Malwarebytes Review 2019: Is It the Entire Solution for your Device?
- Salman Ahmed
- June 3rd, 2019
As our other reviews, this Malwarebytes review is unprejudiced, and Onlineprivacytips.co does not earn any penny from affiliate commissions like other renowned websites do.
Like humans, no software in a world is perfect, and this is why it requires updates. Also, due to continuous advancement in the tech industry leads to introduce new types of viruses.
Due to this, your antivirus could not detect it and leads to destroy or paralyze your security software.
Moreover, Incase if your system is already infected by a malware, it may stop your system from installing a traditional antivirus or anti-malware.
This is where you need a tool like Malwarebytes. Its super-fast inspection identifies attacks before it might infect your device.
Moreover, the best thing about this anti-malware that it offers both Malwarebytes Free and Premium version. The Malwarebytes 3.0 premium version can detect ransomware.
Malwarebytes premium has all the features to replace your traditional antivirus. However, the way Malwarebytes is designed; it must be used alongside with standard antivirus.
Malwarebytes free, on the other side, does not include any real-time protection. However, there are more things that you need to identify whether which version of Malwarebytes is best for you.
For this, In this Malwarebytes review, I will be reviewing different free and premium versions of it in this blog.
What is Malwarebytes?
Bruce Harrison and Marcin Kleczynski founded Malwarebytes back on January 21st, 2008. The idea of creating Malwarebytes came into existence when Kleczynski’s family computer got a virus in 2004.
Since then, the Malwarebytes team has grown to over 600 members in five locations all around the world.
The best thing about this security software, unlike other antiviruses, it offers 14 days trials, if you are opting for its premium version with all the features.
Another issue that arises regarding this it security and legality. If you are looking for an answer regarding this concern, read is Malwarebytes safe and legit to use.
However, after the end of the trial period, if you do not continue the premium plan, your plan automatically shifts to Malwarebytes free plan, where you can only clean the infected device feature.
However, I believe 14 days trial is more than enough to test all its features and decide whether you opt for this fantastic anti-malware or not.
Malwarebytes Free Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons | Verdict |
– Speedy scan – Ability to remove several malware that traditional antiviruses failed to do – Super handy to use – Setup is easy to install – Works with other antiviruses – Strong anti-explode module
| – Malwarebytes free version doesn’t offer real-time protection – No parental control feature – User needs to install a separate browser extension. | Malwarebytes free can remove some deadly malware that cannot be detected by traditional antivirus. However, its free version does not offer real-time protection.
|
Malwarebytes Premium Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons | Verdict |
– Offers exploit protection – Provides ransomware protection – The ability of behavior-based detection – It can work with traditional antiviruses. – Performs great with Windows defender | – Challenging to test advanced protection systems – Get an average score in a test designed for traditional antivirus | Malware premium offers some real security strengthen features. However, I still think that you must not use it as your only security app since it isn’t a complete antivirus replacement. In short, you need to use reliable antivirus alongside Malwarebytes to get complete protection for your device |
Malwarebytes Anti-Ransomware Beta Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons | Verdict |
– It can detects and removes ransomware explicitly based on behavior – Shows great performance during testing – Very lightweight – It’s totally free | – Slow performance in detecting ransomware. This is why sometimes it is possible that ransomware encrypts few files before detection | This Malwarebytes version can prevent ransomware from the programs that are running in your system, which cannot be detected by your antivirus. By using it with your premium antivirus, it gives an extra layer of protection to your system. |
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware (Android) Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons | Verdict |
– Completely free – Amazing Interface – Offers privacy scanner – Offers whitelisting tool – Fast scans – Shallow impact on device performance | – As compared to other anti-malware available on Android, missing primary tools – It doesn’t provide web protection – No anti-theft tools – No feature for remote SMS controls – Get low detection scores during testing | Malwarebytes anti-malware app for the app is not the best free tool to protect your Android device since it doesn’t offer some significant security features as compared to other free antivirus and antimalware available on Android. |
