Should I install MalwareBytes?

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I am currently operating  Windows 10 21H2 OS19044.1889

Running on a Dell Inspiron 3670 i7 Intel and 16GB RAM

Have a small SSD C:, a traditional D: and 4 external hard drives for various things.

Use Macrium for daily updated backups.

Over the past month, it took forever to boot from first power on to longin display. 20 – 25 minutes. Once I did all the housekeeping of cleaning startup, sfc, defrag, etc, opening up room on C: the only thing I had left was a deep scan. So, I downloaded MalwareBytes, and nothing. Did get a number of false positives and Web sites prevented that I had to override the past month, but no viruses or other infections identified.

Finally, I downloaded CrystalDiskInfo  and discovered my F: drive, where I had my downloads, had gone to the big resting place for external hard drives in the sky.

I used Recuva in an  attempt to recover the past week of data, and then restored from backup. Everything is now happy.

My question – do I need Malwarebytes in addition to my standard MS protection? I do not have any additional antivirus or other software. I regularly update my firmware for the router and just got a new cable modem.

Last I knew, MS protection was sufficient for the SOHO  user — is that still the case?

Pat in CT
@sheltiemom

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If you use Malwarebytes, don’t run it in the background.
Update its definitions when you update your other software, but only use it to run occasional scans as a double check on Defender.
Defender is all you need on a constant basis running in the background.

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SheltieMom

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SheltieMom wrote:

My question – do I need Malwarebytes in addition to my standard MS protection? I do not have any additional antivirus or other software. I regularly update my firmware for the router and just got a new cable modem. Last I knew, MS protection was sufficient for the SOHO user — is that still the case?

At the end of the day it has to be *your* decision, based on *your* type of computer usage and taking into account whether you mean Malwarebytes Free (on-demand) or Malwarebytes Premium (always-on). Only *you* can work out the risks.

Me? I have a perpetual license for Malwarebytes Premium… but I haven’t installed or used it for more than three years. Hopefully it’s improved since then, but I grew so very, very tired of the many and constant issues caused by it at the time. Despite regular contact with Malwarebytes support (and its forums) I just gave up… so I no longer install it, despite my browsing habits.

On the other hand, Malwarebytes Free has, IMO, always offered a useful belt-and-braces adjunct to ‘Windows/Microsoft Defender’ (whatever it’s called this week) which I’ve  now used exclusively for ~4 years.

Hope this helps…

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Charlie, opti1, Coldheart9020, SheltieMom, Microfix, satrow, PKCano, Just another Forum Poster

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Ran into similar problems on my system with Malwarebytes (seemed to always slow things way down by using too many resources) so I switched to the free version which I only run once a week as a backstop for my standard virus detection.

Glad to hear they seem to have fixed those problems but, since they moved the Premium version to a subscription model (like a lot of other S/W providers), I’ll just stick with the free version.

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SheltieMom, PKCano

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I can’t remember how many years I’ve been running Malwarebytes Premium trouble free.  I do remember I bought and installed it a few years before they went to a subscription model.  Mine is v4.5.13 with a license that never expires, and it still gets updates.

At the moment it is sitting in the Taskbar tray using 0% CPU and 15.2 MB of memory. Power usage is “Very low” and Power usage trend is “Very low”.

Rick Corbett wrote:

At the end of the day it has to be *your* decision, based on *your* type of computer usage

Rick said he has had lots of trouble with it.  I’ve had none. I have it scheduled for daily scans in the wee hours.

It has been my experience that Malwarebytes works very well with Microsoft Defender; neither seems to get in the other’s way, and they’re both always loaded and running.

 

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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WSAnklebuster, opti1, Coldheart9020, SheltieMom

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bbearren wrote:

It has been my experience that Malwarebytes works very well with Microsoft Defender; neither seems to get in the other’s way, and they’re both always loaded and running.

I went through well over a year of constant issues before I just gave up using it, not helped by the (lack of) support from Malwarebytes’ support staff.

The experience of @bbearren suggests that Malwarebytes Premium has now worked out the wrinkles. I’m pleased to hear this.

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SheltieMom

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I’m using (Real-time) ESET EIS, Mbam Premium, and SuperAS Pro – All without issue. I DO recall days of user-wide Uh-Ohs BUT cannot recall seeing such (Forum) in a long time. Between certain Forum member experts and the Staff I find the Sppt very acceptable. Mbam Free run at your discretion makes perfect sense – Real-time for another day per circumstances.

W10 Pro 22H2 / Hm-Stdnt Ofce '16 C2R / Macrium Pd vX / GP=2 + FtrU=Semi-Annual + Feature Defer = 1 + QU = 0

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{Opinion ON}
My experience is much like bbearren’s. On my main driver I have BOTH Defender & MB (perpetual license also) running with Defender as the front line defense. To set it up this way when installing MB you just tell it not to Register with Windows.

On my Test machine I also run both but with MB as the primary & defender secondary.

