Malwarebytes Introduces Malwarebytes for Android, Featuring Proprietary Anti-Ransomware Technology

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Aug. 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Malwarebytes™, the leader in advanced malware prevention and remediation solutions, today announced the release of Malwarebytes for Android, featuring targeted defense against mobile malware, ransomware, adware, infected applications and unauthorized surveillance. Combining multiple distinct protection layers, Malwarebytes for Android is a more effective and efficient replacement for antivirus on mobile devices.

According to data collected by Malwarebytes in the first half of 2017, incidences of Android malware increased more than five percent since the start of the year. Most notably, incidents of Android ransomware increased 138 percent in Q2 2017 (April to June) over Q1 2017 (January to March) , with Jisut, SLocker and Koler ransomware collectively accounting for nearly 95 percent of these detections. While Android ransomware is growing at this rapid pace, Trojans and potentially unwanted programs remain the biggest issues for Android users. Android Trojans accounted for more than 48 percent of all Android malware detections in the first half of 2017 and PUPs accounted for 47 percent of all detections.

Malwarebytes for Android features several distinct benefits and features for users to protect against this increasingly dangerous mobile threat landscape, including:

• Anti-Malware proactively and automatically scans mobile applications, files, native memory and SD cards for malware and spyware, in addition to potentially unwanted programs and adware for removal.
• Anti-Ransomware proactively stops ransomware in its tracks with proprietary next-generation technology and remediates ransomware incidents.
• Process Automation schedules automatic device scans and color codes device health issues by severity.
• Security Audit identifies security vulnerabilities on the device and suggests remediation.
• Privacy Manager identifies every application's access privileges in detail and breaks down access privileges by category.
• Scanner showcases scan progress and identifies types of infections found, removal results and scan history.

To optimize the mobility of these features, Malwarebytes for Android can be easily managed from a desktop widget. The app can also be controlled using SMS to remotely lock a device, remediate a device if it is being held ransom, and reset device pin codes.

"Windows devices are no longer the sole victims of damaging malware attacks, as strategic attacks on Android devices are rapidly on the rise," said Armando Orozco, Senior Mobile Malware Intelligence Analyst, Malwarebytes. "All Android users need to remain alert and proactively guard their identity and data on the go, just as they do on their computers at home."  

For further details on Malwarebytes for Android, click here.

About Malwarebytes

Malwarebytes is the next-gen cybersecurity company that millions worldwide trust. Malwarebytes proactively protects people and businesses against dangerous threats such as malware, ransomware and exploits that escape detection by traditional antivirus solutions. The company's flagship product combines advanced heuristic threat detection with signature-less technologies to detect and stop a cyberattack before damage occurs. More than 10,000 businesses worldwide use, trust and recommend Malwarebytes. Founded in 2008, the company is headquartered in California, with offices in Europe and Asia and a global team of threat researchers and security experts. For more information, please visit us at http://www.malwarebytes.com/.

Malwarebytes founder and CEO Marcin Kleczynski started the company to create the best disinfection and protection solutions to combat the world's most harmful Internet threats. Marcin was recently named "CEO of the Year" in the Global Excellence awards and has been named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Rising Stars of Enterprise Technology list and the Silicon Valley Business Journal's 40 Under 40 award, adding those to an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

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SOURCE Malwarebytes

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The best free malware removal tool 2017

Keeping your antivirus software up to date will ensure your PC is protected from new viruses as soon as they emerge, but there are other malicious programs to be aware of. For example, adware and spyware don't behave like viruses, and might escape detection.

That's why you need a malware removal tool. Here we've picked out the programs we trust to protect our PCs from all kinds of threats – both broad-spectrum security suites to replace your existing antivirus software, and smaller malware removal tools to supplement it. We've also looked at programs that will identify and eliminate malware infections on friends' and relatives' PCs – essential if you've become the family tech support.

Note that you should only have one antivirus program installed on your PC at a time to avoid potential software conflicts.

If you suspect that your PC is suffering a malware infection, Malwarebytes is the best tool around for identifying, isolating, and removing it

1. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

The most effective free malware remover, with deep scans and daily updates

If you suspect a malware infection, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware should be your first port of call. It’s updated daily, so you can trust it to identify and remove new threats the minute they appear.

