Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware free stand-alone compatible with Windows 98, etc. ?

[larryb123456]

Hello everyone,

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This is my first message post, and I don't know anything about anti-virus scanning. A friend highly recommended Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware free stand-alone version for on-demand scanning. (I know that this free version does not do real-time scanning.)

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However, the website at http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php says that it supports Windows 2000, XP, Vista, and 7 (32-bit and 64-bit) -- BUT I HAVE WINDOWS 98.

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The above website talked about both the full version and the free stand-alone version, so I wasn't sure if the operating system requirements applied to both versions or to just the full version. I did a lot of Googling, but did not find anything that would suggest that the free stand-alone was compatible with Windows 98.

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My friend said he did not see why the free stand-alone version would not work with Windows 98, since it doesn't install into the system and only into Temp files. (He uses it with XP -- and loves it !)

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Here are my three questions:

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# 1) Is the free stand-alone version supported by Windows 98 ? Could you please provide reference links in your answer ?

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# 2) What would happen if I tried to run (or ran) the free stand-alone with my Windows 98 system if it was not supported ? Could it damage my files or computer ?

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# 3) If the free Malwarebytes stand-alone is not compatible with Windows 98, can you suggest a simple (but effective) stand-alone anti-virus that would be compatible with Windows 98 ? It would have to be simple since I'm a novice at all this.

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If you could answer my questions and maybe provide some additional help or information, I would greatly appreciate it.

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Many thanks in advance,

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larryb123456

[noknojon]

Welcome to the forum larryb123456 -

We have issues with running Malwarebytes on any program under Win2000 - There was a patch required just to run it in Win2000 -

It would not update at all in '98 , so you would only be able to run an older version with only half the database = not too good -

Malwarebytes is not an antivirus program , but should be run with an A/Virus -

I use Microsoft Security Essentials as an A/Virus and I think it will work with '98 ?? but it is not listed as '98 is not supported by M/soft -

Click on the link in my 'live signature' to go to the download area for this - It will list available running systems -

Thank You -

This post by Rubber Ducky (the boss) was the last patch for Win2000 and the last time we made one (April this year)

[unoriginal]

I use Microsoft Security Essentials as an A/Virus and I think it will work with '98 ?? but it is not listed as '98 is not supported by M/soft

I don't think MSE would work in 98, due to the fact that you need WGA to install and update the program.

[nosirrah]

Windows 98 cant be secured, do not use it for anything involving any of your personal information.

This is why one security app after another is dropping support.

If you have a windows version prior to XPSP2 it would be a good idea to look up how exploits work.

Safe surfing is also not 100% safe. Hackers routinely add exploits to legit sites and ad supported sites frequently send exploits in their ad streams.

To give you an idea of what you are up against I once had my ISP home page try to infect my system trough an exploit in an ad stream.

One of the top layers in a solid security setup is updates. The security holes left open on windows 98 and the apps that still run on it WILL NEVER BE CLOSED.

Think of security software for windows 98 like buying a gun to defend your house but then removing all of your doors and windows.

[noknojon]

Sorry larryb123456

I don't think MSE would work in 98, due to the fact that you need WGA to install and update the program.

Bad one by me to not check first -

Just did a check and it is not supported - Even Win2000 is no longer stated as supported -

I can not give you a viable A/V as all the ones I just checked will not currently support '98 - Someone may know of one but .......

Think of security software for windows 98 like buying a gun to defend your house but then removing all of your doors and windows.

[AdvancedSetup]

The following claim to run on Windows 9x however you should really consider upgrading to at least XP w/SP3 if you want to be on the Internet with a computer as a minimum.

Kaspersky Anti-Virus For Windows Workstations

Clamwin

[larryb123456]

Hello everyone,

Many thanks for your numerous and rapid responses. I was disappointed to hear that Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware does not support Windows 98.

I had heard much about how using older Flash Player versions could leave you vulnerable -- (I use FP 9, the highest supported by Win 98) -- but I had never heard of the fact that using an older OS, such as Win 98, could also leave you vulnerable.

The analogy, "Think of security software for windows 98 like buying a gun to defend your house but then removing all of your doors and windows", took me from being paranoid on the internet to being SUPER paranoid. LOL ! (Great analogy by the way.)

I was looking for a stand-alone that could be run from the desktop (i.e., on-demand). I'm not sure if ClamWin is in this category. Also, it adds in to existing programs. Kaspersky needs at least Windows 98(SE) and it's not a stand-alone.

