It didn’t nudge me to install the VPN, however. It also displays the results of the latest scans and when the next one is scheduled. In addition to showing the status of the main program elements, it provides suggestions on online hygiene and how to improve your protection. Those looking for feedback about their protection can consult the Malwarebytes Security Advisor. Security updates for the latest exploits are sent to the company’s five million active users as needed, sometimes several times a day. Instead, the company has an extensive intelligence community spread across the Internet that acts like an early warning system for exposing new attack vectors. While others expand their threat analysis by uploading suspect code from users’ systems for forensic investigation, Malwarebytes does not do this but it does examine exploits found during tech support infection investigations. This is supplemented with real-time behavioral analysis of system operations that looks for the early signs of an infection. Malwarebytes Premium + Privacy review: Antivirus protectionĮach Malwarebytes security product for Mac starts with the company’s virus scanning engine and extensive database of known threats. An Android phone or tablet needs version 7 or higher. Its mobile apps require iOS 11 but due to Apple restrictions, can’t scan for malware. The Malwarebytes Mac software requires macOS 10.12 (Sierra), though its PC version needs Windows 7.0 (with SP1) through Windows 11. You pay more upfront, but there's no surprises on the first anniversary. The company doesn’t discount the first year of its plans but also lacks an annual discount versus the monthly price.

Its marketing department takes a different approach. Neither can touch the $6 a user that Sophos charges in a 10 pack. That puts the Malwarebytes software at the high end of the pricing spectrum at $20 per seat, just below Norton’s $21 per user and a bargain compared to Intego’s nearly $30 a system. With the VPN on its own costing $40 a year. It costs $100 for five or $45 for a single system. The Premium + Privacy plan adds the company’s VPN for using the web under the radar.

Malwarebytes free review