The first time you install Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, you’re given a 14-day trial of the premium edition, which includes preventative tools like real-time scanning and specific protection from ransomware. After two weeks, it reverts to the basic free version. This has to be activated manually, but is still a top-notch security tool. We recommend running it at least once a week to check or any nasties that you haven't noticed, or if you notice that your web browser has suddenly started acting strangely (likely a result of adware).

Last year, Malwarebytes bought Adwcleaner, which – as its name suggests – targets and removes annoying programs that hijack your browser by changing your homepage, resetting your default search engine, or adding unwanted toolbars. It’s also available free, and along with Anti-Malware, is a great addition to your security toolkit.

Review and where to download: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

Bitdefender is our favorite free antivirus software, it it also protects your PC from adware, trackers, and other forms of malware. If you're considering totally overhauling your security suite, it comes highly recommended

2. Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition

Prevention is better than cure, and Bitdefender delivers both in one package

If you’re thinking about replacing your antivirus software, check out Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition. It has a dedicated anti-malware engine to help you avoid an infection in the first place, and mop up any existing problems. 

One of BitDefender’s best features is the ability to scan files or folders that look a bit suspicious by simply dragging and dropping them onto its home screen (it might be a good idea to do this with your Downloads folder if you’ve noticed some funny business lately). Any unpleasantness detected by the malware removal engine will be swiftly quarantined, and can be disposed of at your leisure.

BitDefender is unobtrusive, but its Protection Shield will alert you to any malicious attempts to compromise your system. All in all, it’s an excellent foundation for your anti-malware arsenal.

Review and where to download: Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition 

Adaware Antivirus Free is another full antivirus suite with superb anti-malware tools built in

3. Adaware Antivirus Free

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Adaware can replace your main antivirus or work an anti-malware supplement

Adaware Antivirus Free is another great option if you’re building an anti-malware toolkit from the ground up. It includes a virtual environment where suspicious programs can be analysed to see if they behave like malware (a technique known as heuristic analysis). This means you’re always protected from new malware – even if you’re the very first person to be affected and the malicious program isn’t yet in Adaware’s database of known threats. The malware can then be safely contained and removed.

All this happens quietly in the background, and can be suspended temporarily if you want your processor’s full power for a gaming session.

Adaware Antivirus Free can also scan downloads before you install them, helping prevent malware infestations in the first place by filtering their most common point of entry.

Best of all, if you're just looking for a way to boost your existing antivirus software, Adaware's installer lets you choose a version without real-time scanning that won't conflict with other antivirus tools.

Download here: Adaware Antivirus Free

If a family member's PC is acting up – producing popups, or resetting browser preference – Emsisoft Emergency Kit is the perfect tool for identifying and eliminating the source of the problem

4. Emsisoft Emergency Kit

A portable app that’s perfect if you’ve been assigned the role of home tech support

If you’re called in to help a friend with a malware infestation, Emsisoft Emergency Kit is the tool for you. It’s a portable app, so you can keep it handy on a USB stick, or your cloud storage service of choice (it’s only 591MB, though it does generate log files, which will take up a little extra room). 

Like any malware removal tool, Emsisoft Emergency Kit has a database of current threats, and the PC you’re cleaning needs an internet connection so the software can check for updates.

Once it’s updated itself, it scans the PC for threats and quarantines anything it finds to stop it doing further damage to your system. After a quick reboot, the files will be deleted. 

Review and where to download: Emsisoft Emergency Kit

One of SUPERAntiSpyware's best features is the ability to scan ZIP archives without extracting them first. If you like downloading and experimenting with free software, it's very useful

5. SUPERAntiSpyware

All-round protection from malware that gives you full control over scans

The free edition of SUPERAntiSpyware detects all forms of malicious software – including adware and spyware – and removes every trace quickly and efficiently. 

If you suspect that a particular file might contain malware, you can submit it to SUPERAntiSpyware’s threat labs, where its behavior will be analyzed. It’s not as fast or convenient as tools that scan files using a virtual machine, but is a good option if your system is low on resources.

You can also control which types of file are scanned, whether SUPERAntiSpyware should follow shortcuts, and whether it should check inside ZIP archives – very handy if you’ve downloaded a program in an archive and want to check it before extracting the contents.

Scans must be performed manually, but SUPERAntiSpyware’s granular control makes it a great choice for more confident users.