Before I posted this message, I did a lot of Googling to find a stand-alone compatible with Windows 98 -- one that could disinfect my system if it became infected.

I really just found only one (that appeared to be simple) -- Multi Virus Cleaner 2009 (version v9.0.1).

The publisher's website is at http://www.viruskeeper.com/us/mvc.htm where they appear to say two contradictory things: # 1) Last version : v9.0.1 - April 21th, 2009 and # 2) Multi Virus Cleaner is regularly updated.

Perhaps they mean here that v9.0.1 is regularly updated -- while keeping the same v number -- and that you need to download a new version every week or so when you do a new scan.

Can anyone tell me if I'm correct in my thinking here ? Or, how do you interpret these two apparently contradictory things ?

http://www.brighthub.com/computing/smb-sec...iews/47783.aspx has a good review of Multi Virus Cleaner published very recently -- May 31, 2010.

What do you think of this review ?

I know that I'm getting away from Malwarebytes with all this talk about Multi Virus Cleaner, but if you all could help me better understand MVC -- since I can't use Malwarebytes -- I'd greatly appreciate it.

Many thanks,

larryb123456

[noknojon]

Multi Virus Cleaner 2009 from VirusKeeper is a stand-alone virus removal utility. As a removal tool it is not intended to replace or obviate the need for a regular anti-virus program or a security suite.

Based on the review it is a cleaner (only) that catches after the fact - Any 'after the fact' cleaner still requires a reasonably clean slate to work from -

You do still need at least the most basic 'active' App that you can get - ClamWin seems an obvious minimum choice from now on -

It is a free download and seems to go after the older (computer system) market that no one else will cover today -

Thank You -

EDIT - Do not click on the "Free Scan Click Here" advertising on the same page as Clamwin downloader - It will do more damage than good -

[larryb123456]

Based on the review it is a cleaner (only) that catches after the fact - Any 'after the fact' cleaner still requires a reasonably clean slate to work from -

You do still need at least the most basic 'active' App that you can get - ClamWin seems an obvious minimum choice from now on -

It is a free download and seems to go after the older (computer system) market that no one else will cover today -

Thank You -

EDIT - Do not click on the "Free Scan Click Here" advertising on the same page as Clamwin downloader - It will do more damage than good -

Thanks, noknojon, for taking time to respond.

Thanks for the warning to not click on "Free Scan Click Here" on the ClamWin page. I have become so paranoid that I don't click on any "pig-in-a-poke" type links.

On first reading, I was a little leary of ClamWin because of the way it integrates itself into existing programs.

In general, I was leary of any real-time scanners because I didn't know how much system resources they would use. I have read about many users being unhappy with anti-virus programs installing deep into their system and taking over their computers and hogging all their system resources. With an old machine like mine, I don't have much system resources to start with -- at least, by today's standards.

I didn't know that a stand-alone, on-demand, after-the-fact virus scanner -- such as Multi Virus Cleaner -- needed a "reasonably clean slate" to work from. I had never run across that sentiment in all the online reading that I had done.

Really, my worst fears come from being a complete novice at scanning, etc. I could just see myself doing a scan, and, afterwards, having many of my programs and files disappear.

Thanks again, noknojon.

larryb123456

[Francois_Blais]

Avast 4.8 will run on a Win98 system.

Look here: http://www.avast.com/download-software#tab3

That's the first item in the list.

[larryb123456]

[quote name='Fran

[mountaintree16]

Hi Larry,

I believe that PC Tools also makes an AV that works on Windows 98, although in my opinion Avast! is a good choice too, so I would stick with Avast! so long as you continue to get definitions updates for your Windows 98 via Avast!.

Also HostsMan (an excellent program that would enhance your security) is supposed to work on Windows 98SE (do you have the SE edition?), but I've never tried it on that operating system before:

http://www.abelhadigital.com/hostsman

I can do my best to assist you in setting that up on your machine if you'd like, bearing in mind that I've only installed it on XP myself and assisted people in installing it on XP (and Vista).

[Eagle2a]

I can personally vouch that Avast! 4.8 works very well in Win98. Unfortunately, definitions updates are supposed to be discontinued by the end of the year and program updates have already ended.

There are numerous options for keeping your Win98 system safe and secure but they will take some technical expertise and effort on your part. It's true that there's no longer an automated one-click method like Windows Update but don't believe the misinformation that it's no longer possible. As an avid Win98 user, I highly recommend the MSFN Win9x/ME forums as a valuable resource for technical support. Good luck!