How about a ver. 3.x without the bloatware?

[RamBurner]

It would be great to have a version 3.x without all the extra things many of us don't want, such as the anti-virus, exploit, ransomware protection.

It's sad to see such a great product going the way that has killed every other software that has added in so much bloatware.

I also see that us using the 2.x version will be forced to use the 3.x version at some point. I tried the 3.x version and I said no way do I want all this extra bloatware.

When my license expires in August 2017 If an option is not given to not install all the unwanted extras, I don't see a reason to continue with the paid version.

I know there are boxes to uncheck to not have them running, but then it constantly tells you that they are turned off. No thank you.

Every computer that comes in for repair I have recommended to them to purchase Malwarebytes. That will stop if the user is not given a choice.

I understand that you are only trying to help the consumers from the bad things. Forcing unwanted software is not the way to do it and keep customers returning.

[Aura]

Hi RamBurner

These aren't "bloated" features, but actual built-in protection modules. I could say the same about any Antivirus product that uses Anti-Exploit and Anti-Ransomware technology according to your definition. Also, please note that there isn't an "Anti-Virus" component in Malwarebytes, but a Malware Protection one.

Also, it seems that your description of bloatware is a bit off:

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The term "bloatware" is also used to describe unwanted preinstalled software or bundled programs.^[1]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_bloat

Malwarebytes 3.0 isn't bundled with any other program, nor does it push any other programs on the system. 

[RamBurner]

I would say that adding in the anti-exploit, anti-ransomware is adding unwanted preinstalled software aka bloatware.

Also this Malwarebytes blog post stating you don't need your anti-virus anymore and that it is an anti-virus replacement.

https://blog.malwarebytes.com/malwarebytes-news/2016/12/announcing-malwarebytes-3-0-a-next-generation-antivirus-replacement/

I like Malwarebytes, but not in the direction it is headed.

[Aura]

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I would say that adding in the anti-exploit, anti-ransomware is adding unwanted preinstalled software aka bloatware.

It is not because these are built-in features, and not separate programs. The term "bloatware" is used to describe a stand-alone program hence the "ware" in the name (for software).

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Also this Malwarebytes blog post stating you don't need your anti-virus anymore and that it is an anti-virus replacement.

https://blog.malwarebytes.com/malwarebytes-news/2016/12/announcing-malwarebytes-3-0-a-next-generation-antivirus-replacement/

Some of us aren't fan of this either, hence why we still recommend the users to use Malwarebytes 3.0 alongside a good Antivirus solution.

[terminix]

I'm sorry, but it is bloatware by your exact definition. It isn't 'bundled' with Malwarebytes 3, but it is by new and something never done w/ Malwarebytes. Oh, we get " 20% less than our previous products combined " what a deal.  Like the OP said, I'm no longer recommending it to my clients either - mainly the increase in price point, what is it like twice as much now? I don't know why he's waiting for a change - it won't happen and it has to be 100% 'suit' driven.  A smart programmer knows these strategies always fail - it's not game DLC, it's original price.

Just don't try to sell a souped up product when all I want is the original one, and then tell me I'm 'wrong' for being upset and warning you guys this will not help things w/ sales (not that I posted this, but I agree 100% w/ OP)

[Aura]

Again, I could use the same argument:

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I could say the same about any Antivirus product that uses Anti-Exploit and Anti-Ransomware technology according to your definition.

Basically, a bloatware is a software that is as a WHOLE considered useless, takes resources for no reasons and that you don't want on your system. There IS a difference between bloatware and bloated. Maybe this is what you are trying to say? That Malwarebytes 3.0 is bloated?

Anyway to get back to the "bloatware" part, Malwarebytes 3.0 adds additional protection and detection engines, which means, they are built-in features that goes along with what the program does (protect you from threats, and detect them if you get infected). So in other words, it still does the same thing as it did back in version 2.x, but with more capabilities. How does that makes it a bloatware? It doesn't, simple as that. I know what bloatware are, I deal with them daily and I assist users on various forums to get rid of these and I can tell you that Malwarebytes 3.0 is neither a bloatware, nor does it fits in that category. 

[PaulAllen]

On 1/26/2017 at 1:15 PM, RamBurner said:

I know there are boxes to uncheck to not have them running, but then it constantly tells you that they are turned off. No thank you.

Isn't there an option to turn notifications off?

[Rand]

22 hours ago, PaulAllen said:

Isn't there an option to turn notifications off?

