The FREE version (which is what you're left with after a 14-dat trial period) offers an ON-DEMAND scanner that detects and removes malware/spyware and rootkits.
The PAID/PREMIUM version includes real-time protection (websites/malware, exploits, ransomware).
It's my understanding that updating/upgrading to MBAM 3.x will automatically uninstall existing MalwareBytes products (MBAM, MBAE, MBARW)... so unless you want to lose/replace these, be careful in accepting any offer to upgrade!
I also note that the paid version (and the 14 day full trial) claim to be a replacement for all AVs. At the same time, it is said not to conflict with any existing AV one might have installed, due to its using different technologies. If true, then those wishing to trial it do not have to uninstall their current AV first.
At first glance, MB3 (can't call it MBAM any more) looks like a tweaker's delight, with so many modules to configure. It will be interesting to see its impact on system memory.
MB3 installed over top of MBAM Pemium easily (2 minutes) on Win 7 Pro x64 running Sophos Home AV. My lifetime licence for MBAM was recognized and transferred automatically.
My initial impressions are all positive. Keeping all the default settings (basically, all shields on), there were no conflicts with any of my security programs, no significant impact on system performance, and significantly quicker on-demand scans.
Current users of MBAM will find the GUI fairly familiar, and easy to navigate and use.
The only oddity here is that after some reboots, I get an MB alert that "protection layer is off" even though all are on - this is a known issue. A complete list of known issues with MB3 is here: forums.malwarebytes.org/.../
I agree. Those contemplating upgrading are well-advised to read that known issue list first, to see if their operating system and particular circumstances apply.
That's a reasonable review of the features offered.
The reviewer seems reluctant to run MB3 (Full trial version) in real-time alongside his security suite, preferring to use it like MBAM 2.x Free as an on-demand scanner only. Fair enough, but Malwarebytes does claim that it can be run in real-time without disabling or uninstalling your AV (which was my experience using Sophos Home AV). Whether it can co-exist nicely with a full security suite is unknown; Malwarebytes is silent on that question.
Of course if you use MB3 as an on-demand scanner only (which is what you will end up with after the trial period expires, unless you purchase an annual subscription) you lose the anti-exploit, anti-ransomware, and website protection features. You end up with essentially the features of MBAM 2.x Free, but with a faster scan, and a slightly slower load time and higher memory usage. Whether MB3 is better than MBAM 2 at detecting/removing malware as a scanner is another unknown - PC Mag's brief review of MB3 Free suggests it might not be: www.pcmag.com/.../0,2817,2455505,00.asp
Malwarebytes will be making a real mistake if it does not subject MB3 to independent tests by the likes of AV-Test and AV-Comparatives in the new year. However, PC Mag in its review of MB3 explains why this might never happen.
For those unhappy with MB3, and who wish to go back to MBAM 2, you can remove MB3 like any other program via Control Panel>Programs and Features>Uninstall a program. Do not use the uninstall tool MBAM-Clean.exe, which does not yet support MB3.
I'm not seeing the problems you describe (apart from the false alert that some of my real-time protection is shut off), on my Win 7 Pro using MB3 along with Sophos Home AV. What AV are you using?
I'm not using Windows Defender, and note that it is turned off in Control Panel>Windows Defender. The nomenclature is confusing, but on Windows 7 "Windows Defender" is not an AV, or even an anti-malware, just an anti-spyware. In the presence of MBAM (or MB3) WD is probably superfluous, and possibly causing conflicts. I would suggest you turn its real-time protection off.
Perhaps I'm the exception to the rule, but I've experienced no problems with MB Premium (v.3.0.5.1299) on my Win 7 Pro 64 bit, with Sophos Home as my real-time AV, and WinPatrol Plus. Even those false alerts about disabled protection are no longer appearing. The worst I can say is that my IE11 browsing is a bit slower. This is on my test machine, not a daily user, but I have no problems with all the basic functions or keeping it fully updated.
I have no suggestions either. I'm not tempted to try MB3 on my daily use systems yet. And I'm not going to uninstall Sophos Home and see if MB3 really is an AV replacement until it undergoes some comparative testing by the independents (AV-C or AV-Test); I'm not holding my breath for that to occur.
For people who have (or want) just MBAE (Anti-Exploit) or just MBARW (Anti- Ransom Ware), these two products will continue to exist separately, as a "stand-alone perpetual Betas".
The Beta of Anti-Exploit will include all Premium features of Anti-Exploit. The Beta of Anti-Ransomware will include all ransomware blocking capabilities. New techniques will be added first to these Betas for testing, before they are integrated into Malwarebytes 3.0 Premium. Users who wish to continue using only MBAE or only MBARW instead of Malwarebytes 3.0 will be able to do so through the use of these perpetual Betas.
That's a pretty extensive list of known issues... makes me wonder if they pushed the release before they should have. I would have preferred to see most of these resolved first...
joe53
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Posted December 8th, 2016 10:00
I also note that the paid version (and the 14 day full trial) claim to be a replacement for all AVs. At the same time, it is said not to conflict with any existing AV one might have installed, due to its using different technologies. If true, then those wishing to trial it do not have to uninstall their current AV first.
At first glance, MB3 (can't call it MBAM any more) looks like a tweaker's delight, with so many modules to configure. It will be interesting to see its impact on system memory.
Time to fire up my test system!