Malwarebytes MacOS Premium Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons | Verdict |
– Offers flash speed malware scan – Gets great reviews from the tech and privacy experts – Economical pricing | – Does not provide any security layer or protection against fake and malicious sites | Overall, the premium edition of Malwarebytes for Mac devices can analyze and scan regular and current time detection to keep your device free from malicious malware and viruses. Although this version of Malwarebytes has a solid reputation but still it does not have that much amount of users currently |
Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit Free Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons | Verdict |
– Shields Java and browsers against exploits – Small and lightweight – Premium edition available, adds protection for Office documents, PDF readers, and media players – Proved effective in testing – Free | – Difficult to demonstrate its effectiveness | Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit Free shields your browsers against exploit attacks, even never-before-seen zero-day attacks. Give this amazing, free security tool a try. |
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Pro 1.70 Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons | Verdict |
– The installation is quick with zero hassle – Identifies and corrects malicious changes in Windows OS settings – Offers real-time protection – It can block anonymous URL. – You can schedule your scans and updates | – Real-time protection feature gets below average ratings – Sometimes it does not block all malicious URLs – URL blocking log shows IP addresses only. | Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Pro 1.70 has the same slick, high-powered malware cleanup ability as the free edition. However, the Pro-only real-time protection component just doesn’t come close. |
Pricing
Malwarebytes Premium version is available on all major platforms including Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS for one and two year plan.
However, if you are looking to opt-in for iOS version, you need to purchase from its App Store directly. Subscription prices vary based on a number of devices from one to ten.
If you take my suggestion, if you are really planning to purchase Malwarebytes premium version, you should opt for the top end version since this is where price becomes a real bargain.
One of the most enticing thing about Malwarebytes that it offers sixty days money back guarantee. This is the most lengthy money back guarantee in the industry.
Additionally, it does offer 14 days trials for new users. Moreover, the most fantastic thing, if the user doesn’t make up his mind to use the premium version, he/she can use its free version.
However, keep remembering this in mind that only premium version offers real-time protection. Malwarebytes free version, on the other side, does not provide any real-time protection feature.
Differences Between Malwarebytes Free and Premium Version
| Features | Malwarebytes Free | Malwarebytes Premium |
| Real-Time Protection | No | Yes |
| Ransomware Protection | No | Yes |
| Notification against threat | No | Yes |
| Suggestion for taking action | Not Available | Available |
| Scheduling scan option | No | Yes |
| Advanced scanning option including superfast scanning feature | No | Yes |
In short, the significant difference between Malwarebytes premium and the free version is real-time protection. It only offers real-time protection in its premium version.
Moreover, because of this, I believe Malwarebytes free version does not make any significant difference to protect you until you opt for its paid subscription.
Malwarebytes free version with no zero-day threat protection, no option for scheduling scans, I guess it should not be your only security tool in your device.
Since free version will leave open your device in front of numerous amount of malicious deadly threats and vulnerabilities.
Here is the list of pricing for monthly and one-year subscription plan:
Malwarebytes Features (7.5/10)
| Malwarebytes Free | Premium for a single user | Malwarebytes Premium for Home | |
| OS (Operating System) | Android & Windows | Windows, Android, Mac, and iOS | Windows, Android, Mac, and iOS |
| Infected devices cleaner | Available | Yes | Yes |
| Removes all kinds of viruses, malware, ransomware, and infected files | No | Yes | Yes |
| Blocks ransomware attacks | Not Available | Available | Available |
| Shields programs and systems from hackers (Windows only!) | No | Yes | Yes |
| Schedule Scans | Not Available | Available | Available |
| Safe Web Browsing (Android & Windows) | No | Yes | Yes |
| Updates for Automatic Protection | Not Available | Available | Available |
Offers Entire Scan Report History
Malwarebytes is one of the few security tools that offers an entire scan report history. You can request reports in both ways at the click of a button or on separate basis chronologically.
