Should I scan for Malware just in case?
- Thread starter eRazor
- Start date
Malwarebytes is set up to scan daily or once a week. What is yours scheduled for?
Check your reports. Dashboard, click on Reports. I go in and clean mine out.
I only scan on demand when I download a file and want to be sure it is clean; otherwise I let the weekly scan run.
Check your reports. Dashboard, click on Reports. I go in and clean mine out.
I only scan on demand when I download a file and want to be sure it is clean; otherwise I let the weekly scan run.
Also, Malwarebytes Premium runs in real time. This means all data coming into and out of your computer and running in your computer's memory are constantly being scanned. So you should not need to manually run a scan. But it never hurts to run manual scans - even if just for peace of mind.
BTW, Malwarebytes Premium plays well with Windows Defender - which is already included in Windows 8.x and Windows 10. While it is often heard we should never run two anti-malware solutions in real-time at the same time. This is because in the past, it was not uncommon for running two at once to cause conflicts. That is very rare these days, and again, Malwarebytes Premium and Windows Defender play well together without causing conflicts.
The other reason to not run two at once is simply because doing so may use lots of system resources (RAM and CPU cycles). While this is often true with some of the bigger security suites like Norton and McAfee, both Malwarebytes and Windows Defender are pretty light on resources.
FTR, I run both Windows Defender and Malwarebytes Premium on my 3 primary computers, including this one and have never experienced any conflicts or system performance issues. So I recommend you do too.
However, by default, Windows Defender (WD) is designed to step out of the way whenever a 3rd party anti-malware solution is installed. So, if you are running W8/W10, it is likely WD is not running. To enable WD, with Malwarebytes 3.x, simply open Malwarebytes control panel and on the Settings tab, scroll down to Windows Action Center. Change the setting to "Never register Malwarebytes in the Windows Action Center".
In Malwarebytes 4.x, click on the gear icon in the upper right corner, click the Security tab, then scroll down to Windows Security Center, move the slider for "Always register Malwarebytes in the Windows Security Center" to off (to the left).
This will enable Windows Defender's real-time component. Now Windows Defender will verify Malwarebytes has kept your system clean.
BTW, Malwarebytes Premium plays well with Windows Defender - which is already included in Windows 8.x and Windows 10. While it is often heard we should never run two anti-malware solutions in real-time at the same time. This is because in the past, it was not uncommon for running two at once to cause conflicts. That is very rare these days, and again, Malwarebytes Premium and Windows Defender play well together without causing conflicts.
The other reason to not run two at once is simply because doing so may use lots of system resources (RAM and CPU cycles). While this is often true with some of the bigger security suites like Norton and McAfee, both Malwarebytes and Windows Defender are pretty light on resources.
FTR, I run both Windows Defender and Malwarebytes Premium on my 3 primary computers, including this one and have never experienced any conflicts or system performance issues. So I recommend you do too.
However, by default, Windows Defender (WD) is designed to step out of the way whenever a 3rd party anti-malware solution is installed. So, if you are running W8/W10, it is likely WD is not running. To enable WD, with Malwarebytes 3.x, simply open Malwarebytes control panel and on the Settings tab, scroll down to Windows Action Center. Change the setting to "Never register Malwarebytes in the Windows Action Center".
In Malwarebytes 4.x, click on the gear icon in the upper right corner, click the Security tab, then scroll down to Windows Security Center, move the slider for "Always register Malwarebytes in the Windows Security Center" to off (to the left).
This will enable Windows Defender's real-time component. Now Windows Defender will verify Malwarebytes has kept your system clean.
Looks like it is set for auto every week on my laptop which I usually scan manually because I'm not on it as much as the
big boy PCs. I just use it for reading the morning papers that aren't papers, emails, plus checking messages.
Thanks!
Hmmm, just checked it on a couple of my systems and both are set to scan once every day, and if missed, it will scan "at next opportunity". I don't remember changing the defaults so if I did, (and that's quite possible) it was many years ago and the setting has just carried over with each new update.
