IObit Malware Fighter

CNET Editors' review

Malware can consist of computer viruses, adware, tracking software, and many other forms of mayhem, but what it has in common is that none of it is welcome in your computer. You should already have antivirus protection and similar safeguards, but we strongly recommend regularly scanning your PC for infections with an antimalware tool. Fortunately, you have several choices when it comes to free tools that can find and remove a wide range of threats and nuisances. IObit's Malware Fighter Free comes as a standalone download or bundled with other IObit tools. With automatic updates, a variety of system guards, and a Cloud Security option, it offers a lot in addition to its scanning capabilities.

Malware Fighter's user interface is typical of system utilities, despite its unique colors scheme and design: large fonts, rounded edges, and ads (someone has to pay; just be glad it's not you!) as well as tabs accessing the program's Overview, Scan, Protect, and Cloud features. Clicking Quarantine called up a dialog listing suspicious files (if any). The Protect page offers 8 separate guard options: Startup, Browser, Network, File, Cookie, Process, USB Disk, and Malicious Action. The Cloud Security page lets users upload their data to IObit's Cloud security site. After updating the database, we scanned our system. By default, the first scan is the program's Smart Scan, but subsequently we could choose it or Full or Custom scans. The scan took a little more than three minutes and found no malware. A full scan took much longer, though. We also ran Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, which many consider the standard in free anti-malware tools. But it found nothing that IObit's tool missed.

So which should you try? Both! Here's the thing about free malware scanners: Absolutely nothing is stopping you from downloading and running as many as you like (just not simultaneously). You have nothing to lose but your malware. Try IObit; try Malwarebytes; try the others, too, and then make a regular habit of using the ones you like best. You'll never be sorry you scanned too much.

IObit Malware Fighter - Scan you PC and remove all kinds of malware - Download Video Previews:

Publisher's Description

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All User Reviews
  • All versions:

    3.9 stars

    out of 1,896 votes

    • 5 star: 860
    • 4 star: 592
    • 3 star: 126
    • 2 star: 99
    • 1 star: 219
  • Current version:

    2.9 stars

    out of 19 votes

    • 5 star: 4
    • 4 star: 6
    • 3 star: 1
    • 2 star: 1
    • 1 star: 7
  • My rating:

    0 stars

    Write review

Results 1-10 of 19

  • 4.0 stars

    "Plays well with others"

    May 10, 2013  |   By brandall5479

    Version: IObit Malware Fighter 1.7

    Pros

    It works well with my adaware

    Cons

    none I have encountered yet

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  • 1.0 stars

    "Joined CNET JUST TO WARN PEOPLE OF THIS PRODUCT!!!"

    April 16, 2013  |   By c_del1982

    Version: IObit Malware Fighter 1.7

    Pros

    Only pro I can think of it is the quickest way to sabotage an enemies computer.
    I have listed what this product's add-on toolbar did to my computer, and under summary I listed how I finally got rid of it.

    Cons

    IOBit automatically installs Spigot Toolbar upon download. A quick google search of Spigot Redirect Virus will tell you this is bad news. Almost ruined my computer! Toolbar hides in background and is not listed under Programs or detected by task manager. You cannot uninstall it easily as you cannot just quit the program in Task Manager. Antivirus didnt catch it until I did a boot scan. Complete scans with antivirus software, and antimalware software didnt catch it either, since it is supposed to be a "safe part of IOBit Software. CPU was spiking like mad, opening folders and files was slow and sometimes they wouldnt respond, browsers constantly crashing, security updates were not installing into browsers. And my computer was being hijacked spontaneously to malicious websites which I later found out were "updates" to the virus/malware.

    Summary

    If you already installed this product and you dont see a toolbar (neither did I, and neither did my browsers identify any add-ons or extensions) Be prepared for a heck of a fight getting rid of this. Steps I took were 1. run boot scan with Avast. that found enough of the virus to make it visually appear under programs. 2. Open System Configuration and stop any services or start up's that are related to Spigot. Some of the running software doesnt list Spigot directly but when you check the path you will find out it is a Spigot. 3. Restart your computer, hopefully all processes have now been stopped. 4. Go to programs, thanks to boot scan it has now magically appeared under programs says IOBit/Spigot Toolbar and you can uninstall. Good luck!

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  • 2.0 stars

    "Unwanted and Surplus to requirements."

    April 5, 2013  |   By DrJansan

    Version: IObit Malware Fighter 1.7

    Pros

    None - there are no Pros about this product.

    Cons

    This unwanted piece of software one day appeared on my desktop. This was after downloading ASC (IObit)from Download.com I kept it for a while to check out it's usefulness. The truth is, I did not find it at all useful. It did not catch any malware that others did. It's realtime tracking appeared to slow down my browser. (this was noticeable after uninstalling.

    Summary

    Stick with the more trusted Anti-Malware products. Anything that invites itself into your PC should be treated with scepticism.

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  • 1.0 stars

    "Do not bother."

    April 3, 2013  |   By tjraptis

    Version: IObit Malware Fighter 1.7

    Pros

    No pros with this product

    Cons

    -Very low malware detection
    -Problematic uninstaller
    -Comes loaded with crap and can cause spam
    -Untrustworthy company; They were caught stealing intellectual property from MalwareBytes.

    Summary

    Dont bother. Use something else (Comodo, Avast, G-DATA, Avira)

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  • 1.0 stars

    "This is just spam"

    March 26, 2013  |   By i5roadrunner

    Version: IObit Malware Fighter 1.7

    Pros

    None, it's just a scam to load junk on your computer.

    Cons

    Do not load this or you will be stuck with it. You cheated me Cnet.

    Summary

    Do not click on this product...I loaded it for Maleware protection and it just loaded a bunch of junk on my computer. It made Yahoo my homepage and loaded a tood bar on my comp and now it wont let me un-install. Last time I load anything from Cnet. Scam!

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  • 3.0 stars

    "Didn't find what other programs found."

    February 27, 2013  |   By Gaius816

    Version: IObit Malware Fighter 1.7

    Pros

    easy install

    Cons

    Did not find anything, other programs did.

    Summary

    I won't use it because there are better free malware removers.

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  • 1.0 stars

    "DON'T DOWN LOAD ANY IOBIT ITS BAD FROM CHINA!"

    February 25, 2013  |   By gringojo

    Version: IObit Malware Fighter 1.7

    Pros

    NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Cons

    A SCAM & NOTHING FROM THEM WILL LET YOU DELETE IT FROM YOUR PC & THAT'S ILLEGAL

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  • 5.0 stars

    "awesome protection"

    February 22, 2013  |   By SeaVixen75

    Version: IObit Malware Fighter 1.7

    Pros

    FREE version coupled with Advanced System Care and Microsoft Security Essentials is and has been the ultimate performance and protection combo for years recommended and utilized since its release by Colleges Computer for Computer Sciences and shared with everyone I know with a PC since then. Pro version has Internet Browsing protection as well but free version is also amazing.

    Cons

    No complaints.

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  • 4.0 stars

    "It's aiding in the fight."

    February 17, 2013  |   By collegesailinggail

    Version: IObit Malware Fighter 1.7

    Pros

    Catching stuff.

    Cons

    A lot of excessive prompts.

    Summary

    Good for helping keep the vermin away. At least so far.

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  • 4.0 stars

    "Get's The Job Done"

    February 6, 2013  |   By HH4300JM

    Version: IObit Malware Fighter 1.7

    Pros

    2 modes to chose from

    Cons

    Have to pay to get the job done better

    Summary

    Can't beat it for free

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Results 1-10 of 19

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