Default settings question.

[kola1]

Is there a reason why the Scan for Rootkits and a large majority of checkboxes found under Advanced Exploit Protection settings are unchecked by default? Wouldn't I want to be protected against rootkits and exploits while using MBAM? Should I leave the AEP checkboxes on default settings?

Thank you for the dark mode by the way. I just found out about it 5 minutes ago.

[Malwarebytes]

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[Porthos]

14 minutes ago, kola1 said:

Is there a reason why the Scan for Rootkits and a large majority of checkboxes found under Advanced Exploit Protection settings are unchecked by default?

The scan for rootkits is optional because it significantly increases scan times since you are using the paid version with real-time protection you are already protected.

The default exploit settings are a blend of protection and usability of your system. Adding too many check marks can make you programs unusable.

 

[kola1]

1 hour ago, Porthos said:

The scan for rootkits is optional because it significantly increases scan times since you are using the paid version with real-time protection you are already protected.

The default exploit settings are a blend of protection and usability of your system. Adding too many check marks can make you programs unusable.

 

Do you know if there is any reason to adjust the exploit settings or is everyone pretty much expected to leave them on defaults?

[Porthos]

1 minute ago, kola1 said:

Do you know if there is any reason to adjust the exploit settings or is everyone pretty much expected to leave them on defaults?

They are the default for a reason. You are welcome to do as you like but it is not recommended. At least you have a way out of your adjustments.

[kola1]

1 minute ago, Porthos said:

They are the default for a reason. You are welcome to do as you like but it is not recommended. At least you have a way out of your adjustments.

Right on. Sorry last question before I forget. With the rootkit scan unchecked by default, even with a Premium license, will MBAM only detect them at realtime but not on scan?

[Porthos]

57 minutes ago, kola1 said:

Right on. Sorry last question before I forget. With the rootkit scan unchecked by default, even with a Premium license, will MBAM only detect them at realtime but not on scan?

As with the other setting you asked about, It is optional. You should not even get a rootkit with real time protection active. If you wish to enable it it is up to you but it will extend scan time.

[kola1]

On 2/29/2020 at 9:56 PM, Porthos said:

As with the other setting you asked about, It is optional. You should not even get a rootkit with real time protection active. If you wish to enable it it is up to you but it will extend scan time.

Scan with rootkit disabled: 15 seconds

Scan with rootkit enabled: 25 seconds

The difference is so marginal that I think for something as serious as a potential rootkit it's worth leaving the option ON, especially if you are doing on-demand scans with the free version.

Still, even with the premium real time protection, wouldn't you want the on-demand and automated scans check for any existing rootkit infections? As definition files improve over time, MBAM would never check if you were infected with a newer version of a rootkit that it might have missed the first time on access. Right?

[Porthos]

2 minutes ago, kola1 said:

Scan with rootkit disabled: 15 seconds

Scan with rootkit enabled: 25 seconds

Must have a fast machine with a SSD and these are threat scans.

 

2 minutes ago, kola1 said:

The difference is so marginal that I think for something as serious as a potential rootkit it's worth leaving the option ON, especially if you are doing on-demand scans with the free version.

If only using the free version, might as well.

 

4 minutes ago, kola1 said:

Still, even with the premium real time protection, wouldn't you want the on-demand and automated scans check for any existing rootkit infections?

If you have a decent computer sure. But some systems barely can run the OS much less other things.

[kola1]

40 minutes ago, Porthos said:

Must have a fast machine with a SSD and these are threat scans.

 

If only using the free version, might as well.

 

If you have a decent computer sure. But some systems barely can run the OS much less other things.

Still, seeing how the application's primary purpose is security and how serious rootkit infections are, this one critical setting should be set as an opt-out for both free and premium users. Majority of AV customers are non-technical people that would never bother looking at the application's settings and would leave them on defaults for the life of their product. Wouldn't you agree?

There are other lightweight AV alternatives designed for lower specced systems. Whether or not they are as good as MBAM, that's another topic, but I don't believe that it's justified to gimp a serious feature like rootkit detection for the sake of marginal gains in scan times.

[Porthos]

2 minutes ago, kola1 said:

this one critical setting should be set as an opt-out for both free and premium users.

It was at one time. Too many complaints. Many peopole do look at scan settings and enable if they wish.

The user manual in the help (?) explains all the functions.

[exile360]

I think with SSDs and multi-core CPUs becoming more common these days, it is starting to make sense to have rootkit scanning enabled by default, at least in my opinion.  I will suggest this change to the Product team for consideration.

[kola1]

3 minutes ago, Porthos said:

It was at one time. Too many complaints. Many peopole do look at scan settings and enable if they wish.

The user manual in the help (?) explains all the functions.

Ah. That makes sense. User feedback is always important. Thanks for your help.

[exile360]

If it included a mechanism to determine if the system has an SSD as its primary drive then perhaps it should be enabled by default for such systems, similar to how Windows handles automated maintenance and defrag operations differently dependent on whether or not the drive is an SSD.  If the installer for Malwarebytes could do the same then it should be able to enable the option by default for appropriate systems, perhaps presenting the option to enable it for HDD users, explaining the performance hit to scan times and let them choose whether or not to enable it.  Just an idea, I'm no developer so I don't even know if it would be possible or how complex it would be.