malwarebytes, any opinion/advice,

[Garrett478]

1) Browser add-on for chromium AND Firefox browsers is called Malewarebytes Browser Guard. It can work W/O MWB installed or in tandem if installed. Be aware it can be VERY aggressive, especially blocking entire domains, such as, .biz or .info until you create an exception.

2) MWB & I/O bit av. Is MWB issuing a malware alert or saying MWB and I/O Bit have compatibility issues?

Be aware years ago MWB company accused I/O bit of stealing their program database. MWB took legal action. So bad-blood between them.

I have used a few I/O programs years ago and liked them. However, some of their stuff has occasionally garnered complaints about PUPware and aggressive upselling. These complaints seem to ebb and flow depending on product and I/O Bits need to earn more $$ at the time.

[Lonewolf]

Also, forgot from yesterday, IMO, it's worth hanging onto MWB... every so often when they do a major update, they'll give you 14 days free premium access (of course, as an enticement to buy the premium software). So you get a taste of what MWB can do in real time...

[Lonewolf]

Originally Posted by Garrett478

2) MWB & I/O bit av. Is MWB issuing a malware alert or saying MWB and I/O Bit have compatibility issues?

If I remember correctly, Bitdefender flagged it (my bad; thought it was MWB), and deleted it automatically.

I just downloaded the IObit ASC set-up file last night, and will try to install it later...

[gmcbee]

20 something years in IT back in the day, and I thought I knew my shit!
Very interesting and informative discussion. I have learned a lot here, thanks to all who are participating.

(LW, it was MWB that deletes Iobit ASC on install, I remember it very clearly, because I wondered WTF...)

AND DO YOUR BACKUPS! DON'T MAKE ME COME OVER THERE!

[Lonewolf]

Originally Posted by gmcbee

(LW, it was MWB that deletes Iobit ASC on install, I remember it very clearly, because I wondered WTF...)

Could've been, but it would've had to have happened during a free trial. When Bitdefender flags something it doesn't like, it deletes it automatically... a double-edged sword. It does that a lot when I download portable AV software from MajorGeeks. MWB flags it, then wants to quarantine it, so you can see if you can live without it.

[redsox1211]

Thanks for the advice everyone..
after some consideration i decided to run 1 full scan on MWB then uninstall it, i dont need it since i have windows defender, plus, after hearing multiple times the free versions basically useless and i keep getting asked to pay for it, i figure as much deleting it wont make a difference, and since 2015 it hasnt found anything, the waiting 5 + hours for a full scan to finish is not only impractical but sincerely dangerous, im sorry but NO program or scan thats started at 8pm should still be scanning at 1am, i get that it needs to be thorough, but to leave my computer frozen isnt what i need, thanks for all the help and comments, it definitely helped

[Garrett478]

redsox and other interested members as a backup to your primary AV

Two excellent free, manually initiated AV scanners for one-time second opinion scans and malware removal. Often recommended on Malwarebytes separate support forum by their malware removal specialists:

1) Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool [not to be confused with their paid AV products]
Pretty well buried on Kaspersky's site but easily accessible through Majorgeeks or OlderGeeks dot com
Single exe file needing no install; updated~ monthly simply by overwriting older exe file. SW will alert
you to new version

2) Free Virus Scan | Online Virus Scan from ESET [eset dot com/us/home/online-scanner
like Kaspersky not to be confused with their paid product; this is free to use one-time scanner
cloud-based detection database; always up to date.
requires download of exe module to activate scan and interface with online database

Both downloaded exe can be deleted after use

[redsox1211]

Hey garrett,
i do have a free virus program, i have windows defender, its the built in program for windows 10. It replaced microsoft security essentials, which i loved and i miss it

Originally Posted by Garrett478

redsox and other interested members as a backup to your primary AV

Two excellent free, manually initiated AV scanners for one-time second opinion scans and malware removal. Often recommended on Malwarebytes separate support forum by their malware removal specialists:

1) Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool [not to be confused with their paid AV products]
Pretty well buried on Kaspersky's site but easily accessible through Majorgeeks or OlderGeeks dot com
Single exe file needing no install; updated~ monthly simply by overwriting older exe file. SW will alert
you to new version

2) Free Virus Scan | Online Virus Scan from ESET [eset dot com/us/home/online-scanner
like Kaspersky not to be confused with their paid product; this is free to use one-time scanner
cloud-based detection database; always up to date.
requires download of exe module to activate scan and interface with online database

Both downloaded exe can be deleted after use

[Garrett478]

redsox I am well-aware defender is free. I run Win7 and use Security Essentials as my sig-based AV along with MWB premium.

The two scanners I mentioned are not meant to be permanently installed secondary to Defender or any other AV program. They are useful to run occasionally [ once a quarter, once a year - whatever] to reassure yourself that system is clean.

They are resources for ONE-TIME ONLY scans to double-check the work of your permanent, primary AV solution. They act as 'second-opinions' and provide further reassurance that your system is malware free.

Often recommended by MWB malware removal specialists in checking that a previously infected system is really malware free. As these folks often say no one product is the sole removal champion.

[redsox1211]

just uninstalled malwarebytes after a scan that took 5 hours and 11 minutes, GOOD RIDDANCE!