However, again, the Premium version has a real-time component so both scheduled and manual scans are really more for peace of mind. That said, if I download a file or attachment from a source I don't have total faith in, I typically initiate a manual scan on that file via the right-click context options menu. But that too is really more for my own peace of mind because I know Malwarebytes and Windows Defender... err... Microsoft Defender (its new official name) have already scanned the file on the way in.
BTW, in order to manually scan that file before opening or running it, that means I have to save it to my computer first. That means I never, as in NEVER EVER "run" or "open" the download directly from the Internet. Takes a little longer but that peace of mind process gives me peace of mind!
- May 7, 2013
- 10,411
You could always restrict which directories a file is able to execute in as well - How can I prevent file execution in a specific folder in Windows 7?
My husband's desktop PC, which he doesn't turn on very often is set to scan once a month. (I think they removed that option but it is grandfathered in.) When I manaully do the Windows monthly updates, I generally run a scan after the updates are installed and the computer has rebooted. His computer probably would not be on at the time set for the monthly scan.
The other 3 computers which we use daily are set to weekly scans with some files ignored (like games I've installed several years ago and never changed).
Just be sure to look at the scans with dates and delete some. You don't need years and years of weekly scans using hard drive space. I generally only save the last 2.
The other 3 computers which we use daily are set to weekly scans with some files ignored (like games I've installed several years ago and never changed).
Just be sure to look at the scans with dates and delete some. You don't need years and years of weekly scans using hard drive space. I generally only save the last 2.
True but not sure how that would help detect malware, or verify a file is clean before executing or opening the file.
What works for me is I usually just save those files to my desktop. That way, I don't have to go hunting for it. Then I scan it. If it is something I want to keep, I will move it wherever I want it permanently.
But again, those are only for files from sources I don't have total faith in. If I were download the latest version of CCleaner from their website, for example, I already trust them so I run and execute the updates without manually scanning first.
What works for me is I usually just save those files to my desktop. That way, I don't have to go hunting for it. Then I scan it. If it is something I want to keep, I will move it wherever I want it permanently.
But again, those are only for files from sources I don't have total faith in. If I were download the latest version of CCleaner from their website, for example, I already trust them so I run and execute the updates without manually scanning first.
Hey everyone, Info update.
After reading all these posts on MB and Defender I tried turning Defender back on and did an update plus scan.
Before that there was a run time error 217 on my laptop which is how I found this forum to begin with.
softwaremaniac helped fix that and got me up and running. So the laptop was ship shape.
After turning on Defender yesterday she slowed down to a snails pace so I turned it back off and now is
back running fine. I'm going to just run MB 3.8.3 by itself.
After reading all these posts on MB and Defender I tried turning Defender back on and did an update plus scan.
Before that there was a run time error 217 on my laptop which is how I found this forum to begin with.
softwaremaniac helped fix that and got me up and running. So the laptop was ship shape.
After turning on Defender yesterday she slowed down to a snails pace so I turned it back off and now is
back running fine. I'm going to just run MB 3.8.3 by itself.
I would enable it again. Since it was previously off, it probably was attempting to get fully updated and do an extensive initial deep scan. I think you should let it finish then I suspect performance will return to normal. If me, I would enable it, manually initiate a "Full scan", then just walk away for awhile if you want. As noted on the Scan options page, a Full scan can take more than an hour. After that, you can set it back to Quick scan and subsequent scans will only take a couple minutes, and should happen way in the background and not hog resources.
Enabling a new security program is a big change for any operating system. As long as the defaults are left alone, Windows will adjust itself over the next couple of user sessions and reboots and learn how the computer is most commonly used, then tweak its various fetch routines (with the help of the page file - assuming it was left alone too) to optimize itself for the found hardware and its user.
- May 7, 2013
- 10,411
It's just a precautionary measure in case you're worried about if a file may be malicious or not.
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