Nope. That's why I quit using Malwarebytes personally, if you adjust almost any setting you get constant nags to turn it back on.
In practice it's essentially use all defaults, or get harassed nonstop. Which pretty much makes having the ability to alter anything useless as I doubt anyone wants endless prompts to change their settings.

2.x was already annoying in that way, I'd expected/hoped it would improve with version 3 but it went in the opposite direction.

Edited January 28, 2017 by Rand

[RamBurner]

I will rephrase then, 3.x is bloated now with unwanted things.

[Aura]

22 minutes ago, RamBurner said:

I will rephrase then, 3.x is bloated now with unwanted things.

How are they "unwanted"? These additional modules are directly involved in the protection of your system. If you only want Malwarebytes to scan and remove malware, you are free to use the Free version of the program. The Premium one is for those who wants additional protection on their system and enhance their current security setup.

[DaveP]

Aura, I created an account simply to respond to you and express my displeasure at the arrogance of the admin on the Malwarebytes team. It is readily apparent none of you actually listen to your customers. This is the third thread I've read now where someone from your team has condescended to legitimate concerns from customers. We don't care what you say or think, we are telling you that we have paid for YOUR software for features OTHER than the website protection. WE DON'T WANT IT. I don't care what your reasons are for defending it, we are long term customers who have purchased your product and you changed it on us. Now you are telling us our opinion is wrong. That is terrible business.

As a PC tech I've been recommending Malwarebytes to my clients for years, which has probably resulted in hundreds, if not thousands, of subscriptions for you. I suspect the situation is much similar with the above posters. So why are you arguing with them?

If a certain set of idiot users needs website protection then great, offer it to THEM. But it's not why I ever bought or recommended the software. I only want the live exploit and malware protection. That's it! Now with all these pop-ups and warnings I've had to remove Malwarebytes from many family members PCs because they are simply too scared to use their PCs. I'd say your 'warnings' have had the opposite desired effect on their PC safety.

We are experienced users talking, probably with far more experience fixing PCs than you have. Please don't tell us what we want. I can tell you with certainty if the tone of the developers does not change I will be sending all my potential business elsewhere.

[Aura]

Dave, I'll address the rest of your concerns later, but for now I just have to say this: I do not work for Malwarebytes, nor do my comments and opinions represent the view of the company. I am not a Malwarebytes employee, nor am I working for them in exchange of any financial gain. I'm simply a volunteer on their forums and everything I post is my own.

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We are experienced users talking, probably with far more experience fixing PCs than you have.

Also, see my signature:

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Technical Support, Tier 2

I'm also a technical support This is my job, so I know what I'm talking about as well I think.

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I only want the live exploit and malware protection. 

So why are you complaining about Malwarebytes 3.0? This is exactly what it offers! Anti-Exploit, Anti-Malware and Anti-Ransomware (which is malware). Also, the website blocking module is used to block websites hosting exploits (again, live exploit protection )

Edited January 31, 2017 by Aura

[MikeRepairsComputers]

I think this question was officially answered here

 

Edited February 7, 2017 by MikeRepairsComputers

[RamBurner]

Thanks  MikeRepairsComputer. I will wait until they roll that out before I update to 3.x

[exile360]

Hey guys.  I would like to add one comment regarding these new layers of protection which have been added to clarify why we've done so.  Over the past few years exploits have become pretty much the number one means of malware infiltrating systems.  In the past we offered our exploit protection as a completely separate product, thus requiring our customers to purchase both our Anti-Malware and Anti-Exploit in order to have all of the protection we offer.  We took a look a this and decided it would be better both from a performance perspective (one app/service etc. rather than two) as well as from a cost perspective for our customers, not to mention it would enable us to offer a far superior product capable of protecting our customers from a lot more threats.  Likewise, when our Anti-Ransomware technology was developed, which we felt was important due to the recent overwhelming increase in ransomware threats, we wanted to integrate this new protection into our primary product rather than forcing customers to have to run yet another separate application in order to have a robust solution capable of stopping every threat that we could.  It's the same as when we started to include malicious website blocking back in the MBAM 1.x days and when we integrated our new rootkit scanning capabilities and Malwarebytes Chameleon self-protection technologies into MBAM 1.x/2.x.

I understand that some customers/users view some of these modules as unnecessary, however based on what our Research team has observed and the frequency at which we've seen users showing up infected by these types of threats we felt it would be best to offer a solution capable of protecting our customers from these new attack vectors which have become so common rather than expecting them to pay for yet another separate product to run in realtime alongside their Anti-Malware protection because really, it's all malware, just different types of malware which use different attack vectors.  These are just more specialized modules which target these specific classifications of threats/attacks so they all fit within the classification of malware prevention.

