Do I Need Malwarebytes ?

[derekpara]

If I am using the free version of Avast Antivirus do I need Malwarebytes as well ?

I am on Windows 7.

Thanks.

D

[Guilbert53]

In simple terms security issues comes in two main forms - viruses and malware (there are others of course).

Avast will mainly look after viruses.

Malwarebytes will mainly look after malware (malicious software)

But note the FREE Malwarebytes does NOT run by itself, you have to run it manually. If you dont run it manually it is doing you no good at all. So it will only catch malware AFTER it has already arrived on your PC, and only find it when you run it.

The paid for Malwarebytes is running all the time in the background so it is checking your PC all the time so it will catch malware as soon as it arrives on your PC.

So as long as you run Malwarebytes (the free one) on a regular basis then it IS worth installing.

[Buenchico]

As Guilbert53 indicates, you should have BOTH an anti-virus program AND an anti-malware one on your computer. Further, again as G53 says, unless you've got a 'paid for' anti-malware program (which 'runs in the background'), you need to remember to run the anti-malware program occasionally (as the freebies only 'run on demand'). I suggest running it once per fortnight (or, of course, whenever you suspect that malware might have found its way onto your computer).

I've stopped recommending that people download the free version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware though, as it now forces you to take a free trial of the 'paid for' version, which has considerably slowed down two of my machines.

While it is possible to disable that trial, it seems simpler to me to start with a program that doesn't create such a problem in the first place, so I now recommend downloading and installing AdwCleaner instead. It's actually produced by Malwarebytes anyway and so uses the same malware databases. (i.e. it should be every bit as good as Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is):
https://www.malwarebytes.com/adwcleaner/

[derekpara]

Thank you both for your usual comprehensive replies. I've now installed ADW cleaner. Does it run auto scans or do I have to do it myself ?

Sorry not to have replied sooner but I've been tech free for a few days !

D

[Buenchico]

AdwCleaner is 'run on demand' only, so you'll need to remember to run it from time to time.

[derekpara]

Thanks again, Chris.

D