Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 2.1 to ship with UI changes and feature improvements

Martin Brinkmann
Mar 3, 2015
Updated • Apr 16, 2015
Security
|
17

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is a powerful program that you can run on your Windows system next to other security software to add another layer of protection to it.

The free version offers an on-demand scanner only while the premium version of the product real-time protection on top of it.

The next version of the product, currently available as a beta version, ships with several feature improvements and a redesigned user interface.

The changes to the UI are not as drastic as those of CCleaner 5.0 though, and it is likely that the majority of users will welcome them as they tone down the color scheme a bit.

Take a look at the following two screenshots that highlight the differences between the old and new user interface of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware.

malwarebytes old interface

malwarebytes new interface

As you can see, the green is gone with the exception of the smiley face if your system is fully protected. The footer area has been redesigned as well as it features a scan now button only.

The previous version linked to the scheduler and advertised another company product in that area in addition to that.

The scan interface itself has been changed as well. It displays scan stages now that the program switches between to indicate the overall scan process.

scan stages

The interface changes are not the only ones that Anti-Malware 2.1 will ship with. One useful addition is that the program checks for database updates before it runs scans so that always the latest database information are used.

It is possible to override that behavior according to Malwarebytes but the option does not seem to be available yet in this first public beta release.

The quarantine functionality has been streamlined as well. Threats that have been detected during a scan are now selected automatically for removal which you can do with a click on the remove selected button in the interface.

If you uncheck threats, you are asked what you want done with them. This gives you options to ignore the threat once or always.

The program's rootkit detection and removal capabilities have been improved as well with no further information given at this point in time.

Beta users will receive prompts when new beta versions become available so that they can be downloaded directly in the client.

First user impressions on the official forum report longer scan times and cpu usage. Considering that this is a first beta release, it is too early to come to conclusions in this regard.

The program's minimize button places the Anti-Malware icon in the taskbar now. If you want it to remain in the system tray area only, you need to use the close icon instead.

On a personal note, I noticed one program crash and some lag when using the program after the update. It is advised not to update to the beta version on a productive system.

Summary
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 2.1 to ship with UI changes and feature improvements
Article Name
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 2.1 to ship with UI changes and feature improvements
Description
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 2.1 was just released as a first beta version. We take a first look at the new version of the popular security software.
Author
Advertisement

Previous Post: «
Next Post: «

Comments

  1. Anonymous said on May 18, 2015 at 8:00 pm
    Reply

    What’s with this new interface? Once I finally downloaded it, I figured this was a virus that took over the program. Malwarebytes should post an image of the new interface WITH the specs so users don’t have heart attacks. This is the only article I’ve found that tells me this UI is legit. I’d still prefer a publication from the source.

    1. George Melendez said on May 18, 2015 at 8:44 pm
      Reply

      That’s not a bad idea…. would provide peace of mind for some of us….

  2. Ficho said on March 4, 2015 at 7:25 pm
    Reply

    I still use 1.75 version. I hate 2.xx version with a passion.

  3. Bill said on March 4, 2015 at 6:36 pm
    Reply

    Thanks for writing this article. I use Malwarebytes and my only complaint is that it sucks up CPU cycles to the point where nothing else will run. Other than that, it does a great job.

  4. George Melendez said on March 4, 2015 at 4:24 pm
    Reply

    I wonder if the free version has been updated to this new version…….

  5. Dwight Stegall said on March 4, 2015 at 6:50 am
    Reply

    The only malware scanner I’ve seen that’s more worthless than Malwarebytes is Iobit’s Malware Fighter. Neither of them ever found anything on my computers. I use Spybot S & D and Superantispyware.

    Malwarebytes says their blog is the one hackers don’t want you to see. That’s because they don’t want you to die laughing. :(

    1. intelligencia said on March 4, 2015 at 2:54 pm
      Reply

      @Dwight Stegall

      Mr. Stegall I like your website – – a lot!
      You have some good tips that I intend to implement.
      I thank you for sharing.

      i

  6. Herman said on March 4, 2015 at 5:21 am
    Reply

    I was one who protested very loudly to MB when they went from 1.75 to 2.0. I thought it was awful. The interface looked like malware itself and resembled a Windows 8 metro screen. It was slow, features seemed to have disappeared and I didn’t care for it all.

    They actually responded to my complaints, said they would take it under advisement (which to me meant they would delete my comment and pay no attention). However, the very next version did indeed look and feel less Windows 8 like. It did run a bit faster and has improved greatly since then.