This is not to say that you do not have the right to disable one or more protection components/features if you so choose.  Of course you do, it's your system.  However the reason we warn you about it is the same reason your antivirus or internet security suite warns you whenever one or more if its protection components has been disabled: because you aren't as safe as you could be and we don't really have a way currently to reliably determine if you turned it off deliberately, there was a problem causing it to fail, or if it was disabled by a malicious hacker or an infection so our current default policy is to inform you/warn you no matter what.  That said, yes, an option to disable this type of notification is certainly planned for the future for scenarios where the user has deliberately disabled a component/changed a setting and does not wish to be notified about it.

I hope this helps to clarify some of the issues.

Edited February 10, 2017 by exile360

[replicant]

Acting as a counterbalance here, I'm a Premium subscriber and am happy that MB added more features in 3.x.  I too have recommended MBAM to my clients, who typically are not power users, so the more protection, the better.  Thanks for improving an already great product.  Also, the fact that I no longer have to pitch/install a separate AV is terrific.  That makes things less cumbersome for me, and more cost-effective for the small businesses that I work with (which is music to an SMB owner who thinks the "free" is the right price for software).

That said, the OP makes a valid point; adding new features should also come with an easy way to disable/enable them.  Am happy that MB is taking care of that as well.

[Porthos]

1 hour ago, replicant said:

That makes things less cumbersome for me, and more cost-effective for the small businesses that I work with (which is music to an SMB owner who thinks the "free" is the right price for software).

3.0 is for home use only. ANY business use needs the business version per the EULA.

[replicant]

Porthos, thanks for that.  I should've been more explicit in my post.  You are right about SMB's and the business version.

[nord1]

 

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EXILE360 "yes, an option to disable this type of notification is certainly planned for the future for scenarios where the user has deliberately disabled a component/changed a setting and does not wish to be notified about it. I hope this helps to clarify some of the issues."

--------------------

Thanks for the partial clarification. That said, this post of yours was done in February. It is now April and version 2 goes bye bye in June (they say). Would like to see this notification make it into version 3.xxx before then. I am a lifetime member and have recommended MalwareBytesPro to around a hundred people over time. But I shall move on to HitManPro or similar if this is not resolved by the EOL of version 2. Thanks for listening

 

Edited April 13, 2017 by nord1
typo

[gonzo]

@nord1,

 

Soon...very soon.  I can't (and won't) say when, but soon.

Edited April 13, 2017 by gonzo

[lock]

On ‎4‎/‎13‎/‎2017 at 0:42 AM, gonzo said:

I can't (and won't) say when, but soon

If you "can't", of course you "won't".....

 

[exile360]

This functionality has now been implemented in version 3.1 of Malwarebytes which is currently in beta.  Details and download available here.

[homerjaysimpson]

please do remove the bloat. i can't recommend this product to employees anymore.

[exile360]

3 hours ago, homerjaysimpson said:

please do remove the bloat. i can't recommend this product to employees anymore.

Greetings,

Can you please be more specific about what you mean by "bloat"?  If you are referring to the additional layers of protection we've added such as anti-ransomware and anti-exploit, then I'm sorry, but those aren't going anywhere.  Attempting to prevent malware by traditional signatures and heuristics simply isn't effective enough on its own any more so we've had to extend Malwarebytes' capabilities to use new behavior based means of threat defense, with these two components in particular focused on the most common types and tactics being used by the bad guys today (most malware attacks start with an exploit and the vast majority of malware threats are ransomware at the moment).  It's no different than when we added malicious website blocking back in Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 1.x.  They're just additional means of thwarting malware and keeping our customers safe online.

If you mean something else, such as certain aspects of the UI or something then please explain in greater detail so that we can understand what it is that you're requesting.

Thanks

[fredvries]

I see that some people do not entirely understand the issue of 'bloatware'.

Bloatware is functionality that is simply added to make software more 'interesting'. Malwarebytes uses a modular approach, which means that ever evolving malware can lead to a new module to protect users. Some years ago ransomware didn't exist and to protect a user new ways of behavioural detection needed to be implemented. That meant a new module.

 

Microsoft does the same only they call it key security enhancements such as kernel Address Space Layout Randomization (kASLR), kernel Data Execution Prevention (DEP), and virtualization-based security (VBS) capabilities delivered with Device Guard all contribute to breaking the exploit techniques observed in the wild.

Edited June 16, 2017 by fredvries