Malwarebytes for Mac is a popular and respected anti-malware tool for Mac that can help to clear a Mac of malware, ransomware, and viruses. While users can follow some simple tips to protect a Mac from viruses and trojans, and MacOS is fairly secure as-is from malware, junk ware, and adware, many Mac users often ask how they can scan their Mac. During August and September 2020 we evaluated 5 home user security products for MacOS Catalina. We always used the most current version of all products for the testing. They were allowed to update.
It's a dangerous world out there, and it's not any safer for your Mac. There's never been more harmful software floating around online, and it can find its way onto your Mac secretly. From spyware that attaches itself to your web browser and records your searches to keyloggers that watch everything you type, nothing is off-limits.
Macs don't come out of the box with much protection against these harmful programs. That's why I've been looking for third-party malware protectors to ensure that my information stays safe. Here's my experience with one popular application, Malwarebytes.
Features of Malwarebytes for Mac
Malwarebytes takes a multi-pronged approach to keep your Mac free of harmful software. Here's a rundown of its features:
- Scanner: This is the app's basic disk scan, which runs through your entire hard disk in search of harmful files. It's quick and effective; my first-time scan made it through my disk in just a couple of minutes. This feature tallies threats as it discovers them, automatically sending them to the Quarantine menu for your review.
- Scheduled Scans: The Scheduled Scans feature allows you to create and automate custom scans. Whether you want a daily, weekly, or monthly scan, this tool lets you define what you want the app to do with the potentially unwanted files it finds, then works away in the background. It's a great way to 'set it and forget it' while still having confidence that your Mac is protected.
- Quarantine: Any item deemed threatening by Malwarebytes is automatically moved to the Quarantine zone. While in this zone, files aren't deleted entirely but any threat they pose to your Mac is neutralized. Of course, no malware scan is perfect, and files you want to keep may end up quarantined by mistake. If this happens, just click the 'restore' button to remove it from Quarantine.
- Reports: This feature keeps a log of any and all tasks that Malwarebytes completes, showing you at a glance when threats are detected. This can be helpful when security issues arise on your Mac.
- Real-Time Protection: Available with the Premium version of the app, Real-Time Protection gives you an edge over security threats as they happen. Designed to counter ransomware and other instant threats you might encounter online, Real-Time Protection prevents malware from accessing your essential data stored on Mac.
Malwarebytes: What makes it different?
Malwarebytes has a lot of competitors in the Malware protection market, but it manages to stand out as a reliable anti-malware tool. Here are some of the qualities that set Malwarebytes apart from the competition.
- Speedy workflow
The app handles its job quickly and efficiently, whipping through a full scan quickly. Plus, it's so lightweight that it can perform scans and real-time operations in the background without disrupting your workflow.
- Background scanning
Malwarebytes' approach makes it easy to have an effective but hands-off security setup on your Mac. You can focus on the task at hand, knowing that the app is ready to counter whatever you run into. Plus, Scheduled Scans let you configure another layer of protection with almost no hassle. Free version of Malwarebytes allows you to have your Mac checked at 9:00 AM every day, while the Premium subscription lets you set the time and date you prefer.
- Complex malware recognition
The app counters security threats at many levels, ensuring that you're not just blocking one type of malware. The app's built-in activity log gives you a full picture of the risks facing your computer, so you can tell at a glance when you're due for a scan.
More than Malware: Going past Malwarebytes' limit
It's easy to assume that performance issues on your Mac come from malware. But while malicious files might account for part of the problem, there are plenty of other reasons you might be falling short of peak performance.
One common culprit is a buildup of junk data, old caches, forgotten applications and more. Antivirus tools like Malwarebytes are great at scrubbing malicious software, but they don't have a solution for getting rid of junk.
Malwarebytes For Mac Review
That's why you might be interested in trying another disk cleanup tool, such as CleanMyMac X. This complete disk manager, available to try for free here, combines Malware Removal feature with a powerful Uninstaller and an impressive suite of other cleanup tools. You can eliminate malware and the rest of the junk that's slowing you down, all in one place.
Is Malwarebytes safe?
Whenever you entrust your Mac's security to an anti-malware program, you should take a minute to consider whether that software is safe to use.
With Malwarebytes, you have nothing to worry about, as it's completely safe for your Mac. It doesn't remove anything important from your Mac and lets you confirm review files before you click Delete.
Although the words are often used interchangeably, viruses and malware are not the same things. Malware is a generic term that covers any malicious software, regardless of how it works or spreads. A virus is a specific type of malicious software that spreads by copying and inserting its code into other files.
Another place to be careful is making sure your malware protection software stays up-to-date. As programs age, they become more vulnerable to harmful software, which is obviously unacceptable for your malware detector.
Free Malwarebytes For Mac Catalina 10.15
To counter this, Malwarebytes can be configured to check for updates and download the latest version automatically. You can even set the app to do this every hour to ensure you're always using the newest and safest form of the software.
Malwarebytes' Free
Malwarebytes review: The verdict
If you're looking for an additional layer of malware protection, you'll find a lot to like about Malwarebytes. The app offers a simple interface, but its real benefit comes from its Scheduled Scans and Real-Time Protection, which both help counter malware in the background while you focus on other tasks.
Malwarebytes does exactly what it says: it helps you combat malware and keep your Mac free of unwanted apps. Though, sometimes even a complete malware scan doesn't reveal any malicious software that may slow down your Mac. In this case, CleanMyMac X may prove useful. With its Smart Scan feature, you can quickly check your machine for malware and optimize its performance. Doing this regularly, you'll achieve more with your machine and make your old Mac run as fast as a new one.