    Malwarebytes and I are friends again. I don’t have the beta version but from viewing here, it looks fine. I do still wonder about the rootkit setting. I know MB has a separate rootkit detection program that requires you NOT to be running malwarebytes to use it. Perhaps they will eventually integrate it. We shall see.

    https://www.malwarebytes.org/antirootkit/

  7. intelligencia said on March 4, 2015 at 4:55 am
    Reply

    Hello Mr. Brinkmann.

    I was hoping that the fine folks at MBAM would finally come out with a New and Improved version of their wonderful program!

    As irony would have it though I had to finally UN-Install my Beloved Go-To Anti-Malware Program, MBAM (paid version)!
    I have used same for over a Decade and recommend it to my buddy and neighbors!
    I just got tired of my computer slowing down and/or crashing on occasion whenever I performed a MBAM update or a full-scale scan on my laptop – – and I believe it’s due to the use of MBAM!

    I noticed that things got a little buggy as early as last year. I only use Programs that I know won’t conflict with MBAM (the 2.0 version). However, I Never suspected that the source of my crashes was due to MBAM. I performed other anti-malware checks using other programs but nothing malicious was ever detected on my system. I was just dumbfounded on what could cause these crashes; very frustrating when I knew there was a problem somewhere BUT could not find the culprit.
    Since I uninstalled MBAM, I have noticed that my laptop boots up faster and does not thermal up as much now (the full use of the dual fans is not needed to cope with the increased heat). I will wait and see how this new version 2.1 performs before I will even think about Re-Installing MBAM, again! Is these observed changes due to removing MBAM or just a Coincidence? I think not:
    I did some online research and apparently the MBAM server occasionally undergoes some sort of cyber attack due to a vulnerability or two (discovered) by others which is quite disheartening.

    i

    1. Anonymous said on March 4, 2015 at 2:08 pm
      Reply

      Now that’s interesting. I may try uninstalling MBAM Premium and see if it makes any difference on my boot up times and operating temperature.

  8. Vrai said on March 4, 2015 at 3:19 am
    Reply

    Ugh! Not another UI change!?!

    I do not like the “flat” scheme software vendors are adopting in order to blend in with MS WIndows 8 & 10 UI. (not updating CCleaner because of this)

    I love Malwarebytes and purchased a premium version several years ago, but there are several annoying quirks after the previous updates. On demand scans take longer than other anti-malware scanners. The program hangs after completing a scan. And most annoying of all, the log file does not indicate the name of the file just scanned! Wish they would fix these annoyances. Perhaps the update will? That being said, I am very happy to have Malwarebytes providing “real time” protection.

  9. Boris said on March 4, 2015 at 2:26 am
    Reply

    No problem. Mine is 4 year old double core 64bit machine. And scan is almost twice as fast as 2.0 version.

  10. PhoneyVirus said on March 4, 2015 at 1:18 am
    Reply

    I’ll wait this one out as I found 2.0 beta been no more then a annoyance, with real time protection always reporting disable and forcing me to uninstall and reinstall, headache.

    Thanks for the Preview Martin

    P.S Those Images are killing me, it’s reporting Original (scaled to 881px × 550px), right-click, select View image info. Had the same problem and started resizing them to 700px width, also I saved room for Borders or Captions as that too takes px space.

  11. Mike J said on March 4, 2015 at 12:28 am
    Reply

    I have not had this problem, but mine was a clean install on a new machine (64-bit).Scans are really quick.

  12. Olly D said on March 4, 2015 at 12:12 am
    Reply

    Did anyone else experience scans sometes freezing after the 1.75 to 2.0 update (over a year ago?). Or even still experience them sometimes? In desperation I grabbed the old installed from filehippo and the issue went away.

    1. chesscanoe said on March 4, 2015 at 4:19 pm
      Reply

      I noticed a freeze problem also after the 2.0 update. After trying to solve the problem for quite a while, I removed the product from Win7x64 Home. A friend also had a similar problem under Vista and also had to remove the program. Both were paid versions.

    2. dszady said on March 4, 2015 at 12:45 am
      Reply

      My computer will crash on start-up about 2 or 3 times a month with ver.2.04*** because Bitdefender AV+ doesn’t play well with MB if MB starts a scan as Bitdefender is loading. I changed the timing to a time when I know I’ll be on here for awhile. Just changed that today, but do I know that as long as it starts a scan after all has been loaded everything works fine.

Leave a Reply

Check the box to consent to your data being stored in line with the guidelines set out in our privacy policy

We love comments and welcome thoughtful and civilized discussion. Rudeness and personal attacks will not be tolerated. Please stay on-topic.
Please note that your comment may not appear immediately after you post it.