I’ve never had a problem and I’ve had it setup this way since the old days when Defender was called Windows Defender, although back then MB was always first!
{Opinion OFF}

May the Forces of good computing be with you!

RG

PowerShell & VBA Rule!
Computer Specs

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WSAnklebuster, opti1, SheltieMom

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I have manually run Malwarebytes free on a weekly basis since forever. It is a good second-opinion scanner, just to double check that Windows Defender is doing its job!

I also run the Emsisoft Emergency Kit, another free (for private use) manual scanner. I like that it uses a *dual-scanner engine, one of which is based on the Bitdefender scan engine. https://www.emsisoft.com/en/home/emergencykit/

(*) https://blog.emsisoft.com/en/17657/an-in-depth-look-at-the-emsisoft-scanner-technology/

Windows 10 Pro 22H2

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SheltieMom

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How about using Malwarebytes Anti Exploit – the beta version, not part of Malwarebytes program – on a Win 10 laptop with Defender? Is that needed or a good idea?

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Well the beta version of MBAE is free, and support is via their forum. I run it on an older PC that is still running Windows 7 SP1 Pro, paired with Avast Free for AV protection. Figured that it couldn’t hurt to have an extra layer of protection on that deprecated OS.

So I cannot speak to how well the beta behaves on Win 10 or Win 11.

The stable version of Anti-Exploit is now incorporated into the full paid Malwarebytes Premium as part of their real-time protection, so if you are interested in anti-exploit coverage you may want to consider that option.

Windows 10 Pro 22H2

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LHiggins

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Thanks John! Not sure if I really need that – but I will look into the cost of the premium version. I have MBAE on my Win 7 laptop and I’ve never had any issues with it, but may be a different story on Win 10.

I am also going to look into the Emsisoft Emergency Kit that you recommend as a secondary scanner.

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LHiggins wrote:

Thanks John! Not sure if I really need that – but I will look into the cost of the premium version. I have MBAE on my Win 7 laptop and I’ve never had any issues with it, but may be a different story on Win 10.

I am also going to look into the Emsisoft Emergency Kit that you recommend as a secondary scanner.

Yes, that free Emsisoft scanner is portable and only runs on demand. A no-brainer in my book and it is used regularly here!

For my main daily driver Win10 Pro desktop, I use the Microsoft Defender and Sophos HitmanPro.Alert, plus a couple of free on-demand scanners such as Emsisoft and MBAM free.

HitmanPro.Alert is a paid one-year license, that does what Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit does, and more. It also includes a license for the Hitman Pro on-demand scanner.

I have been running HMP.Alert for over 5 years on Windows 10, with very few issues that have mostly been false detections.

It’s probably not necessary for everyone, but I feel better with HMP.Alert running on the PC where I store important personal records. I also make regular image backups, so it’s not so much virus or ransomeware that I worry about crashing my PC, but rather being infiltrated by an exploit and having my info uploaded to some dark web server somewhere. Peace of mind!

https://www.hitmanpro.com/en-us

https://www.hitmanpro.com/en-us/alert

Release info & technical details: https://www.hitmanpro.com/en-us/whats-new/hitmanpro.alert

You get this with no malware signatures required:

• Advanced Real-Time Protection
  Protects against new and developing malware, PUAs, and program exploits to prevent infection from the latest threats
• Advanced Ransomware Protection
  Stops all types of ransomware from encrypting your files and boot drive
• Advanced Web Protection
  Blocks phishing attacks and compromised websites for safe browsing and shopping
• Online Banking Protection
  Secures online banking and shopping on web browsers
• Advanced Exploit Prevention
  Prevents vulnerable programs from being hacked to allow attackers to gain access to your system
• Privacy Protection
  Monitors access to your webcam and blocks attempts to record your keystrokes

Windows 10 Pro 22H2

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LHiggins

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JohnW wrote:

but I feel better with HMP.Alert running on the PC

I to use HMP for years. Their support is excellent in solving problems (false alarms).

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LHiggins, JohnW

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You can’t just download a “Malwarebytes Free” program anymore.  You have to get (download) the Full Premium Trial Version, all 300 to 500 MB worth that will expand into God knows what size, and then let the trial run out and “Revert back” to a free version.  No thanks.

Being 20 something in the 70's was far more fun than being 70 something in the insane 20's

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Charlie wrote:

You can’t just download a “Malwarebytes Free” program anymore.  You have to get (download) the Full Premium Trial Version, all 300 to 500 MB worth that will expand into God knows what size, and then let the trial run out and “Revert back” to a free version.  No thanks.

Yes, it’s true that you have to swallow the whole thing, but you can “expire” the trial at any point by going into settings > account, and turning the trial off. The program reverts to the free version at that point, with no real-time services running.

Running an on-demand scan here on Windows, I only see the Malwarebytes service using about 900 MB of memory. When the scan is not running it is zero MB memory. The installed disk footprint is 656 MB.

I don’t see any downside with it. But the upside is a 2nd opinion… 😉

Windows 10 Pro 22H2

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Charlie

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