2 replies to this topic

[mellowmalcontent007]

Despite being somewhat computer savvy and fairly safe, I was recently hit with a nasty malware onslaught and I want to reevaluate my security options.

After this recent mess I restored a backup which to my surprise did not completely clean my system. I'm not sure where MS Antispyware 2009 had been hiding but these crudware creating jerks are getting good (I did restore some files from the infected computer, but only non-executing -- I thought anyway -- files from the Documents folder, and what I thought was a clean registry from a previous backup from some time ago).

After a web search I decided to try Malwarebytes to remove this thing, and it seems to have worked. So I figured I might ask a presales question or two...but there is no real pre-sales contact info as far as I can tell. (Does that answer question #3, how is the support? Or not?)

The on request scanning tool seems to be well designed, and I think the clean web design of this site and the straightforwardness is all a good omen. These guys seem to be no nonsense about this. However, without installing half a dozen products (which I've done before, but times have changed and left those behind) I'd like to figure out how this thing compares to some of the competition. I need something lean...picture a bloated Symantec travesty and then think of the opposite. But also something that can detect and remove all of these ridiculous new threats that abominable brickheads keep sending our way.

This does seem like more of a presales question than something that belongs here, but I don't know where else to ask it. I realize the response here could be biased, but even so, how does this thing compare to VIPRE, Superantispyware, NOD32... Or the vowel-consonant-vowel-consonant-vowel options, Avira and Ewido?

I don't want to spend weeks researching how to get these computers set up in the optimal way, but I'm not sure how to get straight answers about these either. Of course, I'll know I've chosen the wrong option when my computer either blows up or slows down to a snail's pace, but I was trying to avoid that.

So, priorities -- speed, good interface (and lean), comprehensive detection and removal, plays well with others, good support. I know the best use of a laptop is as a doorstop or paperweight but my abode already has those.

Thanks for your help
Dan

[AdvancedSetup]

Hello Dan,

I'll let the Developers answer other questions or give more details but in general I want to point out that MBAM (Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware) is for Detecting, Removing, and with the paid version Preventing MALWARE. Most of the other products you listed are for Anti-Virus which is another area, though they do cross paths now days quite a bit.

As for the reputation of Malwarebytes let me just say that it has reached something like 6 Million downloads (someone may come along and correct those exact numbers) from just Download.com in less than a year and is becoming the most well known tool for Malware removal.

Yes, some of the well known tools of yesteryear are no longer as good at keeping up with some of the Malware that is out there now days.

[mellowmalcontent007]

AdvancedSetup, on Jan 6 2009, 05:17 PM, said:

Hello Dan,

I'll let the Developers answer other questions or give more details but in general I want to point out that MBAM (Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware) is for Detecting, Removing, and with the paid version Preventing MALWARE. Most of the other products you listed are for Anti-Virus which is another area, though they do cross paths now days quite a bit.

As for the reputation of Malwarebytes let me just say that it has reached something like 6 Million downloads (someone may come along and correct those exact numbers) from just Download.com in less than a year and is becoming the most well known tool for Malware removal.

Yes, some of the well known tools of yesteryear are no longer as good at keeping up with some of the Malware that is out there now days.

Thanks for the response. I find it daunting to research this but finding good solutions goes a long way toward enjoying using the computer. I do think this software looks to be well engineered and I appreciate that they offer the on demand scanner to people. I should have clarified that I definitely need an antispyware solution, and the question was what to go with, either combo antivirus and antispyware, or one of each, etc.

I've had a good experience with NOD32 for antivirus but it's not enough for the other malware right now I don't think. However, it's fast and works well with other software so it may not be bad to keep it and just add something else on top of it.

I'm actually doing a bit of other computer configuramazating (sp?) right now including looking at firewalls and backup software and so forth to try to regain some control over this beast. (I like Acronis True Image, but it's taken to turning off my computer, somehow, in the middle of a backup.) I am a fan of software that does what it's supposed to do, quickly and without being a huge burden. But it's tough to follow all the developments. I was looking at the new leak tests for some of the firewalls that get good reviews these days and they look CIA-esque. Holy cow. The trick is to get set up and still have a computer with enough CPU and memory left to open Notepad (maybe even two windows of it). We'll see.