I have had Malwarebytes Anti-Malware as the free edition for some time, but was recently invited to sample the full version for a trial period. That allows scheduled scans, updates and real time protection.
I just wondered if anyone considers this a worthy addition whether I return to the free edition or shell out for the paid for version for continued real time protection. Maybe there is something better than this that is free and effective. I had Superantispyware, but as my pc has got slower over time, it slows things down too much on scans and sometimes locks it up requiring a reset. At least Malwarebytes Anti-Malware doesn’t hog resources too much, but it also never found anything wrong on scans, though since I’ve had the trial (which is due to expire in 5 days) it did block some activity (apparently, or is that me just cynical).
I’d value any thoughts. Not sure this is the right forum for this question but I always get good sense answers here:)
Malwarebytes with realtime protection turned on is the best tool to compliment avast imo and there are no conflicts at all, it’s a one time fee for lifetime license so well worth it.
MBAM will use more memory in realtime on your system so it would be of some benefit to add at least another Gig of ram to your computer so that you dont get anymore lockups and your system will respond much better.
Just out of my curiosity, why do you consider MBAM so valuable to complement avast? For example, have you encountered a situation where avast failed to detect/block a virus while MBAM, as a second line of defense, saved your bacon? Or any other story you’d like to share? I’d be interested to hear the details… as well as the general opinion about the quality of Malwarebytes’ products.
Well i can’t comment on MBAM’s real-time protection but i will say that the cleaning capabilites are excellent. Especially when it comes to rogues which is imho the weak point of avast!.
I think a major area is that it specifically scans the registry in its scans, whilst avast has anti-spyware incorporated into it, it doesn’t specifically scan the registry.
Those with the Pro version would have that registry monitoring in real time and not just fo on-demand scans.
I thing one of its strongest features has to be rouge/fake security application detection, after all it started life as RogueRemover. You only have to look in the viruses and worms topic to see this.
If you want to spend money on additional protection, buy avast! Pro or AIS instead. You can sandbox your browser, and I’ll take virtualization everyday over extra processes, and URL filters from MBAM or SAS…Heck, add Norton DNS to your set up, and you’ll stop 4-10 bad websites before avast! ever sees them. It’s free, and doesn’t take any system resources.
MBAM is a great product, and if you want to donate, do that instead.
I have found that on several occasions malwarebytes has jumped in first and saved my butt, just the other day actually i had saved a free mp3 site to my favourites hxxp://beemp3.com/ the next morning when i booted up my system malwarebytes pops up straight away to tell me that this saved favourite is trying to connect out, no warning from avast at all so MBAM terminated the connection, i then run a scan and let it clean up the rest as there were a couple other things that it found, cant remember what they were but was related to the same link.
I have installed free versions of MBAM onto about 20 family members systems and when i do manage to catch up with them i always update there systems and there have been several instances after running some scans for them that malwarebytes finds something and this is with avast installed on all of them.
So in short this is why i praise MBAM.
If avast was supplying lifetime pro license’s for $30 like malwarebytes i probably would but as they need to make money and i like to save money this isnt going to happen since i only buy lifetime licences for any of my software.
^^
+1 for this, unfortunately avast generally sucks at removing things properly, even if it removes the threat itself, it leaves behind all junk it placed in registry and sometimes even some temporary files. And I too didn’t have much success using avast against things like fake antivirus programs and the likes.
Hi,
Assuming this is to me, then no I don’t have any knowledge of situations where MBAM saved a situation that Avast failed to, except as I mentioned the is trial full version did indicate it had blocked some activity (can’t recall what).
I may be misunderstanding the function of programs like MBAM, but do they deal with spyware in a way that pure AV programs like Avast Free can’t/don’t? I had assumed so.
Anti-virus software protects a user’s computer from computer viruses. A lose interpretation of a virus is a program that copies itself from one file to another and from one computer to another. They can attach themselves to executables and of course lodge in the MBR. The can change files and basically make your computer unusable or usable only in a limited manner.
Malware/Spyware on the other hand is mostly used to gather information from your computer for marketing purposes or stealing personal information. In other words a data gathering software. Malware as such does not harm your computer unless you have a lot of it then it can slow down the computer. However, it can harm you by the information it steals such as passwords. Malware can also re-direct your browser to certain websites where again certain information can be stolen.
Bottom line.
Viruses are aimed at messing with your computer
Malware/Spyware is aimed at messing with you.
I could be incorrect however that is my understanding of the difference between the two.
Therefore
Anti-virus software is geared primarily toward protecting your computer
Anti-spyware software is geared primarily toward protecting you.
Of course anti-spyware software can protect your computer against certain viruses but that is not its main objective.
