Excluding MBAM files

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

Dear Forum Users,

Is it advisable to mark these MBAM files as excluded in Avast Pro?

  • C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware\mbam.exe
  • C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware\mbamgui.exe
  • C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware\mbamservice.exe
  • C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware\rules.ref
  • C:\Windows\System32\drivers\mbam.sys
  • C:\Windows\System32\drivers\mbamswissarmy.sys

Would be really great to hear users’ and experts’ thoughts, comments, advice or suggestions. Including those who use MBAM - what are your settings in this regard?

Many thanks and I look forward to your reply.

Avastfan1

2

They are needed for ZoneAlarm to let MBAM retrieve updates:
http://www.malwarebytes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=26883&hl=zonealarm

I’m using MBAM 1.42 that is in beta test right now.

3

Does that mean you have these files in Avast Pro’s exclusion list?

4

I don’t have ZoneAlarm so they have to be put in ZoneAlarm’s permissions.

Download the User Guide:
http://download.zonealarm.com/bin/media/pdf/zaclient65_user_manual.pdf

5

Sorry, perhaps I didn’t express myself very clearly.

My question was whether it was advisable to add these files to Avast Pro’s exclusion list.

Thank you.

Avastfan1

6

And why do you need to do that? Or, why do you want that?

MBAM will run fine without any files in avast exclusion list

7

+1

8

It was advised by MBAM developers.

What are your settings? Do you use MBAM?

9

Well…default settings…I just installed MBAM and it’s running fine! Haven’t change anything here!

10

You need to learn how to use ZoneAlarm:
http://www.markusjansson.net/eza.html

11

Bluesman: Så det betyder, att du inte har ställt MBAM-filerna på listan?

12

I’ve used MBAM free for a few months, along with Avast. I’ve never excluded the MBAM files from Avast scanning, and have never had a problem. There is no need to exclude. I don’t (and won’t) use ZoneAlarm.

13

+1

What software firewall do you use?

14

@YoKenny

I’m using Sygate version 5.6 build 2808, which I know is an old and unsupported firewall. I’m also behind a NAT router, and use a hosts file with 12062 entries, etc. So far, I haven’t been infected. It’s always possible, I know.

15

Why would it have to, the only reasonable reason would be if avast were alerting on them, which presumably it isn’t or you would have said. Even if it were alerting they should be sent for analysis and correction if required, so helping all avast and MBAM users.

So the short answer is No there should be no reason to exclude them, unless there is more that you aren’t telling us.

So why would you be even contemplating this.

16

Er…erm…are you having your period, DavidR? [Edit]I mean, I basically agree with you, here, but… :-[[/Edit]

17

Yes, that is correct! (Please use english in the forum, pm if you want to talk swedish and smörgåsbord)

18

But, nothing it is quite clear there is no reason to exclude files that aren’t causing issues as simple as that.

He asked for thoughts and that is exactly what I gave him.

I’m sure if he had a problem with what I said then I’m sure that he is big enough to look after himself.

You often call yourself forward or direct and that was exactly what I was direct, perhaps you too are having your period when you too are direct :-*

19

Dear Forum Users,

Thank you for your contribution. I appreciate both your directness and patience with a less-experienced user.

I can see the risk of adding files to the exclusion list as well as the benefit of reducing conflicts between security software. So, I will still need to think about this a little bit more.

It is extremely difficult to choose an appropriate firewall. Although ZoneAlarm Pro has been relatively good over the last few years, the support on the ZA forum combined with the quality of the product has decreased in my opinion.

The variety of firewalls out and their commercial interests do not bode well for less-experienced users like myself. I would like to keep Avast Pro and MBAM resident protection as part of my setup. Product quality and expert forum support are two factors which really benefit me.

However, the search for a firewall which is resource-light and at the same time ‘heavy-duty’ and reliable goes on. Preferably, I would like to include a free firewall in my setup. In my experience, expensive ‘branded’ firewalls, for example Norton, Panda, Mcaffee, are bloated software packages which require unnecessary resource-capability of a computer. Moreover they tend to over consume resources on adequately-equipped computers.

Please keep your thoughts, suggestions and comments flowing. They all increase the knowledge of users on this forum.

Thanks,

Avastfan1

20
It was advised by MBAM developers.

Do we have a sticky on suggested software firewalls? If not, we probably should. I see this question all the time!