Expert rating
Professional
- Provides all basic types of security
- Easy to use
- Reasonably priced
Cons
- The Mac version lacks some features compared to its Windows counterpart
- Malwarebytes excludes any mention or suggestion of browser extensions
Our verdict
MalwareBytes Premium is of course well-designed and seemingly effective in detecting and eliminating malware and other security threats. But compared to the Mac version of the Mac Flavor, it looks like a ranch, costing the same amount for both. While MalwareBytes Premium for Mac is rarely a bad product, you’ll get more push for money elsewhere.
Price when reviewing
Malwarebytes Premium for Mac: 39.99
Today’s Best Price: Malwarebytes Premium for Macs
Providing security protection for Windows, macOS, Chrome OS, iOS, and Android, Malwarebytes comes in both free and premium versions for personal use. The premium version sounds promising with a host of features that are increasingly needed to protect you against today’s threats – real-time and on-demand scanning for viruses, malware and spyware; Protection against malicious website links and phishing attempts; And protection against ransomware and zero-day exploitation.
But wait, Windows version describes it. Mac version, not too much. MalwareBytes Premium version 4.15 for Mac includes the ability to detect malicious apps, or PUPs (potentially unwanted programs), in addition to Basis viruses and malware scanning. But it does not come with direct protection against malicious links and phishing attempts. Or it does not provide protection against ransomware and zero-day exploitation.
The premium version costs $ 3.33 / £ 2.50 monthly bill or $ 39.99 / £ 29.99 annual bill for one device, and $ 6.67 / £ 5.83 monthly bill or $ 79.99 / £ 69.99 annual bill for five devices. You can try before you buy with a free 14-day trial. Once the trial is over, MalwareBytes Premium returns to a free version, which includes only basic virus scanning.
Installation and setup
Installing Malwarebytes Premium on a Mac is quick and easy. After installation, the program retains itself in memory, accessible via a menu bar icon. Clicking on the icon displays a menu with options to start the scan, temporarily turn off malware protection and malicious app blocker, update the program, view and tweak its settings, and open the Management Console.
Malwarebite
The Mac version of MalwareBytes Premium generally protects against malware as well as adware and PUP. Real-time security monitors your system for ongoing security threats, automatically blocks and isolates anything that could infect your computer.
From the Management Console, you are able to trigger a manual scan and set up a scheduled scan to run on a repeat basis. An identification history displays all the isolated items for your review so that you can remove blocked malware as well as recover any legitimate items that have been flagged incorrectly.
Malwarebite
To avoid false positives, a permission list lets you add any legitimate files or programs that are incorrectly flagged as malware. A security advisor recommends changing certain settings to tighten your security. An activity log keeps track of all actions, including scanning, quarantined items, and software updates.
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How good is MalwareByte Premium to get rid of malware?
As of early 2021, the product has received top marks from AV-Tests for safety and performance and usability on a regular and consistent basis. In a real-world test conducted by AV Comparative in February and March 2022, the software scored 100% for blocking malware, although it contained a large number of false positives.
To further enhance the protection against online threats, Malwarebytes Premium offers a free browser extension called Malwarebytes Browser Guard. This extension can detect and block adware and trackers, malware, online scams, PUPs, suspicious domains and websites and even credit card scammers. The extension is compatible with all major browsers, both Windows and MacOS. The Windows version of Malwarebytes Premium warns you if the extension is missing and helps you install it. The Mac version does not mention any extensions, so you may not even know it exists until you check out the website.
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I have certainly found similar flaws in Windows vs. Mac with other products. Vendors focus more of their time and energy on the Windows version of their software because it is the main money maker. With much smaller market share, the Mac version often gets less love and less features.
Read our roundup of the best antivirus software for Mac for more advice on which antivirus software to use.