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Scan your computer, block dangerous websites and remove potential threats with this up-to-date antivirus program

Scan your computer, block dangerous websites and remove potential threats with this up-to-date antivirus program

Vote: (151 votes)

Program license: Free

Developer: Malwarebytes

Version: 5.0.17.99-1.0.1169

Works under: Windows

Also available for Mac Android

Vote:

Program license

(151 votes)

Free

Developer

Version

Malwarebytes

5.0.17.99-1.0.1169

Works under:

Also available for

Windows

Mac Android

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is an anti-virus software that identifies and intelligently removes threats before they're recognized by built-in firewalls. The software is able to block viruses, malware, malicious sites, ransomware, and all hacking attempts that barebones programs aren't able to recognize.

Malwarebytes is available for both individual systems and companies that need more far-ranging protective software. The program uses several layers of anomaly detection powered by artificially intelligent systems, which makes it completely distinct from traditional anti-viral software.

If your computer is already infected, the software cleans up malware using speedy threat removal systems. It's one of the few programs that's received a flawless clean up score from the well-recognized Av-Test site.

The software can even protect against browser-based threats as they appear. If you visit an infected site or click a bad link, the software automatically shuts down sensitive attack points. It's versatile enough to be used for Windows, Mac, and Android systems.

Pros

  • Scans for and removes all categories of malware, including rootkits.
  • Offers both quick and full scan modes.
  • Automatic updates ensure protection against new threats.

Cons

  • Real-time threat detection and other advanced features require buying premium version.

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is one of the most popular PC security tools, helping you keep your computer safe from malicious software.

The free edition offers an on-demand scanner that detects a wide range of malicious or potentially unwanted software. Its powerful scanning engine can tell you immediately if your system is infected with malware, adware, spyware, ransomware, rookits or rogue security software. Once a threat is detected, the program will provide you details on what it found, then ask you which action to take. This can be deleting the files posing a threat or placing them in a quarantine to isolate them from the rest of the system. You also have the option to ignore a threat if, for example, a program that you know is safe was detected as being adware.

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is very efficient at completely eradicating all of the latest security threats from a Windows PC. This includes malware that rival programs may have trouble with, such as rootkits hiding deep in the system or malware that obfuscates its code to evade detection.

There are two main scan modes. The "Hyper Scan" performs a rapid check of programs in your startup objects and those currently in your memory. The more thorough "Threat Scan" goes through your computer's filesystem, the Windows registry, startup objects and memory to detect malware. This lets the scanner find and eliminate malware that may be on your system, but isn't actively running at the time.

As new types of malicious software appears on a regular basis, any security tool needs to be frequently updated to stay on top of the latest threats. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware automatically connects to a secure server so it can download updates for its scanning engine whenever they're available. This happens in the background with no action needed on your part most of the time. On a few rare occasions the program will ask you to restart your system to finish installing a major update, which you can either do right away or postpone.

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware's free version comes with a 14-day trial of the more advanced protection features found in its paid counterpart. The premium version offers automatic real-time protection, which detects threats without having to start a scan manually. You also get an anti-exploit shield that protects your browser from security vulnerabilities, more advanced anti-ransomware protection and blocking of known malicious websites.

Pros

  • Scans for and removes all categories of malware, including rootkits.
  • Offers both quick and full scan modes.
  • Automatic updates ensure protection against new threats.

Cons

  • Real-time threat detection and other advanced features require buying premium version.