Moreover, this feature is handy since you get all the details about the docs that are infected. One thing I would suggest you here if you keep getting clean reports, it doesn’t mean you don’t scan daily.
In any case, I recommend you to keep continuous eyes on scanning reports. Especially, when you have a habit of downloading stuff from different Torrent sites.
Notification Alerts Let You Take Rapid Action
If you are planning to opt for Malwarebytes premium subscription, you can avail notification alerts. So whenever this anti-malware four layer protection detects any threat, it will send you a quick notification.
Like for example, in case of a website phishing attack or caught any virus in the system, this security tool quickly identifies you via notification alert.
Moreover, it does not only identifies a threat but also give you suggestion on what to do. During testing for proving you detailed Malwarebytes review, it flagged a phishing URL.
For this Malwarebytes advised me to whitelist the URL by clicking on manage conclusions.
Simple UI with Convenient Features Offers Key Status Updates
When choosing a security tool, apart from its protection features, the design of the app really matters.
There is no surprise that Malwarebytes has a super handy and simple design, which creates ease for users to use it in the best manner.
Moreover, the way app is designed it is pretty to understand whether your device is protected or not. If you see the green check icon, it means your device is safe and free from malware and viruses.
Furthermore, if you opt for its premium plan, you can enable four real-time protection by using sidebar located on the main page of the menu without going into settings.
Additionally, from the main page of the app, you can also check last scan history and also schedules the next scan too.
Phenomenal Internet Security Browser Integration
There is no need to add ad-on or extensions for Malwarebytes browser integration. However, it might affect the RAM of your device a little.
However, when I tested phishing sites on different browsers like Chrome and Firefox, it prevented to access the malicious websites each time, which is excellent.
If you are looking for privacy-centric browsers, see my most secure browsers guide.
Super Handy to Use
Malwarebytes is a very useful security tool to protect your device and extremely easy to use.
Even for a beginner, it is simple to use all the security features since they all are available on the home screen of the app.
For high-tech users, it has enough customized advanced controls to protect their device most securely.
The main menu and home screen are so well designed, especially the left sidebar is so organized that entices every single user who use it.
These are also replicated under the bell icon on the dashboard—which is useful if you want to be reminded of what the system has recently detected.
The chain-linked diagram, while scanning showed me what the program was looking for. Windows users can even choose whether to show the program’s features within context menus in Windows Explorer.
Installation took under three minutes from download to opening the dashboard, and I didn’t need to install any additional components to use all the features.
Protection
Using Malwarebytes as the only security tool for your device is not a right choice, I would say. On the other side, it is pretty much challenging to get accurate results upon testing a security tool.
Moreover, the above-mentioned situation is same in the case of Malwarebytes when I tested its monitoring and blocking suspect features, it is almost to get accurate results upon testing it.
This is why most of the testing labs avoid to test Malwarebytes. The most recent I found during testing this anti-malware software was AV-Comparatives 2018 report.
In this report, they covered around 200 plus antiviruses, in which Malwarebytes doesn’t make in top 50. Moreover, this anti-malware able to block 87.2% and got 58th place.
For top antiviruses 2019, see my best antiviruses in 2019 blog.
Support
Malwarebytes team offers excellent support for both business and private users.
The companyofficials runs massive online support system that includes a searchable index of troubleshooting guides and user guides for each supported platform (Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android).
Easy-to-follow video content for everyday tasks, such as activating product licenses, is also available.
Conclusion
Since Malwarebytes came into existence, it gets better and better. However, it does not mean at all that this antimalware can protect your device all alone.
However, Malwarebytes is a powerful security tool, but it is still not a complete replacement of traditional antivirus software.
To use it Malwarebytes in the most effective manner, I would suggest you install a free version of it alongside with premium antivirus tool to ensure your device complete protection.
I hope you would find this Malwarebytes review helpful in understanding why it is not a complete solution to protect your device.
To add, if you still want to ask something or want to add something, I would love to hear from you. Contact us by shouting your comment below.
Related Articles
