Malwarebytes For Mac Review
Without mincing words, there is this popular notion that Apple computers that run on OS X or macOS never get infected with virus, but there is now new malware that has been discovered to evade Mac’s powerful firewall. With the constantly evolving internet space, it is increasingly becoming easy for Mac as well as other iOS devices to get infected with ransomware, Trojans, adware, spyware and not to mention all other forms of malicious software that are specially designed to wreck havoc to your devices. While many of this malicious software may find Mac’s firewall impenetrable, there is no denying the fact that some of them may creep into your devices even through paid or free downloads; leading to unforeseen troubles. However, thanks to amazing anti-malware apps on the market, you can have that extra layer of defense that helps protect your favorite Mac devices from tons of online threat.
This painstaking research was carried out to find that anti-malware that will help protect your Mac devices from malware. One that has stood out from the pack for us is the well-known Malwarebytes for Mac. Developed by Malwarebytes Corporations, this software has been reputed to give your device a 24 hours protection from malware. In fact, the company that designed it stated that the software has helped to fix malware threats in well over 250 million computers worldwide, cool right?
Jul 07, 2017 Today I am going to review one of the most popular anti-malware software named Malwarebytes for Mac. This is a powerful program to scan and fix the malware and adware present in your system and make it YOUR Mac again. Let’s get to know more about Malwarebytes for Mac. Feature of Malwarebytes For Mac Clean and Easy to use Interface. Feb 02, 2018 Malwarebytes for Mac Review: Features, Nuances, Pros & Cons. Malwarebytes is available to download in two versions: a free 30-days trial and a paid premium pack with extended features. The software is compatible with all Mac devices running on Apple’s operating system version 10.10 (OS X Yosemite) and later.
Interestingly, the software can be downloaded in two versions: the free 30 days trial and the paid premium version that comes with lots of exciting features. The cool part is that this software is compatible with all Mac devices that run the Apple operating system OS X Yosemite and others before that. While this is good news for those looking for a reputable anti-malware for their Mac devices, it is important you know that Malwarebytes has not been updated for some of the recent Mac OS like- High Sierra. It is only a matter of time before the company rolls out updates that support Mac devices running on the new High Sierra OS. You can’t wait to read about the pros and cons of this cool software and why you should give it a try, and all the juicy details you need to make an informed decision.
Malwarebytes For Mac
How to get this powerful software that has been reputed to help remove adware and other threats
For Mac users who can’t wait to get this simply incredible software, you can download Malwarebytes directly from the developer’s website. Moreover, the company offers packs that are suitable for both business and home use. Additionally, there is a free and paid version. Although the free version comes with limited functionality, you can use the free version for 30 days and easily carry out full system scanning while checking other app’s speed and functionality.
Unfortunately, after your initial 30-days trial runs out, you will have to buy the fully paid version which comes with other amazing functionality and support. This would cost you around $39.99 a year. For your subsequent subscription after that, you’ll be charged $10 which is absolutely a great bargain for anyone who truly cares about the security of their Mac devices. While other Mac securities and anti-viruses offer a set of 3 licenses at a stipulated fee, Malwarebytes is quite flexible regarding pricing hence highly recommended for people looking for premium anti-malware software at a reasonable price.
For people who want to enjoy the best of this software, you wouldn’t go wrong to go for the paid version. It boasts of powerful features like real-time protection, alert notifications and of course the most important of them all; it offers a full scanning of your Mac devices.
What are the minimum system requirements to run Malwarebytes?
To easily run and enjoy this software, your Mac computer must have the following features:
- Malwarebytes run on Mac OS 10.10 and later versions. However, you should have in mind that for now, it doesn’t run on the new Mac High Sierra OS. Hopefully, there will be a new update soon.
- You’ll need a 40MB free hard drive space.
- A good and secure internet connection will be needed to give your device that 24 hours real time protection it deserves. Also, a good and high-speed internet connection will allow you to download updates easily.
- A Core 2 Duo CPU or faster is a must;
- Your Computer should have at least 2GB RAM;
- An 800X650 screen resolution.
Main features of Malwarebytes
It is important you know that Malwarebytes work using uniquely designed anti-malware technology. With this, you can be assured that your Mac computer is ultimately protected from threats that may try to wreck havoc to your devices. Here, check out some unique features that make this software a must-have for people who care about the security of their devices.
1. Guarantees real-time protection from threats
Malwarebytes for Mac protects your Mac computer in real time. What this means is that this anti-malware is designed to automatically detect and eliminate threats that may try to invade your computer’s firewall. You’ll want to know the probable malware this software protects your computer from. Malwarebytes protect against PUP and adware. PUP is an acronym for Potentially Unwanted Programs are programs you unknowingly download when you download other apps. Sadly, PUPs are known to introduce harmful spyware into your computer’s OS. Not just PUPs, adware is another threat that Malwarebytes helps protect your system from. When PUPs and adware take over your system, they result in an unpleasant user experience, which is annoying by the way. Steam is not optimized for your mac pro. However, with Malwarebytes to the rescue, your system will enjoy uninterrupted real-time protection.
