalent predecessors) for many years. It's simple to use and unobtrusive.

I do occasionally get a pop-up that real-time protection has been turned off. I don't know what turns it off.

Unfortunately, turning it back on is not simply a matter of opening the dashboard and clicking the "slider switch" to turn of real-time protection.

When real-time protection has been turned off in this unknown way, the only way to turn it back on that I have found (and it works consistently)is to exit the program and re-start it. It then boots with real-time protection ON, and stays that way for a week or so, until it inexplicably gets turned off again.

But, like Bob, I'm rather fond of the program. ... I receive a email newsletter from MalwareBytes every few weeks which usually has several interesting stories related to Internet security.

I use MalwareBytes Premium and am quite impressed by it. My only criticism is that the program sometimes loads with some functionality missing (one or more of the four protection settings turned off for some reason, then often won't respond to attempts to turn them back on) on startup, though a reboot usually fixes that.

I've been using Malwarebytes Premium in conjunction with Windows Defender for the past two years. I've yet to have any issues with Malwarebytes during this time. The website protection feature is quicker to react than built in protections in Edge and Firefox. Most times the blocked website is one I really don't want to visit anyways when I check it out using other means.
If I recall correctly, Iobit and Malwarebytes had a dispute a few years back. That may be why Malwarebytes marks Iobit products as PUPS. I noticed that Iobit Uninstaller got flagged when I installed it. I had no problem with setting Malwarebytes to ignore it.
The Premium version license is good for 3 computers for one year. And the price is much better than others, $29.99/year.

I used Malwarebytes free for many years. However, earlier this year, my computer was attacked by one of those allegedly Russian ransomwares. Of course, I could not afford to pay the $$$$ they wanted to give me a key to unencrypt the computer, so just lost everything on my computer. After that attack, I purchased the Malwarebytes Premium because of their protection against ransomware. I do understand that recently the Malwarebytes program was sold to another entity. Do you know if that is correct? I am wondering because the last upgrade I had problems with it not working until I asked many questions from a place I was directed to. I note that above another user said he has had problems with the past two upgrades. I had never, in all the years of using Malwarebytes, had any problems with upgrades until this last one.

I use the paid version on my W10 machine. Of all my clients, ZERO using the paid version have gotten infected. (that's darn impressive over the years) I use the free version to clean malware from those that don't run the paid version, and go to risky sites, either on purpose, or by clicking links. I advise those who get infected to use the paid version.
I agree with your view of the company. I typically use Windows Defender as one AV, and Malwarebytes paid as the other. Can't recommend Malwarebytes highly enough.

I bought the paid version and use it with Windows Defender on Windows 10. It came up once as an automatic "update" issue (snafu) but they convinced me to forgive them and that it would never happen again...so I don't know? It seems to get along well with Windows Defender, which I include in my regular habit every time I turn on my computer, to click on "Settings" then "Update & Security," which invariable almost every time I do it has an update for Windows Defender (even if I do it during the day after a few hours). Malwarebytes, I mostly just trust it to be "always on" doing its job,,,unless something else happens to make me wonder otherwise? Then I scan. It hasn't found anything in a long time. Windows Defender either.

I have both MalwareBytes Premium and Norton Premium Anti-Virus for many years. Each seems to work well on different types of attacks. Often MalwareBytes is the program that stops an intruder first. Both programs operate properly on my Windows 7 Desktop. I check for updates every morning before any work is started. I have never had a crippling attack or needed to re-install the operating system. For this reason, I am satisfied with both products.

I purchased a lifetime license for MBAM a couple of years ago. It has been doing fine, insofar as I know. I quit using Avast Paid because the two ate up my RAM synergistically. I changed to Windows Defunder. They have not hogged my RAM/CPU. I don't visit suspicious websites, so maybe I don't need them. Or maybe they are doing a great job. I have K on my phone. Maybe I'll see how they do in place of WD.

I have had the same issue with MBAM. Very annoying.

I used MBAM free for a couple years on recommendation from Fred Langa actually. A number of years ago they offered a lifetime license to the always on version and I jumped at that. They no longer do that. When they upgraded to the current version, a complete rebuild, I had all manner of trouble getting it to not conflict with Firefox, mostly and Sophos which I also run. Even though, I was ready to give up and I have an old license that they no longer offer, they absolutely refused to give up, kept giving me tweaks and rebuilds until the product worked perfect. That is customer service you just don't find anywhere these days. I'll stay with them as long as they're in business. I do use other things, CCleaner Pro among them, but MBAM is still what most places tell you to go to if you have an impossible to get rid of problem. I've never had one, in part at least, to using MBAM.

Been using Malwarebytes since it was still a couple years old due to your advice and has done me well throughout the years. I've used the premium now for almost 5 years and it has caught more viruses then McAfee and Avast. (I have several computers with different Antivirus programs). It works so well that I learned Office Depot and Best Buy use this program to help them clean virus infected pc's.

I have used the free version of Malwarebytes for a few years now and find it OK
However about 9 months ago they introduced a free trial for the paid version so I downloaded it.
Without actually having the paid for version running my screen started freezing, I could not find the mouse pointer, blue screen of death on a few occasions.
Anyway I had to do a few system restore points and finally removed the paid version of Malwarebytes.
It runs fine now.
Graham.

Malwarebytes (free) also flags Advanced System Care on my computers. The compete address of PUPs is indeed cut off, but I just use the double-ended arrow to extend that section of the Malwarebytes toolbar and I can see which are Advanced System Care and which are others. I then tell Malwarebytes to "Ignore Always" and have no problems. (At least until the next time Advanced System Care loads some new files. Then I do it again.)

Like a couple of the posters above, I too purchased a lifetime license for MBAM a few years ago. When they went to a subscription model, they sent me a download to install, and had I not read the terms, I would have been suckered in. I screamed bloody murder because I was convinced they were trying to sneakily ram it down my throat. I had words with tech support, but they ultimately backed off and have honored my lifetime license.....so far.
But every time they come out with a new version, I wonder if this will be the time, even after reading their confusing TOS. Granted, they might not be as bad as some of the others with using underhanded tactics, but I'm wary now.
Still, I believe it's a good product to have in your arsenal.

I've used MB premium for years and never had any kind of attack. But my real-time protection turned itself off quite often as note by responders above, and restoring it was not easy. Recently, I bought a new computer that came with McAfee. Within 2 weeks, I had two virus attacks! I'd like to install MB premium --will it conflict with McAfee?
Thanks.