Knowledge Base

What is Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and What Does It Do?

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is a security software that protects your computer against malicious software (malware). It provides protection not only against viruses but also against ransomware, spyware, adware, and other potentially unwanted programs (PUPs). In addition to signature-based scanning, Malwarebytes can detect new and unknown threats by using behavioral analysis and heuristic detection techniques.

Key Points:

• Multi-Layered Protection: Malwarebytes offers multiple layers of protection against different types of malware.
• Fast Scanning: Thanks to its advanced scanning engine, it can quickly scan your system without slowing it down.
• Real-Time Protection: It runs in the background, preventing malicious software from infecting the system.
• User-Friendly Interface: Thanks to its easy-to-understand interface, even users without technical knowledge can use it comfortably.

How to Install and Use Malwarebytes?

Installing and using Malwarebytes is quite simple. You can perform the installation by following the steps below:

1. Download: Download the free trial version or the paid version of Malwarebytes from the official website (www.malwarebytes.com).
2. Installation: Run the downloaded installation file and follow the instructions on the screen. During the installation, you will need to accept the license agreement and select the installation directory.
3. First Scan: After the installation is complete, Malwarebytes will automatically start an initial scan. This scan is aimed at detecting existing malicious software on your system.
4. Update: After the initial scan, update Malwarebytes with the latest virus definitions. This is important for the software to provide protection against the latest threats.
5. Scan: You can manually start a scan at any time. You can perform a quick scan or a custom scan by clicking the "Scan" button on the main screen.
6. Quarantine: When Malwarebytes detects malicious software, it quarantines it. Files in quarantine cannot harm your system. You can delete or restore these files if you wish.

Visual Description: On the main screen of Malwarebytes, you can see information such as the scan status, last update date, and real-time protection status. You can also easily access main functions such as "Scan", "Reports", and "Settings".

What are the Differences Between the Free and Paid Versions of Malwarebytes?

Malwarebytes offers both free and paid (Premium) versions. The free version allows you to clean your system with manually initiated scans, while the Premium version offers additional features such as real-time protection, ransomware protection, and web protection.

Key Point: If you want to continuously protect your computer against malware, it is recommended to choose the Premium version. The free version can only be used as a scanning and cleaning tool.

What Types of Malware Does Malwarebytes Protect Against?

Malwarebytes provides protection against a wide range of malware:

• Viruses: Malicious code that damages your computer and infects other files to spread.
• Worms: Malicious software that can replicate itself and spread over a network.
• Trojans: Malicious software that pretends to be a useful program, tricking users into entering the system.
• Ransomware: Malicious software that encrypts the files on your computer, blocking access until a ransom is paid.
• Spyware: Malicious software that secretly collects users' information (passwords, credit card information, etc.) and sends it to third parties.
• Adware: Malicious software that displays unwanted advertisements to users and changes browser settings.
• Rootkits: Tools used to hide malware and gain full control over the system.
• Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUPs): Programs that, although not always malicious, exhibit unwanted behavior and negatively affect system performance.

Real-Life Example: A user lost access to all of their files due to ransomware that infected their computer through a fake email. However, thanks to Malwarebytes Premium, the ransomware was blocked and the files were recovered. This demonstrates the importance of real-time protection.

Will Malwarebytes Slow Down My System?

Malwarebytes is designed not to slow down your system. However, like any security software, it may consume some system resources during scanning. Malwarebytes tries to minimize the load on the system by using a lightweight scanning engine and optimized algorithms.

Key Points:

• Scheduled Scanning: You can prevent scanning operations from affecting system performance by scheduling them for times when you are not using your computer.
• Exclusions: You can shorten the scan time and improve system performance by excluding trusted files and folders from scanning.
• Update: You can benefit from performance improvements and bug fixes by regularly updating Malwarebytes.

Case Study: In an office environment, the impact of Malwarebytes on system performance was examined. The results showed that Malwarebytes had a minimal impact on the system while running in the background. During scanning operations, although system performance decreased somewhat, it was observed that it did not significantly affect the user experience.

Can I Use Malwarebytes with Other Antivirus Software?

Malwarebytes can be used with other antivirus software. However, there are some points to consider to avoid conflicts.

Key Points:

• Conflict: Some antivirus software may conflict with Malwarebytes and disrupt system stability. Therefore, it is important to check their compatibility before using the two software at the same time.
• Real-Time Protection: Running more than one real-time protection software at the same time can negatively affect system performance. Therefore, it is recommended to keep only one antivirus software's real-time protection enabled.
• Role of Malwarebytes: Malwarebytes can complement the shortcomings of your primary antivirus software. In particular, it can provide an additional layer of protection against new and unknown threats.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Compatibility Check: Check whether Malwarebytes and your antivirus software are compatible. You can find information on this subject on the manufacturers' websites or forums.
2. Exclusions: Exclude each other's scanning directories in both Malwarebytes and your antivirus software. This will help prevent conflicts.
3. Test: After installing the two software together, test your system. If you encounter any problems, try disabling the real-time protection of one software.

Technical Detail: You can use the following file paths for exclusions (example):

# Malwarebytes Exclusions
C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes\Anti-Malware\mbam.exe
C:\ProgramData\Malwarebytes\MBAMService

# Antivirus Software Exclusions (example)
C:\Program Files\Antivirus\antivirus.exe
C:\ProgramData\Antivirus

How Do I Interpret Malwarebytes Reports?

Malwarebytes provides detailed reports of scan results. These reports include detected threats, quarantined files, and other important information. Interpreting the reports correctly is important to ensure the security of your system.

Report Sections:

• Scan Information: General information such as scan date, time, duration, and scan type.
• Detected Threats: Names, types, and locations of detected malware.
• Quarantined Files: List of quarantined files and quarantine date.
• Ignored Items: List of files and folders excluded from the scan.
• Result: Summary of the scan result (clean, threat found, etc.).

Report Interpretation:

• Threat Types: By researching the threat types mentioned in the reports (virus, trojan, ransomware, etc.), you can understand what kind of threat you are facing.
• Locations: By examining the locations where threats were found, you can determine how the malware was infected and which files it affected.
• Quarantine: Make sure the quarantined files are safe. Delete or restore suspicious files.
• Ignored Items: Make sure the files excluded from the scan are trusted. If a malware has been accidentally excluded, include it in the scan.

Example Report Interpretation: If a report identifies a threat labeled as "Trojan.Generic", this means that your computer has been infected with a trojan horse. In this case, it is recommended to quarantine the file and scan your system in more detail.