Take a 'byte' out of malware
I just took a look at Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, and it's a worthwhile security application. Some users and reviewers even think it's the best free malicious-software-only engine out there, and it's true that it has a lot going for it.
The basic interface is uncluttered and easy to navigate.
(Credit: Malwarebytes)Surprisingly effective, it's a relatively speedy malicious software remover, with the quick scan taking about 10 minutes. The heuristics engine proved on multiple computers during empirical testing that it was capable of determining the difference between false positives and threatening dangers.
Notably, Malwarebytes was one of the few malicious software removal tools that proved useful to many people in removing the Antivirus XP 2008 spyware.
The application has some nice features rolled in, too. It supports multiple drive scanning, context menu options including a scan-on-demand for individual files, and the FileAssassin option under the More Tools section for removing locked files. Testing them engendered no problems. Single-serving size file testing saw the program load fast, although I wasn't able to test the FileAssassin because I lacked a locked file.
The interface is simple, but pleasant-looking and well organized. Tabs live just below the oversized logo, with few options per tab to keep down the clutter. The installation process was fast enough, even with an instant definition file update. It interestingly offered a well-maintained change log, which was informative if not overly useful.
Like many programs these days, the freeware version can be upgraded for a fee to include more features. In this case, the $24.95 price gets you a lifelong access code to turn on real-time protection and a scheduler for updates and scans. If Malwarebytes is used as a strong second to your rolled-into-one antivirus and malicious software removal engine such as Antivir or AVG, you probably won't miss much from the paid edition. Overall, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is a responsive malicious software remover that does what it should with a minimum of fuss.
I am one of the developers of Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and the president of Malwarebytes Corporation. I assure you, those reviews are not fake. We use Download.com as our main download website and that is why the user reviews and downloads have spiked sharply in the last few weeks.
The product is working, and as mentioned in the blog (by the way, thank you for the mention Seth) is very effective in removing Antivirus XP 2008.
Best regards,
Marcin Kleczynski
Thanks in anticipation,
RonB
ron.binmore@pncl.co.uk
I am the lead researcher for Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware. We have 5 full time employees so to have that many reviews faked there would be multiple duplicate IPs recorded and CNET would be aware of this. Download.com is our main download site but this was not always the case. The flood of downloads , flood of reviews and download.com becoming out primare download site all happened at around the same time for obvious reasons.
People who would be dishonest enough to fake reviews and downloads would not offer a program that can scan and remove for free and would not offer the pro version for a $24.95 lifetime licence.
We have many reviews from people that have only reviewed our software because we offer the fastest (quick scan that is) antimalware software that is also amazingly good at removing malware (and reversing malware system damage) and offers truly free removal of these problems. Add that up and people are getting 3 pleasent surprises rolled into one package, it is no wonder that they are deciding to voice their approval.
Its may be hard to believe but we got here in less than a year by hard work and innovation alone.
Reguards,
Bruce Harrsion
Users only tend to review products that 1-they have and use(d) and 2-Made enough of an impression to bother reviewing, good or bad.
Also, ma ny "quickie" reviewers may have simply found this particular product through this particular site, so they commented here.
I'm sure the same goes for many other products on many other review sites?
Only die-hard geeks make the time to review ALL their software online in *several* forums, so I would think that the "single-item" reviewer at any given site is more the norm rather than a suspicious exception .
Statistics, webmaster??
Gosh, it's annoying when people make serious accusations without posting any supporting evidence or data.....
Malwarebytes
Irfanview
Open Office 3.0
That's it, just those three-and I've tried a lot of free software programs. One of my specialties as a computer tech is helping people install free software that's less expensive, more compact and efficient than what a lot of the large software companies provide.
Thank you for the compliment, we work 18 hour days trying to make the product how it is.
Might not be the right place to ask, but does anyone know how you actually get it? My co-worker swears that his surfing was to no malicious sites, but got infected, while I have yet to get infected and I'm a pretty brave surfer.
The safest ways off a suspicious page are to either close the tab from the browser's toolbar or close the browser itself.
If I get caught and something bad starts to download or install despite the closure, I yank the PC's plug right out of the wall! Also known as a foot reboot. (Note: some OSs do not like this,but XP is much better than '98 in this respect, and anyway it's better than getting a nasty virus!.) I think it **STINKS** (this is a family site) that computers no longer come with a *real* ON/OFF switch anymore, imagine if you could not turn off your car ignition when the gas pedal sticks to the floor!
One last tip, use a new mouse with nice positive clicks,not your old fave mouse that's all loosey-goosey.("oops" clicks sink ships)
The other most common way is following a link to the homepage after reading an ad stating that you will get a free security application, or a free virus scan. Sometimes there is a series of messages stating that your system is infected, and that you must download their scanner to find out more.
Note that the above applies to most rogue anti-virus and anti-spyware applications, and that they are not specific to Antivirus XP 2008. The best ways to keep yourself protected are to clear your temp files and run a Malwarebytes scan once a week (or at least once a month). The real-time protection in Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware is also a great way to keep your system safe (if you have the $25 to spare). Note that the real-time protection is 32-bit only, and will not work in x64 editions of Windows (also note that most malware has issues on x64 as well).
1. From registry ( go to start run, regedit.exe.) , Get rid of the obvious folder in the HKCU\Software\ and the HKLM\Software.
2. Then clearing the c:\windows\prefetch\ folder. It has been noted elsewhere not to do this but trust me, it acts like it's still installed, even after you deleted the folder of the program from the c:\program files\ . The prefetch folder is like a cookies folder for all the applications that you use on your computer. It helps improve startup times for the most frequently launch applications.
3. The last thing is to re-associate the file type. In the Windows Explorer, selecting the foreign application, then go to extension at the end (.exe and/or .dll) and give it a dummy extention that no computer in the world understands like ..... .eee or .ddd . If you cannot see this, then you need to go into your folder options, and uncheck the box to "hide extensions for known file types".
4. Lastly, removing any foreign items from the Startup tab from the MSCONFIG( go to start run, msconfig.exe.)
5. Last thing is to reboot and your computer is back to normal. Here is the best part, you can finally delete the problematic folder from the c:\program files\ area.
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by RLoftus52876
March 29, 2009 6:43 PM PDT
- Ten minutes is actually a really long time for the quick scan with Malwarebytes. I run a very lean system and my quick-scans usually time out at just under two minutes. A full scan only takes about 12 1/2 minutes on my machine. I'm especially fond of Malwarebytes because it knocks out Vrundo, Downloader.exe and the Antivir XP "Antivirus Virus".
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