Multi mbams showing, slow computer

[Benequest]

A little while ago tonight, my desktop slowed to crawl. Applications unresponsive, opening one taking two minutes,etc. when I finally got Task Manager open (W7 64bit), I saw this. I was not running a scan. It took the computer about 7 minutes just to reboot, then it was fine.

What does this signify? Thanks.

[Malwarebytes]

***This is an automated reply***

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• Farbar Recovery Scan Tool (FRST)
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[exile360]

I haven't seen this occur before but my only guess would be that for whatever reason the UI loaded multiple instances.  The main UI's process is mbam.exe, it isn't used for scans, scheduled or otherwise; MBAMService.exe is what is used for scans, though that is the process showing the largest amount of CPU usage in the image you posted (25%), so perhaps it was running a scheduled scan or maybe something went wrong during an update causing it to spawn those extra copies of mbam.exe and for MBAMService.exe to use the CPU like that, I'm honestly not sure.

Hopefully it won't happen again, but if it does then please do the following so that we can take a look at your installation to attempt to diagnose what's going on with it:

1. Download and run the Malwarebytes Support Tool
2. Accept the EULA and click Advanced Options on the main page (not Get Started)
3. Click the Gather Logs button, and once it completes, attach the zip file it creates on your desktop to your next reply
   

[exile360]

By the way, I notice you have the User Name for those processes blacked out, were all of the mbam.exe processes running under the same user name?  I ask because if multiple users are logged in, each with their own instance of the UI running then this could happen.  That still doesn't account for the CPU usage in MBAMService.exe, but if a scheduled scan or manual scan was running under one of those accounts then that would explain it.

edit: By the way, I notice that you have Java installed on your system.  Unless you absolutely require it for some specific purpose, I would highly recommend removing it.  For some additional info as to why, you may refer to this article and there are plenty of other sources around the web which say pretty much the same thing, that if you don't need it, remove it to be safe.

If you do decide to remove Java, you may do so more easily and comprehensively via the Java Uninstall Tool from Oracle, the company that produces Java.  It will remove not only the most recent version installed, but any older versions which might remain on the system as well.

Edited April 23, 2018 by exile360

[Benequest]

Thank you very much. I was running Task Manager from the user account I blacked out, but had to show "processes from all users" to see what was in the attached screen shot. The user account was the only one running. I'll keep your advice handy and use the support tool to let you know if I see this again.

I had uninstalled Java some years ago and then came across some site(s) that required it , so I reinstalled but have kept it disabled in my browser. I'll follow your advice and see how it works out this time; by now whatever site I needed it for, if it's important, has probably moved on.

 

[exile360]

Excellent, thanks for letting me know.  If this issue returns please let us know and we'll try to diagnose what's causing it, but hopefully it was just a one-time "hiccup" in the software.