Does MBAM Premium protect all browsers?

[prickly-cacti]

I've been using ESET for a good while now. Now trying out MBAM Premium in combination with Windows 10 64 bit Defender Security. I mostly use Chrome browser but also Opera, Firefox 64 bit, and Edge at times. By default, ESET protects/monitors traffic of any bowser without needing to install/use browser extensions. My understanding is browser extensions are a security risk themselves. Will MBAM Premium protect the browsers I use without needing to install troublesome extensions?

[Malwarebytes]

***This is an automated reply***

Hi,

Thanks for posting in the Malwarebytes 3 Help forum.

 

If you are having technical issues with our Windows product, please do the following: 

Spoiler

If you haven’t already done so, please run the Malwarebytes Support Tool and then attach the logs in your next reply:

NOTE: The tools and the information obtained is safe and not harmful to your privacy or your computer, please allow the programs to run if blocked by your system.

1. Download Malwarebytes Support Tool
2. Once the file is downloaded, open your Downloads folder/location of the downloaded file
3. Double-click mb-support-X.X.X.XXXX.exe to run the program
   • You may be prompted by User Account Control (UAC) to allow changes to be made to your computer. Click Yes to consent.
4. Place a checkmark next to Accept License Agreement and click Next
5. You will be presented with a page stating, "Get Started!"
6. Click the Advanced tab on the left column
   
7. Click the Gather Logs button
   
8. A progress bar will appear and the program will proceed with getting logs from your computer
   
9. Upon completion, click a file named mbst-grab-results.zip will be saved to your Desktop. Click OK
10. Please attach the file in your next reply. Before submitting your reply, be sure to enable "Notify me of replies" like so:
       

Click "Reveal Hidden Contents" below for details on how to attach a file:
 

Spoiler

To save attachments, please click the link as shown below. You can click and drag the files to this bar or you can click the choose files, then browse to where your files are located, select them and click the Open button.

 

One of our experts will be able to assist you shortly.

 

If you are having licensing issues, please do the following: 

Spoiler

For any of these issues:

• Renewals
• Refunds (including double billing)
• Cancellations
• Update Billing Info
• Multiple Transactions
• Consumer Purchases
• Transaction Receipt

Please contact our support team at https://support.malwarebytes.com/community/consumer/pages/contact-us to get help

If you need help looking up your license details, please head here: https://support.malwarebytes.com/docs/DOC-1264 

 

Thanks in advance for your patience.

-The Malwarebytes Forum Team

 

[Maurice Naggar]

Hi.

Malwarebytes 3 Premium's   Exploit protection automatically has built-in features to help protect Opera, Firefox, Edge,  Palemoon, Seamonkey,Waterfox, some other browsers.

It just does not do the exploit coverage for Chrome since Google made it prohibited matter to do that.

 

Browser extensions are not dangerous in general, as long as you are checking them out before gettng and instaling;  followed by .maintenence.

The Malwarebytes Firefox beta  & Malwarebytes Chrome beta extensions are 2 helpful, recommended add-ons.

https://forums.malwarebytes.com/forum/243-malwarebytes-for-chrome/

 

Edited May 4, 2019 by Maurice Naggar

[exile360]

In addition to the details that Maurice provided above, the Web Protection component in Malwarebytes Premium that blocks known malicious websites and servers is completely browser agnostic as it hooks directly into the network stack using WFP so it not only protects every browser, but every process as well as the entire system by preventing access to or from any website, server or IP block which is contained in the Web Protection block list.  Additionally, the Exploit Protection component protects most popular browsers including Internet Explorer, Edge, Chrome, Maxthon, Opera, Seamonkey, TOR, and many others, though it protects some in different ways depending on whether or not it is allowed to inject its DLL into the browser's process (a recent change in Chrome prohibits this so alternate methods of shielding that browser were developed and deployed by the Malwarebytes Developers).

Beyond that, I'll echo the sentiments of Maurice above regarding browser extensions as many of them are quite useful, especially for security.  In fact, the vast majority of web based attacks and threats don't even use extensions or plugins any more and instead employ built-in browser functions including tech support scams as well as many exploits that target a browser's code directly, though many can be mitigated, not only through the use of solid malware and exploit protection (such as the multiple layers of protection provided by Malwarebytes Premium) as well as safe surfing habits, but also through the use of reputable browser extensions such as Adblock Plus, uBlock Origin, Ghostery, NoScript, Easy WebRTC Block, Privacy Badger, Disconnect, and of course the Malwarebytes browser extension beta Maurice mentioned above which is available for Chrome and other Chromium based browsers (such as SRWare Iron and Vivaldi) as well as Firefox.

Much more problematic are legacy applications and extensions such as Flash Player and especially Java (more info about them in this topic), and even Adobe Reader installs a browser plugin which some would argue isn't even necessary since most modern browsers and office applications are capable of opening PDFs for viewing without the need for a dedicated app or browser extension as such plugins do indeed increase the attack surface for exploits and scripting malware (as do office applications themselves actually; one of the reasons Malwarebytes protects many of them out of the box as well via its Exploit Protection component).

Also keep in mind that the Exploit Protection in Malwarebytes also shields all extensions/plugins that run within your browsers, so things like Flash and Java exploits are far less likely to execute successfully when Malwarebytes Premium is active, the same as with browser exploits that target your web browser directly.