Results were only average in our tests, but even that's enough to be useful, and it's a worthwhile addition to the package. This works at the network level, with no need for browser extensions, ensuring it protects all your apps. Malwarebytes also provides simple URL filtering, detecting and blocking any attempts to access malicious links. (Image credit: Malwarebytes) URL Filtering Malwarebytes began well, with its core service beating off all our attempts to close it down, remove or disable it. We test for this by launching various attacks of our own - deleting files, closing processes, disabling services, more - and checking to see if our performance remains intact. Malware may try to disable antivirus before attempting to infect a system, so a good security app needs to be able to protect itself. This didn't look a package that would slow you down, but AV-Comparatives' last Performance Test results suggested otherwise, placing Malwarebytes a disappointing 14th out of 17 contenders.

We were offered the chance to have a 14-day trial of Malwarebytes Premium, and although this requires handing over an email address, there were no other hassles of any kind (we didn't even have to confirm our email.)Ĭhecking the Malwarebytes installation folders showed a relatively lightweight package with around 400MB of files, and just a couple of significant background processes.

Malwarebytes installs quickly and easily. It's available for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android, but many of the most powerful technologies (URL filtering, ransomware and zero-day protection, uninstall protection) are Windows-only. Malwarebytes Premium (opens in new tab) adds real-time protection, URL blocking and an extra layer of ransomware protection.

You can sign up for Malwarebytes' antivirus solutions here (opens in new tab).

There's no URL blocking, no real-time threat detection, but on-demand scanning for malware, spyware and rootkits could make it useful as a 'second opinion' scanner. You can sample the basics of the product anytime with Malwarebytes Free. No firewall (opens in new tab), parental controls, backup or anything else: Malwarebytes is just about the fundamentals, squashing malware (opens in new tab) and blocking access to malicious links. There are no other major security extras, though. It claims the latest range is smarter than traditional antivirus (opens in new tab), thanks to layers of technology like anomaly detection, behavior matching and application hardening.

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