Question about Real-Time Protection

[Skylamar]

Hi. I just installed Malwarebytes version 3.1.1. I had been using version 1.

 I don't want Malwarebytes running in the background, so I turned off Real-Time Protection. I just want to run the application manually. But I have few questions:

By turning Real-Time Protection off, does that prevent Malwarebytes from running any background processes when the app itself is not running? 

I also noticed the menubar item for Malwarebytes can be displayed even when the app is not running. Does that mean Malwarebytes is running some processes in the background when the app is not running?

I don't want anything running in the background when the app is not running.

Thanks!

Edited November 7, 2017 by Skylamar

[alvarnell]

You can view / save the instruction manual from https://www.malwarebytes.com/pdf/guides/Malwarebytes-For-Mac-User-Guide.pdf. 

I'm a bit surprised that you don't want any background processes to run. With my setup I can't even tell when Real-Time Protection is active and that only happens when you receive a new file. The rest of the time it uses zero CPU, at least it's not measurable.

There is a Malware Agent process that also runs. I'm sure it's used to display the Malwarebytes menubar Icon and react to whatever you choose from the menu, but there could be other functions. Again, it's CPU use is immeasurable to me. You would have to disable the Global Launch Agent in order to prevent it from running and I'm not certain that the Malwarebytes app would run properly if you did that.

[treed]

There will always be some processes running in the background at this point, although if real-time protection is turned off, they're doing very little except during a manual scan. About the only thing they're doing of any significance with RTP turned off is checking for updates, both for the rules and for the software itself. Both of these are important tasks.

Even if you wanted to have them only happen when the application is launched, that actually caused a fair number of customer support headaches, especially if the update server was offline, which would delay the user's ability to use the app when desired.

[seankeith90]

Hi, im also having similar issues on this. Would like to disabel Malwareagent from running the background also. Im an the Trial Version. Would the Free Version helps in this?

[alvarnell]

The free version is identical, so it's not going to make any difference. Exactly what issues are you seeing? The background process (Malwarebytes Agent) is showing 0.02 CPU use right now and less than 24 seconds over the last day and a half with my setup.

[seankeith90]

3 minutes ago, alvarnell said:

The free version is identical, so it's not going to make any difference. Exactly what issues are you seeing? The background process (Malwarebytes Agent) is showing 0.02 CPU use right now and less than 24 seconds over the last day and a half with my setup.

No issue. I just dont like too many background app running, due to privacy concern. Even when i switched off real time protection, Malwarebytes 'Agent' is stil running. 

Are there any settings to disable this feature? Back to the good old days when Malwarebytes only open when i require and fully close when I exited.

 

Thanks

[alvarnell]

As treed said above, MBAM needs to check for definition updates and application updates periodically. It cannot fully protect you without doing so. That's why there is no way to disable these functions without disconnecting completely from the internet. Your privacy concerns are unfounded with regard to MBAM. There are hundreds of other background processes going on that might be of greater concern in this regard, but isn't that why you are using anti-malware software?

[seankeith90]

43 minutes ago, alvarnell said:

As treed said above, MBAM needs to check for definition updates and application updates periodically. It cannot fully protect you without doing so. That's why there is no way to disable these functions without disconnecting completely from the internet. Your privacy concerns are unfounded with regard to MBAM. There are hundreds of other background processes going on that might be of greater concern in this regard, but isn't that why you are using anti-malware software?

Ok thanks. Simple 'no' would suffice. Are u having a bad day at the office bro? 

[treed]

If privacy is your main concern, note that an app that doesn't have components running in the background is no more trustworthy than an app that does. I've seen Mac App Store apps that will exfiltrate some fairly sensitive data. For example, there's a junk app in the App Store that's affiliated with a prominent security company that will package up your entire browsing history - from Safari, Chrome and Firefox, plus the App Store itself - and send it off to that security company, without your consent or awareness. No background components involved.

When it comes to Malwarebytes, we have a very similar philosophy to Apple. We don't collect data that we don't need to help us understand how to protect you better, we anonymize that data, and we don't sell or otherwise share your data with anybody. Even if you're using the software for free, we view you as our customer, not a product.