2. Lightning full and fast scanning of your Mac computer
While the first two features help protect your device against the myriads of online threats in real time, it is important you also know that you can use Malwarebytes to carry out a full lightening system scan, especially if you suspect that your system is already infected. Nonetheless, you should know that the time it takes to carry out a full system scan depends on your Mac operating system. On the minimum though, it may take 30 seconds or more. After scanning, Malwarebytes usually takes some time to detect and remove all traces of malware out of your computer’s system while restoring the normal functionality of your Mac device.
3. Small size app with incredible capabilities
This is one unique feature that makes this app worth it. At 20MB, Malwarebytes only consumes a meager amount of your computer’s space. More so, it wouldn’t slow down your computer like other anti-malware which is a good thing.
4. Boasts of a user-friendly interface
Unlike other software, Malwarebytes interface is intuitive and straightforward. The software’s unique dashboard will instantly show you your system’s protection status. That’s not all; it also shows you details of your last scan and updates respectively. Another cool thing about this software is that it keeps updating in the background, hence, ensuring that your device is fully protected. However, you can tweak the settings to either allow the software to conduct automatic scans or do it manually by yourself. There is also a quarantine tab that allows you to view threats that the software has successfully removed. Any other adjustments you need to do can be made under the settings tab.
In a nutshell, the features above are all you’ll ever need to keep your devices safe from the many online threats out there. Moreover, while the app may look flawless, it is a tad pricey; however, there will be a wait for updates that will work with the new High Sierra OS.
Is Malwarebytes Safe?
Since its release in 2013, this app has earned a good reputation for itself. The best part is that each update comes with an exciting improvement that you’ll no doubt fall in love with. With this software, you should be sure that there are no hidden threats to your system.
Is Malwarebytes legit and worth it?
Developed by one of Americas most trusted internet security companies, Malwarebytes is legit and prepped to give your computer the 24 hours protection it deserves.
Verdict
Without a doubt, Malwarebytes is one of the top anti-malware software that lives up to its expectations. More interestingly, its real-time protection and lightening scanning feature give your Mac system that extra layer of security it needs to keep functioning at an optimum. With this software, you can be assured that your system is ultimately protected from the tons of nasty online malware out there. If you ever need anti-malware software that will give your device that 24-hour protection it deserves, you wouldn’t go wrong to give Malwarebytes a try, and you wouldn’t be disappointed.
See Also
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Mac
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Pros
Extremely fast malware scan. Very good reputation among tech experts.Cons
No protection against malicious or fraudulent websites. No detection of Windows malware.Bottom Line
The premium edition of Malwarebytes for Mac scans for active malware and uses real-time detection to prevent infestation. It has a very good reputation, but hard data showing its effectiveness is scarce.
'Yep, Macs get infected.' That's the tagline on the very first installer page of Malwarebytes for Mac Premium, and it's true. Having no Mac antivirus protection may not such a disaster as leaving your Windows or Android devices unprotected, but it's a bad idea to go without. Malwarebytes has a top-notch reputation for wiping out malware even when other utilities fail. However, coming up with hard data that shows it working isn't easy.
On the Windows platform, Malwarebytes is the go-to solution when a pernicious malware infestation resists removal. Tech support agents from other security companies have been known to enlist help from Malwarebytes when all else fails. I've been able to see it in action by infecting a test system and then challenging Malwarebytes to clean it up, using my hand-coded tools to verify its success. As you'll see below, verifying its efficacy on the Mac proved rather more difficult.
As with Malwarebytes Free on Windows, you can download this program and run a scan without paying anything. That can be handy if another antivirus utility detected a threat but failed to fully eliminate it. Paying for the premium edition gets you real-time protection, automatic updates, and blocking of adware and potentially unwanted applications, or PUAs.
Like ProtectWorks AntiVirus, this product has a main window that's all about scanning for malware. But unlike ProtectWorks, there's just one kind of scan, a quick scan for active malware. A menu down the left side lets you view recent scans, check what's in quarantine, or tweak the program's sparse set of configuration settings.
Pricing and OS Support
Bitdefender, ESET, and Kaspersky all cost $39.99 per year for one license, and the same is true with Malwarebytes. All four of these products cost $59.99 per year for three licenses, but Malwarebytes is a little different. After the initial $39.99, each additional license costs $10, which just happens to come out to $59.99 for three. I like the flexibility Malwarebytes offers.
With Norton, you pay $89.99 per year for five licenses, and you get a full security suite, not just antivirus. McAfee AntiVirus Plus (for Mac) charges $59.99 per year, but that license lets you install protection on all your macOS, Windows, Android, and iOS devices. As you can see, there's a lot of variation in pricing.
Is Malwarebytes For Mac Safe
No money in the budget for Mac antivirus? No problem! You can install and run Sophos or Avira Free Antivirus for Mac on your personal Macs without paying a penny.
