Malwarebytes Exploit Protection conflict with Google Chrome

[msherwood]

We're currently experiencing issues with Malwarebytes Exploit Protection and Chrome in Windows 11 where you'll see Chrome crash. We suspect this is happening due to a Windows Update (KB5027231) that was released on June 13, 2023.

We're actively troubleshooting this and we'll be back with more info as soon as possible.

As a temporary workaround, please do this:

• Malwarebytes 4: https://support.malwarebytes.com/hc/en-us/articles/17571529651475 
• Nebula / OneView: https://service.malwarebytes.com/hc/en-us/articles/17569022886803 

[msherwood]

Want to share an update on where we're at with this issue and what you can do right now to resolve the issue.

Malwarebytes 4

We've got a fix ready via a beta build as well as we're working on something a bit more automated and we'll share that tomorrow.

To get the beta build, please do this:

• Open Malwarebytes -> look for the Settings gear in the top right -> General -> scroll down and enable beta updates
• Then, go to About -> Check for updates and follow the updating prompts
• To verify you're on the correct beta build, go back to Settings -> About and look for these:
  • Malwarebytes version: 4.5.31.270
  • Component version: 1.0.2047 or higher

If you do not want to use the beta build, you can continue to use the same KB from earlier: https://support.malwarebytes.com/hc/en-us/articles/17571529651475

Nebula / OneView

We've got a policy change in testing right now and we're targeting to release this tomorrow. More on that as soon as it's ready.

For now, continue to use the same KB from earlier: https://service.malwarebytes.com/hc/en-us/articles/17569022886803

 

Thanks for your patience as we work through this.

Edited June 15 by msherwood
Corrected typo

[msherwood]

Here's today's update on the issue.

Malwarebytes 4 Premium and Teams
We have released a temporary fix to automatically resolve conflicts with Chrome in Malwarebytes 4 Premium and Teams. The temporary fix will automatically disable anti-exploit protection for Chrome as suggested in the knowledge base article we published yesterday. This is only meant to be a temporary fix so that users are able to launch Chrome again. This patch will automatically roll out to Windows 11 users only via Update package version 1.0.70914 when the product checks for updates - by default this check is performed on an hourly basis.

You can verify you've got the right update package version by doing this:

• Open Malwarebytes -> look for the Settings gear in the top right -> About and look for these:
  • Malwarebytes version 4.5.30.269
  • Update package version: 1.0.70914 or higher

Next week, we're targeting to release another update that will both re-enable anti-exploit protection for Chrome and ensure the conflicts are fully resolved. If you want to get a beta version of this build early, you can follow the beta instructions above.

Nebula / OneView
We have a temporary fix in place to automatically resolve the conflicts with Google Chrome and we'll be deploying this today, June 15th, 2023, from 18:30-20:30 UTC.

As part of this fix, we'll be migrating the policies to disable "Google Chrome" in the Protected Applications section of Exploit settings. To confirm this update, simply visit your policy page and check for the changes under Protected Applications in Exploit settings.

Over the next few weeks, we'll be actively working on a permanent solution to re-enable the setting and completely resolve the conflict between Google Chrome and Anti-Exploit.

Edited June 15 by msherwood
corrected typos

[msherwood]

We feel confident in the updated build for Malwarebytes 4 Premium and Teams so we decided to make this available to all users today versus next week. You can either wait for it to be installed automatically or you can manually update it yourself.

Important notes:

• If you manually disabled Exploit Protection and/or anti-exploit protection for Chrome, you will need to manually enable these
• If anti-exploit protection for Chrome was disabled automatically for you via Update package version 1.0.70914, you don't need to do anything as the update will re-enable this

To get the latest update, do this:

• Open Malwarebytes -> look for the Settings gear in the top right -> About -> Check for updates and follow the prompts
• To verify you have the right version, head back to the About tab and look for these:
  • Malwarebytes version 4.5.31.270
  • Component version: 1.0.2047

If you need to manually enable Exploit Protection, do this:

• Open Malwarebytes -> look in the Real-Time Protection card on the dashboard and toggle on Exploit Protection

If you need to manually enable anti-exploit protection for Chrome, do this:

• Open Malwarebytes -> look for the Settings gear in the top right -> Security and scroll to the bottom
• Under Exploit Protection, click Manage protected applications - > toggle on Google Chrome (and plug-ins) and click done

Thanks again for everyone's patience on this and let us know if you see any issues.