Malwarebytes (software)

Malwarebytes (formerly Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, abbreviated as MBAM) is an anti-malware software for Microsoft Windows,[4] macOS, Android, and iOS that finds and removes malware.[5] Made by Malwarebytes Corporation, it was first released in January 2006. It is available in a free version, which scans for and removes malware when started manually, and a paid version, which additionally provides scheduled scans, real-time protection and a flash-memory scanner.

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
Developer(s)Malwarebytes Inc.
Initial releaseJanuary 2006 (2006-01) (as Malwarebytes Anti-Malware)
Stable release
Windows4.3.0 / December 9, 2020 (2020-12-09)[1]
macOS4.6.12 / December 8, 2020 (2020-12-08)[2]
Android3.7.5.8 /
June 15, 2020 (2020-06-15)[3]
Operating systemWindows XP and later,
OS X 10.11 and later, Android Marshmallow and up, iOS 11 and later
PlatformIA-32, x86-64
SizeWindows: 68.61 MB
Android: 31.13 MB
Available in30 languages
List of languages
Bulgarian, Catalan, Chinese (Traditional), Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugual), Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Slovene, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish and Vietnamese
TypeAnti-malware
LicenseProprietary (Freemium)
Websitewww.malwarebytes.com

Overview

Malwarebytes (formerly known as Malwarebytes Anti-malware) is primarily a scanner that scans and removes malicious software, including rogue security software, adware, and spyware. Malwarebytes scans in batch mode, rather than scanning all files opened, reducing interference if another on-demand anti-malware software is also running on the computer.[6][7]

Malwarebytes is available in both a free and a premium paid version.[5] The free version can be run manually by the user when desired, whereas the paid version can perform scheduled scans, automatically scan files when opened, block IP addresses of malicious web sites, and scan only those services, programs and device drivers that are currently in use.

On December 8, 2016, Malwarebytes Inc. released version 3.0 to the general public. This includes protection against malware, ransomware, exploit, and malicious websites.[8]

Reception
  • PC World's Preston Gralla wrote that "Using Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is simplicity itself".[5]
  • CNET in 2008 cited Malwarebytes as being useful against the MS Antivirus malware[9] and also awarded it an April 2009 Editor's Choice, along with 25 other computer applications.[10][11]
  • Mark Gibbs of Network World gave Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 4 stars out of 5 in January 2009 and wrote that "It does the job and only the lack of a detailed explanation of what it has found stops it from getting 5 out of 5".[12]
  • PC Magazine gave Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 3.5 stars out of 5 in May 2010, saying that although it was good at removing malware and scareware, it fell short on removing keyloggers and rootkits.[13] However, the free version got 4.5 stars out of 5 and an Editor's Choice award for free removal-only antivirus software in 2013-4.[14]

Dispute with IObit

On November 2, 2009, Malwarebytes accused IObit, a Chinese company that offers similar products, of incorporating the database of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware (and several products from other vendors, which were not named) into its security software IObit Security 360. IObit denied the accusation and stated that the database is based on user submissions, and sometimes the same signature names that are in Malwarebytes get placed in the results. They said that they did not have time to filter out the signature names that are similar to Malwarebytes. IObit also stated that Malwarebytes did not have convincing proof, and promised that the databases were not stolen. After the declaration from IObit, Malwarebytes replied that they are not convinced of the argument from IObit. Malwarebytes claims to have served DMCA infringement notices against CNET, Download.com and Majorgeeks in order to have the download sites remove the IObit software. IObit said that as of version 1.3, their database has been updated to address those accusations of intellectual property theft made earlier by Malwarebytes.

Dealing with Vonteera

Vonteera is adware that uses stolen certificates and disables anti-malware and virus protection, such as from Malwarebytes.[15] Malwarebytes has listed a solution for eliminating this threat.[16]

Security vulnerabilities

On February 2, 2016, Project Zero announced four vulnerabilities in the Malwarebytes flagship product, including lack of server-side encryption for update files and lack of proper payload signing within encrypted data; the combination of which allowed an attacker to recompile the encrypted payload with exploits.[17] Malwarebytes responded one day before disclosure in a blog article detailing the extreme difficulty in executing these attacks, as well as revealing that the announced server-side and encryption issues were resolved within days of private disclosure and were not outstanding at the time Project Zero published their research.[18] Malwarebytes also published information on how to protect current users until a patch was released. This event also resulted in the establishment of a formal bug bounty program by Malwarebytes, which offers up to $1000 per disclosure as of 2018, depending on severity and exploitability.[19]

See also

References
  1. "Home Products Release History Windows".
  2. "Home Products Release History Mac".
  3. "Home Products Release History Android".
  4. "10 Best Malware Removal Tools for Windows 10 - Windows Able". windowsable.com. Retrieved August 24, 2016.
  5. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware review at PCworld.com, retrieved July 22, 2014
  6. "Malwarebytes Corporation". MalwareBytes. Retrieved August 18, 2009.
  7. Neil J. Rubenking (July 6, 2010). "Free Antivirus and Antispyware". PC Magazine. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
  8. "Announcing Malwarebytes 3.0". Malwarebytes Corporation. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  9. Rosenblatt, Seth (September 24, 2008). "Take a 'byte' out of malware". The Download Blog. CNET. Retrieved November 27, 2008.
  10. Seth Rosenblatt (February 10, 2009). "Malwarebytes Anti-Malware". Download.cnet.com. Retrieved December 5, 2009.
  11. "CNET Editors' Choice Awards 2009 Winners". Reviews.cnet.com. June 2, 2009. Retrieved December 5, 2009.
  12. Gibbs, Mark (January 7, 2009). "Malwarebytes finds pesky Trojan". Gearhead. Network World. p. 2. Retrieved January 8, 2009.
  13. Rubenking, Neil J. (May 7, 2010). "Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 1.46". PC Magazine. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
  14. Rubenking, Neil J. "Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 1.70". PC Magazine. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
  15. Casey, Henry T. (November 25, 2015). "Latest adware disables antivirus software". Tom's Guide. Yahoo.com. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  16. "Vonteera Adware Uses Certificates to Disable Anti-Malware - Malwarebytes Labs - Malwarebytes Labs". blog.Malwarebytes.org. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  17. Leyden, John. "Google ninjas go public with security holes in Malwarebytes antivirus". The Register. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
  18. "Malwarebytes Anti-Malware vulnerability disclosure".
  19. "Malwarebytes Bug Bounty". Retrieved July 6, 2018.
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