If you're stuck with an old Mac, or legacy software that won't run on current versions of macOS, Malwarebytes may not be the best choice. Like McAfee, Symantec, and Trend Micro, it requires Yosemite (10.10) or later. Mac antiquarians will be pleased to know that ESET Cyber Security (for Mac) and ProtectWorks support all versions of the operating system back to Snow Leopard (10.6).
Malware Protection Testing
The independent antivirus testing labs put Windows antivirus to the test in a wide variety of ways, many of them closely resembling real-world malware-attack situations. Those labs that also test Mac antivirus don't have the same degree of real-world testing. Because of the way Malwarebytes focuses on eliminating active malware, it would not pass these tests, so the company simply doesn't submit it.
It makes sense that tests by AV-Test Institute and AV-Comparatives don't line up with the way Malwarebytes does its job. But I still must say, when a program like Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac or Bitdefender shows up with two certifications and two scores of 100 percent, it looks very good.
You may notice in the chart above that McAfee also doesn't have any lab results. At the time of my review, it had certification and 100 percent detection from AV-Comparatives. However, McAfee didn't choose to participate in the most recent test.
Hands On With Malwarebytes
Most antivirus programs include the option to scan your entire Mac for malware. Many also offer a quick scan that just looks for active malware and for malware traces in common locations. However, a full scan is counter to the Malwarebytes philosophy. The company's thinking goes like this: If you really have an infection, the quick scan will see that there's a problem and remediate it. All a full scan could find beyond that is static malware that's inert and not doing any immediate harm.
Indeed, a scan of the Apple MacBook Air 13-Inch that I use for testing finished in about 15 seconds. That's darned fast, considering that the average quick scan time for recent products is more than four minutes.
All of the other products I've reviewed recently aim to detect and eliminate Windows-based malware as well as malware focused on the Mac. The idea is that this prevents the Mac from becoming a Typhoid Mary, carrying infection without being affected. Malwarebytes has no interest in malware that can't even run on the Mac, so it ignores Windows malware.
So how can you even know that it's doing anything? I went to the AMTSO webpage and downloaded the EICAR test file, a non-malicious sample file that almost every antivirus vendor detects, so you can see your protection is working. No result.
Once again, because it's not malicious, Malwarebytes ignores it. I did find a technique in the company's forums to force detection of this file. When I placed it in a specific folder, as instructed, Malwarebytes immediately moved it into quarantine.
Many antivirus utilities manage quarantined files internally. Typically, you can view the quarantined items, learn details about each, and permanently delete them. With Malwarebytes, quarantine is just another folder, with a button in the program to view or clear its contents. Intego Mac Internet Security X9 goes a step further in minimalist quarantine, leaving quarantined files in place but blocking their execution.
What's Not Here
Given this product's focus on real-time protection and scanning for active malware, it's not surprising that it doesn't attempt to run scans on a regular schedule. ESET, Webroot SecureAnywhere Antivirus (for Mac), McAfee, and Trend Micro not only include a scheduler, they schedule regular scans without any user intervention.
Almost all malware reaches your Mac from the internet. Some antivirus programs take the fight upstream, keeping your browser from downloading those threats, or from even visiting malware-hosting sites. Many of these also divert the browser away from phishing sites, fraudulent sites that try to steal your secure login credentials.
Like Intego and ProtectWorks, Malwarebytes doesn't attempt this type of protection. Yes, its real-time protection should eliminate downloaded malware before it can infect the system. I'm not so worried about those. But phishing sites are platform-independent; I like to see antivirus products help users avoid these traps. Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac and Kaspersky top the scores of those that I've tested. My contact at Malwarebytes says that protection against dangerous URLs is on the roadmap for future versions.
In both the Mac and Windows realms, some antivirus products pile on features galore. For example, Kaspersky, Intego, and Symantec Norton Security Deluxe (for Mac) include a firewall component. To be fair, those three are full security suites for Mac, not standalone antivirus tools. Sophos Home and Trend Micro include a simple content filter, while Kaspersky ups the ante to full parental control. With its laser focus on malware protection, Malwarebytes skips the add-ons.
It Comes Down to Reputation
Malwarebytes for Mac Premium isn't suited to testing by the independent labs. I have hands-on tests to evaluate detection of Windows-centered malware, and protection against phishing sites, but those aren't features of this utility. Even getting it to detect the EICAR test file was tough. So how can you know whether it's a good choice?
I asked my Malwarebytes contact that exact question. He explained that, as with the Windows edition, Malwarebytes has a reputation as the go-to tool for tough Mac malware. Many installations come about when a Mac technician installs the product to clean up a problem. Other customers learn about the product through recommendations and word of mouth. I'm not a Mac tech expert; I haven't experienced this. But it's certainly true in the Windows realm.
If the free version of this product saved your bacon, or if you've had a great experience with the Windows version, feel free to choose it. However, for my top recommendations I have to rely on actual, factual testing, both lab tests and hands-on tests. Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac and Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac top the charts in both types of tests, and these two remain Editors' Choice for Mac antivirus.