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Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Review

Product: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
Price: $0 / $24.95
Company Info: Malwarebytes - www.malwarebytes.org
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Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Review

These days, it seems that almost everyone is on the lookout for malware that could crash a perfectly good machine, but finding the right security tools to make that possible isn't always as easy as you may think. It typically takes advanced security software to protect users from all of the problems out there, and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware claims to have just that.

Interface

The ability to easily use any scanning type program is one of those must-consider areas, and while the actual interface initially looks a bit overwhelming, Malwarebytes is very simple to use, even for non technical users. As big as the menu seems, it's laid out better than most other security programs. The basic program is laid out with nine different tabs at the top. The main tab, Scanner, is where you'll do most of the heavy lifting. Here you can choose between a quick scan of your machine and a full scan of your machine, and both have their own level of usefulness. The quick scan can detect most smaller problems, but if you suspect you have bigger issues at bay, you'll probably want to do a full scan on your computer.

The other tabs included within this interface are Protection, Update, Quarantine, Logs, Ignore List, Settings, More Tools, and About. There are two to three features per tab, so you don't have to worry about getting further overwhelmed as soon as you work your way to the next menu. Some of the features here are pretty phenomenal, too. You can find a way to scan multiple drives on your computer system, including those that you have networked, and there's even a way to scan for individual files. You can remove locked files from your computer thanks to a neat little feature in the More Tools Section.

It's important to note that both the real time protection function and the scheduling function are only available with the paid version of this program.

Performance

There are always three different areas to consider when it comes to the performance of programs like these. The first thing you'll want to think about is the scan and repair time needed on your computer, and Malwarebytes really seems to have this one nailed. It's a fairly fast program that goes through the necessary files very quickly. In most cases, you'll find the scan performance time to be less than fifteen minutes. Most programs of this nature take at least a half hour or more to scan the necessary files on your machine.

The second major performance area for many is how well the computer can run other applications during  a scan, and this worry is almost eliminated thanks to the faster scan time itself. That said, as with most security applications, you're likely to find starting and running other programs as you try to scan a bit sluggish because Malwarebytes does have a tendency to consume system resources while the actual scan is taking place.

Naturally, the most important performance area, especially with an application that claims to help you with any malware you may have on your computer is how well it detects and removes those malicious applications, and in this case, the software performs admirably. It has the ability to detect most malicious programs, but one of its shining areas is when it comes to rogue security software. It tends to download definition updates once every two days, and on that timeframe, it typically picks up these kinds of applications on each scan, leaving you with a clean, functional system.

Pros and Cons

+ The price is perfect for most users. If you intend to use it in a noncommercial setting, you won't pay anything to get the scanning power you need to protect your computer.

+ The program itself is a fairly small one, so it takes up almost no space on your computer, and it doesn't take much time to download and install either.

 - While the program itself is free, you can only get live protection with the paid version of the program, which run s$29.95. Live protection is almost essential in today's cyber-filled world.

 - As compared to some of the other anti-malware applications on today's market, it's fairly lightweight in terms of features, and while it can provide some great protection in a number of areas, there are always going to be powerhouse programs that offer a bit more.

+/- Compatible with Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista/Server 2008/7

Summary

The free version of this program is an excellent starting place to keep problem software away from your computer, and because it's so good at picking up rogue security products, it's a must-have for almost every computer user. More effective at actually cleaning your machine for free than it is at protecting your machine for a fee, it's certainly one you'll want to consider adding to your overall security lineup.

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