New User to MBs 3.7.1 Questions

[F18Hornet]

 I recently updated to Malwarebytes 3.7.1.2839 from old version 2.2.1.1043 and want to understand new version better with questions below.  Am using Windows7-64bit with Service Pack 1.

Question1.  If I look at the Settings>About tab under Version Information is  ‘Update package version’ about malware definitions/databases?  I notice throughout the day this Update package version number changes.    

Is ‘Malware version’ the program version number and is ‘Component package version’ referring to versions of the components within the program?     

Under Settings>Application tab does the ‘Install Application Updates’ button update all 3 version types or just ‘Malware version’ program and ‘Component package version’?    What is this button updating?

At the Dashboard under System is Updates: Current with Current being clickable…does clicking this manually update ‘Update package version’/malware definitions/database?

Question2.  I do not want Malwarebytes to automatically update the actual program itself other than manually at my discretion.  My settings at Settings>Application tab for Application Updates has ‘Automatically download and install application component updates’ enabled and ‘Notify me when full version updates are available’ disabled.  Are these the correct setting choices to prevent actual program itself automatically updating?  If not how do I achieve this?

Question3.  Under Settings>Protection tab Startup Options I have disabled the Self protection module as at forums I found a post indicating this will stop the program nagging user with a new Program version notification.  Is this correct?  Also in previous version of Malwarebytes 2.2.1.1043 having this feature enabled would produce hundreds of Windows7 Event Viewer entries.

Question4.  In past with Malwarebytes older versions I had to use a specific tool to uninstall Malwarebytes program.  For example I would use mbam-clean-2.1.1.1001.exe   Is there a specific tool used to uninstall still being used that is necessary to uninstall current versions of Malwarebytes?  Noticed that under Start Menu>Malwarebytes there is a Uninstall Malwarebytes choice…is this how Malwarebytes would be uninstalled correctly?  From experience I have learned that most antivirus/spyware programs need a specific tool to uninstall to make sure everything is cleaned out.  Is it a case of I download the Malwarebytes Support Tool from the programs Settings>About tab and run it to clean out Malwarebytes to do a thorough uninstall?

I know I have asked lots of questions so if you wish you can copy my questions and place answer after each question in your response.  Maybe do that in italics or capital letters. Thankyou…Gary

 

 

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[exile360]

Greetings,

For question 1, yes, your description of the 3 version numbers is correct.  The Install Application Updates button does indeed download program updates, both for full version releases as well as component package updates and the link on the Dashboard just updates the signatures/databases, not the program or its components.

For question 2 in the settings, you'll want to disable the option to automatically download and install application updates if you don't want the program to try to download/install any component updates or new program versions automatically, which is what it sounds like you want, so just disable those 2 settings and leave everything else as it is and the program will just download new signatures and when you wish, you may check for/download new program versions and component updates via the Install Application Updates button or you may download the latest version manually from the Malwarebytes website.

For question 3, no this is not accurate.  There was an issue where, after having already downloaded a new program version, the program was displaying the expected notifications to install the new version, but the user wanted to remain on their current version so to do this, they needed to delete the new version's installer from Malwarebytes' data folder, however since that folder is protected by the self-protection driver, they needed to disable self-protection before they would be able to do so.  As long as you have the program configured not to download new versions as covered in question 2 you shouldn't need to touch the self-protection setting.  As for the issue with Event Viewer entries, this was resolved a long time ago and does not apply to the current version of Malwarebytes.

For question 4, the program does include its own uninstaller as most programs do, however Malwarebytes keeps the most up to date cleanup tool to perform a more thorough removal of all data/settings etc. in the latest version of the Malwarebytes Support Tool which you mentioned so if you want to perform a clean removal of Malwarebytes, that is the tool to use.

If there's anything else we might assist you with please don't hesitate to let us know.

Thanks

[F18Hornet]

Thankyou exile360 that was really helpful.  Just a couple more questions as below.

If I select the   Install Application Updates   button will I be given version information about what is going to be updated (program itself, program components and definitions) beforehand, and can I change my mind to not update after selecting this button?  Is it possible to cancel?

 

Also if I select this button and then cancel the update as I have changed my mind will I keep getting nagging notifications to install the offered updates?

 

I really like this latest version of MBs... is much more streamlined than old version I had before.  F18Hornet

[Porthos]

1 hour ago, F18Hornet said:

If I select the   Insta ll Application Updates   button will I be given version information about what is going to be updated (program itself, program components and definitions) beforehand, and can I change my mind to not update after selecting this button?  Is it possible to cancel?

3

The easy answer is NO, Once you click install updates the only way to go back is uninstalling and reinstalling the previous version.

Edited March 1, 2019 by Porthos

[F18Hornet]

Am wanting to know if I run the Repair feature of the Malwarebytes Support Tool will all my setting configurations remain intact or will they return to default settings like when the program is just freshly installed?     Thankyou,   F18Hornet.

[Porthos]

29 minutes ago, F18Hornet said:

Am wanting to know if I run the Repair feature of the Malwarebytes Support Tool will all my setting configurations remain intact or will they return to default settings like when the program is just freshly installed?     Thankyou,   F18Hornet.

The REPAIR function will The CLEAN will not hence the meaning of clean.

Quote

** Download Malwarebytes Support Tool Here **

This release includes the following new functionality:

• Refreshed user interface to closely resemble other Malwarebytes products.
• Introduction of four new menus: Repair, Existing Tickets, Advanced and About.
• Added an automated repair process to self-serve options.
• Added functionality to automatically backup Malwarebytes for Windows configuration data, exclusions and quarantine data when performing a repair.
• Incorrect output fixed in mbst-check-results.txt.
• Fixes to clean reinstallation functionality not correctly cleaning the system.

2

2

 

Edited March 1, 2019 by Porthos

[F18Hornet]

Thankyou exile360 and Porthos.

22 hours ago, F18Hornet said:

Am wanting to know if I run the Repair feature of the Malwarebytes Support Tool will all my setting configurations remain intact or will they return to default settings like when the program is just freshly installed?     Thankyou,   F18Hornet.

Derek at support got back to me and explained how Repair with Malwarebytes support tool behaves in relation to my question above.  Same with the Install Application Updates button within the program itself.  His answer was: 

Derek (Malwarebytes Support)

Mar 1, 12:06 PST

Hi Gary,

The Install Application Updates button does not offer a confirmation but will update the components and definitions. If there is a major upgrade then it will offer you a pop-up asking if you'd like to upgrade as this is more intrusive.

If you use the repair button it backs up all your settings, then uninstalls Malwarebytes and reinstalls Malwarebytes then restoring your settings.

Kind regards,

Derek | Technical Support Specialist | support.malwarebytes.com