What is Malwarebytes?
Malwarebytes does not try and compete with a large range of features and inclusions. They simply offer a dedicated virus protection software which lab testing shows is one of the most robust on the market.
Do not expect all the bells and whistles you might find from Kaspersky of McAfee. You will not find any firewall, cloud backup, password manager or email protection from Malwarebytes. Instead, Malwarebytes dedicates itself to offering one of the most robust virus protection tools on the market.
These days, each new day comes with new malware and ransomware threats. Malwarebytes makes sure they stay ahead of these threats, and your devices will remain free of virus’s, They have also recently added a VPN option to allow you to protect your identity while browsing the web.
Malwarebytes
What popular features do you get with Malwarebytes?
- Focus on virus protection
- Full scans in minutes
- Windows, Mac, Android and iOS
- Free version
- Top lab test results
- Real-time protection
- Removes spyware and malware
- Multiple plans available
- Automatic updates
- Easy to use interface
Who is Malwarebytes Guard ideal for?
Malwarebytes is not your traditional antivirus software provider, bundling a whole lot of features together into a range of plans.
With Malwarebytes, you will only get access to real-time virus protection, that being detection and removal of malware, ransomware and more, and also the ability to add a VPN for browser protection.
You will not have access to other features such as a password manager, cloud backup, USB scanning or email protection, however what Malwarebytes does, it does very well. So if you are simply looking for virus protection and possibly VPN for a single, or multiple devices, then Malwarebytes might just be for you.
Or, if you want the top-of-the-line virus protection, plus some of those other features, there is the option of using Malwarebytes, together with any other antivirus software, although this will start to get a bit pricey paying for multiple subscriptions.
Pros and Cons
- Malwarebytes dedicates itself to virus protection, so they are incredibly successful at identifying and removing potential malware or ransomware threats.
- They offer a free version which is very robust in identifying any existing virus’s on your device, and removing them.
- Given it is only looking for virus’s, a typical scan can take as little as 90-seconds, where software from other companies can take hours to scan your device.
- It also only requires minimal CPU usage to operate, so you do not need to worry about it affecting you computer performance.
- Not suitable for the customer looking for features such as firewall, email protection, password manager, cloud backup or more.
- They do not offer any phone support, any queries or issues have to be sorted out via live chat or email.
People like you also researched
Here are some products we think might be a good fit based on what people like you viewed.
TotalAV
- Significant first year savings
- Real-time protection
- Removes spyware and malware
- Multiple plans available
McAfee
- Password manager
- Identity protection
- Advanced firewall tools
- Multiple plans available
Norton
- Real-time protection
- Removes spyware and malware
- Advanced firewall tools
- Provides protection for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android
How much does Malwarebytes cost?
*based on information provided by the vendor. Actual cost may vary.
Malwarebytes breaks up their plans very simply, due to that fact that the software has a very specific purpose and not all the bells and whistles features of other antivirus software companies.
They simply have a free and paid version of their software, although they have recently added an extra paid plan including a VPN. The free version will scan and remove any malware or ransomware already on your machine. It will not run automatic scans or protect you in real time.
For this capability, you will need to opt for their paid plan, which they call their Premium Plan. This will cost you $39.99 for a single device for a year, or if you have multiple devices, you can cover up to five of them for $79.99.
Recently they have also added a new plan called the Premium + Privacy Plan. This adds a VPN, which will protect your identity while browsing the web. To have the additional VPN on this plan you can expect to pay $99.99 for protection of multiple devices.
So if your machine is already infected with virus’s, Malwarebytes is a great solution to identify and remove them, without having to spend a penny. You can also use their paid plan on a 14-day free trial.
While the plans do not have the inclusions and features of some of their competitors, what Malwarebytes does, it does very well. That means if all you are looking for is virus protection and potentially a VPN, this is a great solution. You can always use Malwarebytes combined with any other antivirus software to gain access to other features, although this obviously makes it all quite expensive.
Customer Support is available at Malwarebytes
Malwarebytes does not provide quite the level of customer service you might see from some of their competitors. But as a result of their most basic software functions and smaller number of features, you are less likely to encounter issues that would need immediate technical support.
They do not offer any phone support, but do provide an extensive FAQ and guidance section on their website. They also have a live chat feature and an online form that will link to your email.
Conclusion
Malwarebytes might not be for everyone, but for the average consumer, protection against virus’s is one of the most important features you will be looking for. This is where Malwarebytes dedicates itself, and it does it very well.
As a no-frills antivirus product, it provides some of the best protection you could get against malware and ransomware threats. If you will not be using features such as a password manager or firewall, then there is no need to be paying for it in a plan from another company. You may as well be spending that money to ensure you have great virus protection.
