I recently got hit with a Nasty (note the capital N) virus: screenshot. I have since learned it is referred to as “ransomware” because the perps demand payment via moneypak to make your computer work again. Mine was locked up to the point where the scary FBI screen was the only thing viewable. I have also learned that this sort of virus/malware is becoming very widespread and is predicted to only get worse.
Anyway, the free (non-real time protection) Malwarebytes software took it down with a good deal of maneuvering on my part. I am wondering if the Pro version, which does offer real time protection, would have prevented all the heartache in the first place.
I did have Microsoft Security Essentials running with real time protection, but that was obviously ineffective.
My questions:
Is Malwarebytes Pro worth 25 clams?
If I get it, should I disable Security Essentials? Would the two running together cause trouble?
Malwarebytes is definitely a good anti-virus program. You proved that yourself. For me, it tends to actually overreact and condemn as bad some good files, but in my opinion it is definitely one of the better ones out there.
I have to agree with bardos. Malware Bytes is pretty good. For $25, it’s not exactly a huge hardship on the wallet, either.
You may want to pass the BS piece of scare-ware that you received over to the FBI. They don’t generally take kindly to other folks impersonating them. It’s bad for their brand/marketing.
Something to consider, MSE is a good program, but its only as good as the last set of updates. Despite the similar FBI front end, the underlying virus could be one of dozens of variants with new ones released all the time. it didn’t miss the same old virus, a brand new one beat it to the punch…
MB’s real time protection, in my experience, is too chatty, and not all that effective.
I tend to look at MB for whats its strength is, its an excellent cleanup tool.
MalwareBytes co-exists with Microsoft Security Essentials pretty well, you can run both simultaneously. More important is to keep your other software updated. If you are using Adobe Reader, Adobe Flash or Java, install updates immediately. Some estimates say outdated Adobe Reader and Java software accounts for as much as 80% of new spyware infections. If you aren’t religious about installing updates, you are better off uninstalling them, or using substitutes. Foxit Reader is a safer alternative to Adobe Reader.
I already have Kaspersky Internet Security. It shows me a popup when it blocks something. Whenever I do a full system scan, it never finds anything. Do I need more protection? (I don’t mind having more, or spending the money, just wondering if two+ condoms are necessary.)
Running multiple antivirus programs at once isn’t a great idea. It hogs up lots of resources and they may start tripping over one another. Installing additional scan/cleanup programs like the free version of Malwarebytes and running them periodically won’t hurt though.
Malwarebtes is not an antivirus. You can run the pro version together with your antivirus. In fact you should run it in conjunction with an antivirus.
The advantages of the PRO edition over the free edition are that you can schedule it to auto-update its malware database. That way, if a virus strikes you have an up-to-date version so that you don’t have to fight the virus to get your program updated. And the PRO edition checks your web accesses against their black list in real time, which the free edition does not do.
Again, it is not a replacement for antivirus. I run it in conjunction with Avast.
I’m running a full system scan with Anti-Malware Bytes even as we speak, and it’s found two things, but I can’t see what they are until the scan finishes, which should be by Christmas. I’m sold, and will purchase the pro version.
The scan finished in time for T-giving dinner! The two things it found were “backdoor.small” and a “trojan downloader” in a Photoshop extras folder that I got from an old boyfriend. I deleted the whole folder. Geez… we broke up five years ago and he’s still giving me grief.
It found nothing else in my last five years of email, web surfing, etc. Kaspersky is doing its job, but I’m still going to run Anti-Malware Bytes from time to time.
If you get the trial of Malwarebytes you see the only advantage it has is that it updates it self automatically, you can schedule scans and you get “real time” protection.
It was funny when I first singed up for the “trial” it expired in 13 days but it wasn’t until the next major upgrade that they actually cancelled my subscription.
I find it’s easier just to update it yourself. They also offer a thing called “Flash Scan” which is supposed to be very quick, but the “quick scan” is the same thing and isn’t much longer (The webiste actually says, if you run quick scan, a flash scan isn’t needed.
I wish I heard about the $10 deal, as I would’ve bought it just to support them.
There plenty of free antivirus apps out there, and almost all of them include equally decent malware protection as well (the days of separate solutions for each type of attack are gone).
I personally use Avast, but you could simply google the words free antivirus comparison to find the one that suits you best.
You (the OP) could just buy the thing and if you don’t like it, disable the realtime parts and go back to using it as you had in the past - as a cleaner. Consider your $25 (or $10) a donation and a “thank you!” for getting you out of a mess.
I don’t think Norton or McAfee would play nice with Malware Bytes realtime scan. They don’t get along with any real time scan software that I’ve found.
