Malwarebytes Review 2020

We cannot stress the importance of being protected while online. Cyber hackers are becoming more and more creative with their techniques, and without a proper antivirus, no one is safe from the destruction that malware and viruses bring. That’s why it’s so important to research the antiviruses out there, so you can pick one that works well for you.

Today we are going to talk about Malwarebytes. With a name like this, you know the company at least has a sense of humor. However, how does their product work, and how well does it work? We will answer these questions today.

What is Malwarebytes?

Malwarebytes is a company based out of California and is a free tool (and a paid option, too) that specializes in removing malware, adware, and spyware. The product claims to use Al-powered anomaly detection, behavior monitoring, and application hardening to protect you from threats.

Malwarebytes is known for reacting to new threats. The layer of technology they use detects not only static malware but the latest real-time threats. This software also cleans up existing malware and viruses. They advertise that they “shut down attacks from every angle.”

Malwarebytes Review 2020

After reading this review, you can decide whether Malwarebytes is one you want to use. We will evaluate this software, the packages, the pricing, the customer service, and of course, the pros and cons. Let’s get started.

Here are the features of Malwarebytes:

  • Compatible with Windows, Mac, iOS, and Chromebook
  • Real-time antivirus
  • Adware prevention
  • Easy to use
  • Live customer support and ticket support
  • Free version is offered
  • Low system impact
  • Fast scans

Reliability and Security

Because of the way Malwarebytes works, it can be difficult to test. The reason is because it works differently than a traditional antivirus because of the latest technology it uses.

Unfortunately, there aren’t many lab test results available, at least not current ones. Some of them date back to 2015, but that’s a bit old for the antivirus industry.

AV-Comparatives did conduct one in 2018 with testing apps for Android. Malwarebytes blocked 87% of the threats, which is pretty good.

Still, we are confident that Malwarebytes is reliable and secure, based on the research we found. Customers are generally happy with this antivirus and the extra security perks it offers.

Scanning Options

Scanning is Malwarebytes’ strong suit. The scans are fast and reliable. There are three types: Threat scan, Hyper Scan, and Custom Scan.

The Threat scan checks the most common hotspots like memory, startup, files, registry, etc. The Hyper scan is a minimal check that scans memory and startup only. The custom scan will scan specific folders or drives. As I said before, the scans are fast–two minutes or less, which is pretty impressive.

Performance

Malwarebytes is one of the most lightweight anti-malware tools out there. It’s so light on its performance that most customers say they don’t notice it at all. The installation needs 200MB of hard drive space, which is not much at all.

When running a scan, this software tends to use 75-100% of the CPU. While that’s a lot of computing power, users say they don’t notice their systems slowing down during scans.

Ease of Use

This is another one of Malwarebytes’ strengths. The download doesn’t take more than five minutes, and it’s easy to navigate. The dashboard may seem a bit cluttered because there are many menus, but the interface is easy to use.

The menu gives you access to the Dashboard, Scan, Quarantine, Reports, and Settings. In the settings menu, you can switch protection on and off, check for updates, and more. All the data you need is in the reports. Once you figure out where everything is, you will be good to go.

Is Malwarebytes Premium Good?

Malwarebytes Premium is available for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Chrome. There are also extensions for Firefox and Chrome.

A 14-day free trial is available through Premium. If you use the 14-days and don’t buy the package for $39.99 (one device) or $59.99 (three devices), then you will be downgraded to the free version. The more devices you choose, the larger the price. For example, for ten devices, you will pay $129.99, which isn’t bad at all.

Free vs Premium

The free version can only be installed on Windows or iOS. Its only function is that it scans your hard drive for malware or spyware, and if it finds these threats, it removes them.

As I mentioned before, the Premium version provides protection against ransomware and exploit attacks. It also removes malware and protects your device.

One key difference between these two involves the real-time detection of malware. The free version will remove malware after it is on your device. The Premium version constantly scans for malware and stops it before it can attack your device.

Customer Service

Malwarebytes’ official website provides phone and live chat support for customers. You can also create a support ticket and send it to customer service. There’s also a forum where customers can post problems and solutions to issues they have had. In addition, there’s a user guide with many videos that you can watch to find answers to any specific questions you have.

Pros and Cons

With any security software, there are pros and cons. There is no perfect antivirus out there, and trust me, we have been searching hard to find one! There are always going to be factors we like and those we don’t like. Here’s what we like and don’t like about Malwarebytes.

What We Like:

  • Great at eliminating new threats
  • Decent anti-ransomware and anti-exploit protection
  • Easy to use and install
  • Free version available
  • Fast, thorough scans

What We Don’t Like:

  • The one device Premium subscription is a bit pricy
  • No real-time protection with the free version
  • Outdated test results
  • Does not include many “extra” security perks

Final Thoughts

Is Malwarebytes worth it? Our verdict is yes. It’s a great security tool that will add malware protection to your device. If you want more security features, such as a firewall or VPN protection, you could use the free version of Malwarebytes in addition to a more traditional antivirus.

In fact, many customers said they use the free version of this software in conjunction with a more traditional antivirus, with good results. Thankfully, you can try the 14-day free trial of Premium to see if this software is the right fit for you.

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