Malwarebytes is one of the most popular antivirus software available in the market today. It has a free version that offers basic protection against malware, viruses, and other online threats. In this article, we will review the free version of Malwarebytes and determine if it's worth your time.
What is Malwarebytes?
Malwarebytes is an anti-malware software that provides real-time protection against malware, viruses, spyware, and other online threats. It is available in both free and paid versions, with the paid version offering additional features such as ransomware protection, scheduled scans, and automatic updates.
The free version of Malwarebytes is designed to provide basic protection against malware and other online threats. It scans your computer for malware and removes any threats that it finds.
Is the Free Version of Malwarebytes Effective?
The free version of Malwarebytes is effective in providing basic protection against malware and other online threats. It uses a signature-based detection system to identify and remove known malware and viruses. However, it may not be as effective as the paid version in detecting and removing new and emerging threats.
The free version of Malwarebytes also does not offer real-time protection, which means that it only scans your computer when you run a scan manually. This may leave your computer vulnerable to new and emerging threats that are not yet included in Malwarebytes' database.
What are the Features of the Free Version of Malwarebytes?
The free version of Malwarebytes offers the following features:
- Basic malware protection
- Manual scan
- Quarantine of infected files
- Removal of malware and viruses
It does not offer real-time protection, scheduled scans, or automatic updates, which are available in the paid version.
How to Use Malwarebytes
Using Malwarebytes is easy. Here's how:
- Download and install Malwarebytes from the official website.
- Open Malwarebytes and click on the 'Scan' button.
- Select the type of scan that you want to run (Quick or Full).
- Wait for the scan to complete.
- Review the scan results and remove any threats that are found.
It's important to note that the free version of Malwarebytes does not offer real-time protection, so you will need to run a manual scan regularly to ensure that your computer is protected.
Pros and Cons of the Free Version of Malwarebytes
Here are the pros and cons of using the free version of Malwarebytes:
Pros
- It's free
- Provides basic protection against malware and viruses
- Easy to use
- Removes malware and viruses effectively
Cons
- No real-time protection
- No scheduled scans
- No automatic updates
- May not be as effective as the paid version in detecting and removing new and emerging threats
Is the Paid Version of Malwarebytes Worth It?
The paid version of Malwarebytes offers additional features such as real-time protection, scheduled scans, and automatic updates. It also provides better protection against new and emerging threats.
If you use your computer for work or store sensitive information on it, then investing in the paid version of Malwarebytes may be worth it. However, if you only use your computer for basic tasks such as browsing the internet and checking email, then the free version may be sufficient.
Conclusion
The free version of Malwarebytes provides basic protection against malware and other online threats. It's easy to use and effectively removes malware and viruses. However, it does not offer real-time protection, scheduled scans, or automatic updates, which are available in the paid version.
If you use your computer for work or store sensitive information on it, then investing in the paid version of Malwarebytes may be worth it. However, if you only use your computer for basic tasks, then the free version may be sufficient.
