Summary
In the year 2024, the majority of individuals will need additional security measures in addition to the built-in protection that Microsoft provides in order to protect their data and preserve their privacy. When it comes to protecting your personal computer from the most recent malware threats, Malwarebytes is among the most well-known and highest-quality antivirus solutions that are available for Windows.
I have examined the personal plans offered by Malwarebytes and tried Premium Plus in order to determine how simple it is to use, how helpful the customer service is, and whether or not the membership fee is financially worthwhile.
Malwarebytes for Windows review: the price and the tiers?
You do not need to pay anything to begin using Malwarebytes. If you have reason to believe that your computer may be infected with malicious software, you may download a virus scanner as a means of locating and removing any malware that Windows Defender may have overlooked.
However, there are other free antivirus choices available besides Malwarebytes, which is considered to be among the finest available.
Malwarebytes Premium will also provide you with a free trial period of fourteen days. You will be able to try out the program and acquire a feel for the user interface as a result of this. The malware scanner will continue to operate once the trial period is up; however, in order to maintain access to more sophisticated capabilities, you will need to pay.
At the beginning of the year, a personal Malwarebytes Premium membership costs $45. Security against ransomware, malware, phishing, and antivirus software is included in this package, which is vital for everyone.
If you want to utilize Malwarebytes’ virtual private network (VPN) for a whole year, you undoubtedly have room in your budget for an additional fifteen dollars. This makes it possible to browse the internet anonymously from certain areas all over the globe.
It is not the intention of the virtual private network (VPN) to be a means of evading copyright laws and other legal constraints. Common virtual private networks (VPNs) are recognized and blocked by major video streaming providers. Instead, Malwarebytes provides the Virtual Private Network (VPN) as a privacy feature.
Your choice of the Malwarebytes Complete Protection package will provide you with an even higher level of protection and privacy. Due to the fact that it comprises a collection of more sophisticated services, the yearly fee has been increased to $120. Identity theft insurance with a maximum coverage of $2 million, monitoring of social media and the dark web, and three credit bureau reports will be sent to you via this service.
Additionally, Malwarebytes provides antivirus protection for organizations, with pricing that changes depending on the number of team members who are included in the paid plan.
A virtual private network (VPN) and additional security for two more devices were included in Malwarebytes Premium Plus, which I evaluated. As the number of phishing and hacking attempts continues to rise, this is a cost-effective and competitively priced solution to enjoy increased cybersecurity. The annual cost is as little as $80. In addition to my own computer, I am able to safeguard my mobile device and tablet. Apps for Malwarebytes are available for use on iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows.
This fee is doubled to $120 for the most costly Malwarebytes personal account, which costs $100 for three devices and $120 for one. Being able to place a monetary value on your identity is not conceivable. It may be worth the additional cost to get identity theft insurance and monitoring if you are concerned that sensitive information from your accounts has already been disclosed.
The majority of consumers will be satisfied with either the $45 Premium or the $60 Premium Plus package. Checking out the most recent antiviral bargains, which can sometimes add up to significant savings, is something that should be done. When it comes to protecting three devices, for instance, Bitdefender Internet Security for Windows only costs sixty dollars. For a fee of fifty dollars, Norton Deluxe offers coverage for five different platforms and devices.
Malwarebytes for Windows review: Is it design?
The software that Malwarebytes offers includes a user-friendly dashboard that provides a quick overview of your current level of protection. Your data should be protected from malicious software once the protection score meter reaches its maximum level.
When your security isn’t at its highest level, you have the ability to access further data in order to discover and fix major concerns such as vulnerabilities in online security and ransomware. In addition, you will be able to see suggestions and alerts in order to effectively monitor any possible issues.
You will see a pop-up warning when you visit websites that contain malware, fraud, and trackers when you use the browser extension that is included with Malwarebytes Premium. Please go to the Malwarebytes extension for more information on these potential hazards to your privacy and security.
Malwarebytes for Windows review: included in?
