Do I have to leave MBAM running in order for it to be safe?

[Eric44]

If I untick "Start with Windows" or click "Quit Malwarebytes" using the taskbar menu, will it leave the program vulnerable as any self protection may also have been quit? or do I have to leave MBAM running in order for it to be safe?

I'm using the free version of MBAM, on a Windows 10 machine.

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[lauriys]

the free version doesn't have real-time protection in the first place, but yes, it needs to be running to work properly

[Maurice Naggar]

Hi @Eric44    

The "trial period" of the Malwarebytes for Windows is 14 days from first install.

After that, it is in free mode only  ( unless you get and activate a Premium license).

In free mode, you can do scans manually and if it finds some threat, it can remove.  But it will not have real-time protections.

By doing a "Quit Malwarebytes" it is just Closing / exiting the program.

[Eric44]

Thank you for your fast replies.

Apologies for the confusion, I am referring to any part of MBAM that is built in to protect itself from attack etc. Rather than the real-time protection of the PC.

Does MBAM need to be running for any self-protection element to work?

Does MBAM even need the self-protection if the program is exited?

Is the MBAM program installation safe if I quit MBAM and leave the PC running?

[Maurice Naggar]

Self-protection is an internal part of the Premium program.  I think you just have the Free program.  So a lot of this is unnecessarily confusing.

If you did have the Premium program, you would want it to be on all the time.

If you have the free program, these factors do not apply.  In free use, you just use the program to update definitions;  to Scan, and potentially remove threats.

Then you close the program.

There are no real-time protections with the Free program.

[Eric44]

2 minutes ago, Maurice Naggar said:

Self-protection is an internal part of the Premium program.  I think you just have the Free program. 

Thank you, I do just have the free program.

I read somewhere that there is a settings switch in the premium program to change the self-protection on / off.

I was unsure if it is the self-protection that is premuim only, or just the ability to alter the default on / off. (ie. it could be that it is switched on by default in the free version, with just no 'off' switch available)

[AdvancedSetup]

Self-Protection is not available at all on the Free version

https://www.malwarebytes.com/premium/

 

Edited July 10, 2020 by AdvancedSetup
updated information

[Eric44]

On 7/10/2020 at 8:22 PM, AdvancedSetup said:

Self-Protection is not available at all on the Free version

Thank you for your fast answer and the clarification.