Is Malwarebytes Considered an Antivirus? | Download Free Malware Removal Tool

Malwarebytes is a well-known name in the cybersecurity industry. It is known for providing excellent malware protection to its users. However, there has been a debate among users whether Malwarebytes can be considered an antivirus solution. In this article, we will explore this topic and provide you with an in-depth analysis of whether Malwarebytes is an antivirus or not.

What is Malwarebytes?

Malwarebytes is an anti-malware software developed by Malwarebytes Corporation. It was first released in 2006 and has since become one of the most popular cybersecurity solutions in the market. The software is designed to detect and remove malware, including viruses, worms, Trojans, adware, spyware, and other malicious programs.

What is an Antivirus?

An antivirus is a software program that is used to detect, prevent, and remove viruses from a computer system. Antivirus programs are designed to protect your computer from various types of malware, including viruses, worms, Trojans, and other malicious software.

Is Malwarebytes an Antivirus?

Malwarebytes is primarily an anti-malware software, but it also provides antivirus protection. However, it is not a full-fledged antivirus solution like Norton or McAfee. Malwarebytes does not provide real-time protection against viruses. Instead, it offers on-demand scanning and removal of malware.

What is Real-Time Protection?

Real-time protection is a feature provided by most antivirus software that continuously monitors your computer for malware and prevents it from being executed. Real-time protection works in the background and scans files and programs as soon as they are accessed. This helps to prevent malware from infecting your computer.

What is On-Demand Scanning?

On-demand scanning is a feature provided by anti-malware software, including Malwarebytes. It allows you to scan your computer for malware whenever you want. You can select specific files or folders to scan, or you can scan your entire computer. On-demand scanning is useful when you suspect that your computer is infected with malware.

What are the Advantages of using Malwarebytes?

Malwarebytes has several advantages over traditional antivirus software. These include:

It is lightweight and does not consume too much system resources.
It provides excellent malware detection and removal capabilities.
It is easy to use and does not require much technical knowledge.
It is compatible with other antivirus software and can be used alongside them.

What are the Disadvantages of using Malwarebytes?

Despite its many advantages, Malwarebytes also has a few disadvantages:

It does not provide real-time protection against viruses.
It does not include a firewall or other security features commonly found in antivirus software.
The free version of Malwarebytes does not provide real-time protection.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Malwarebytes is not a full-fledged antivirus solution. It is primarily an anti-malware software that provides on-demand scanning and removal of malware. However, it also includes antivirus protection, although it does not provide real-time protection against viruses. If you are looking for a complete antivirus solution, you should consider using a traditional antivirus program alongside Malwarebytes.