Avast & Malwarebytes clash?

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

I have been running Windows 7 Pro SP1 and Malwarebytes Premium for some time. I was looking for an antivirus and Avast was highly recommended by everyone I talked to. I therefore installed the free version 11.1.2245. The result has been that the boot up time of my PC has been extended by over 10 minutes. During this time, mbam.exe appears to be using up to 45% of CPU and 163816k of memory. I intended to use Avast on an on demand basis but noticed that while avast was not in start up, it was still running. I have just uninstalled Avast and my normal boot up time of about a one minute has returned.

I did search but didn’t find the answer. I am sure there must be a simple solution but appear to have got up with my stupid head on.

2
  • Other security related software installed…?
  • Which AV(s) did you use before Avast…?
3

Apart from Malwarebytes, the only other security related software is Microsoft Security Essentials.

4

First, be sure to get rid of all remnants of your prior installed AV(s) (incl. MSE)…!!
→ https://www.avast.com/faq.php?article=AVKB11#artTitle

Then:

  1. Download Avast Free Antivirus: https://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_free_antivirus_setup.exe
  2. Follow instructions: https://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility (Run this tool for all prior installed Avast versions…!!)
  3. Reinstall Avast with the downloaded installer from point 1.
  4. Reboot.
5

Will give that a go and report outcome. Many thanks for your help

6

You’re welcome, report back.

7

Followed instructions. I am a little surprised that avastui.exe still loads and it is not possible to stop it running in Task Manager or disable it in Services/Startup. But it has certainly done the trick. The kettle is barely boiling before I can read my email. Previously, it would have boiled, I’d have made the tea, drunk a mug and leisurely smoked a cigarette before I could do that.

Many thanks for the assistance

8

It sounds like your are wanting to use Malwarebytes as your one and only real time protection?

Note that Malwarebytes is designed to run alongside your anti-virus and typically does not detect the things that your anti-virus will.

As Asyn mentioned, removing MSE is a must as two AV’s should never be on the same system…Avast should be the first line of protection then back it up with Malwarebytes which works fine with AV’s as it’s not an anti-virus.

For system performance benefits and possible conflicts you should exclude the program folders ( Avast - Malwarebytes ) from each other.

9

You can also in MBAM delay the real-time-protection on boot.
Launch MBAM UI, go to Settings>Advanced…you’ll see check box and can select 15sec to 180sec delay.

10

I have excluded the program folders Avast/Malwarebytes from each other and delayed Mbam by 60 seconds. I realise that no protection is good enough on its own. But it is hands up time - I had the priorities the wrong way round. Thanks for the great advice. And the patience

11

You’re welcome, glad we could help.