Malwarebytes provides a satisfactory and dependable solution that is particularly effective in removing and preventing malware. “Remediation Map” is a real-time feature that can be found on the Malwarebytes website. This feature provides information on when and where the company’s free malware scanner has discovered risks that other security software has overlooked.
Microsoft was pretty high on the list when I looked, which suggests that the built-in Defender antivirus software that comes with Windows should be doing more to earn its moniker.
In light of the fact that this map is displayed on the website of Malwarebytes, there is a good reason to be dubious of the more specific facts. We do not know the percentage of competitor detections that involve functionality that has been deactivated or security software that is out of date.
On the other hand, it serves as a useful reminder that antivirus software is essential and that the relatively small monthly charge is well worth it for the majority of users. Testing conducted by a third party is necessary in order to get an objective evaluation of antivirus protection.
For protection, Malwarebytes received a score of 5.5 out of a possible 6 from the independent security company AV Test during its most recent test, which took place in October 2023. Additionally, the company received an overall score of 17 out of a possible 18.
There is a fluctuation in the scores for every antivirus software from one month to the next, and the scores for competing solutions range from 16 to 18. The bottom line is that Malwarebytes has the capability to defend you against the persistent and ever-evolving danger that is posed by viruses and malware.
Malwarebytes for Windows review: assistance?
Via live chat, Malwarebytes provides help for its users. The interaction is started by an artificial intelligence chatbot, but you have the ability to request an agent at any point. Within the context of addressing a query concerning the operation of phishing protection, I discovered that the bot was pretty resilient.
Through the use of an unusual request that needed a live agent, I was able to fool the artificial intelligence. Asking for an agent was all that was required to switch to a human assistance representative that was available. There was just one other person in the queue ahead of me, and the support team for Malwarebytes responded to my inquiry within a couple of minutes.
The problem I was having was with using a review code in order to test Malwarebytes. My email address was not instantly attached to the subscription, despite the fact that it became operational. Due to the fact that this is not the typical flow for Malwarebytes, this will not be a cause for worry for the user base. However, it was a fantastic chance to check on the help that is provided to customers.
From my point of view, the assistance that I received was prompt, pleasant, and helpful, which is exactly what you want when working with a security business.
Malwarebytes for Windows review: What about secrecy and safety?
There is a widespread consensus that Malwarebytes is a trustworthy and private service that you can rely on. Malwarebytes revealed that “the attacker only gained access to a limited subset of internal company emails” in 2021, despite the fact that the organization did have a modest breach in that year.
According to the privacy policy of Malwarebytes, your personal information will not be sold and will only be used for the purposes of protection. It’s possible that Malwarebytes may cooperate with demands from the authorities for your information.
In contrast to other leading antivirus software providers, Malwarebytes has a very strong track record when it comes to protecting consumer information. There have been data breaches involving customers with certain rival solutions.
Malwarebytes for Windows review: one that is reliable?
There is an abundance of antivirus software available, with some being superior than others. The most well-known brands, such as Malwarebytes, often provide solutions that are dependable and comprehensive. In the event that you are merely in need of a brief malware check, Malwarebytes Free is a solution that is well-known and trusted among professionals.
One of the personal protection plans offered by Malwarebytes will provide you with all you want, unless you are seeking for anything unique or require specialist security. Even if the $80 Premium Plus plan that I tried is a decent option, it is always a good idea to look into alternative possibilities available to you.
There will soon be a review of antivirus software from Bitdefender, Norton, and other companies, along with comparisons, to assist you in determining which software is the most suitable for your requirements.
It is prudent to take precautions to protect your computer, but it is also possible to have your mobile device or tablet hacked. Ensure that you choose a plan that is suitable for your requirements and that you include coverage for the devices that you use.
Malwarebytes for Windows review Pros
- good free antivirus scanner
- Low-cost, real-time protection plans
- Quick and friendly support
- Easy setup
Malwarebytes for Windows review: Cons
- VPN costs extra
- I didn’t get a perfect AV-Test protection score