Download here: SUPERAntiSpyware

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Five Best Malware Removal Tools

On Thursday we asked you to share your favorite tool for purging malware from your computer. We've tallied the votes and we're back with the top five contenders for best malware removal tool.

The internet—unfortunately—isn't a never-ending buffet of secure open-source software and Bollywood-style musicals starring LOLCats. There are people and organizations that delight in stealing your personal data, hijacking your computer, and making a general nuisance of themselves through malicious software. This week we're highlighting the top five tools for removing software with ill-intentions from you PC.

Spybot Search & Destroy (Windows, Freeware)

Spybot Search & Destroy has made quite a name for itself over the years, earning accolades from both general and computer-focused publications. Spybot Search & Destroy is the highest ranked freeware tool at 2Spyware.com, a website that ranks malware removal tools. In addition to scanning for malware, Spybot Search & Destroy also has a variety of additional functionality, including a botnet scanner, hosts-file modification (to keep malware from calling home), a secure file shredder, and a dummy code feature (it replaces malicious or questionable adware modules with inert code so the dependent program will keep functioning). As an added bonus Spybot Search & Destroy is compatible with every version of Windows dating back to Windows 95.

SUPERAntiSpyware (Windows, $30)

SUPERAntiSpyware Professional Edition 5.0 1-user License Annual…

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SUPERAntiSpyware is available as both a freeware and premium edition like Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware (see below), but the level of restrictions on the freeware edition are considerably higher. The free version is limited to basic on-demand scanning and malware removal. The premium version includes real-time scanning, registry protection, a scheduling service, auto-scan on startup, and 50 startup diagnostics to stop malware infections before they spread. One of SUPERAntiSpyware's strongest selling points is its high level of compatibility with other protection tools like Avira, Kaspersky, Symantec, and McAfee. In most cases it can be run along side other tools without any conflict.

ComboFix (Windows, Freeware)

ComboFix is just as spartan as the screenshot here makes it look. You download ComboFix, run it, and it takes care of the rest. The basic ComboFix process looks like this: It backs up your registry, checks to see if you have Windows Recovery Console installed, and then it goes to town on your system scanning away through 40+ stages. When it's done, ComboFix spits out a log file and lists all the malware it found, which ones it was able to remove, and which ones you'll have to use your Google-fu to look up how to remove manually. It isn't fancy, but it gets the job done and gives you a detailed report at the end to take to security forums for help if you need it.

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware (Windows, $25)

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Pro 2013

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Malwarebytes' flagship application Anti-Malware is a shareware malware-removal tool. The principle difference between the free and premium version of the application is real-time monitoring. If you don't need active scanning against threats, the free version uses the same database and does an admirable job ferreting out infections. Anti-Malware was, for example, one of the few malware removal tools that could detect and remove the Antivirus XP 2008, a spyware application that masqueraded as an antivirus app. The Anti-Malware installation includes another application from Malwarebytes called FileASSASSIN—a helpful tool for deleting files locked by Windows.

HijackThis (Windows, Freeware)

HijackThis stands alone in this Hive Five as being the least automated yet most likely to completely wreck your system if used incorrectly. HijackThis does a comprehensive scan of the state of your computer and reports back an enormous log file. The tool makes no judgement on whether or not an application, browser modification, or registry entry is malicious or not. It simply generates a list of things that could have been potentially altered or tampered with by spyware, malware, or other malicious programs. Advanced users can look over the log themselves and determine what needs to be pruned. If you're not comfortable doing that, your best bet is to take the log file to a popular security forum like BleepingComputer or SpywareInfoForum and ask their armies of knowledgeable volunteer malware slayers to comb over it for you. Alternately, while not a replacement for receiving expert help from people in the forums, HijackThis.de is a web-based HijackThis log reader which is updated nightly. You upload your log file, it scans the file for relevant entries and gives you links to articles on how to remove the malware found in the log.

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Now that you've had a chance to look over the contenders for top malware killer, it's time to cast your vote and see who goes home with the crown. A note about the poll: the option for "Other" is missing from this week's poll. We understand that the best way to get rid of malware is to hit it with multiple tools until the infestation is good and dead, but we'd like you to cast your vote based on the best possible (single) tool for the job, not on the scorched earth policy of using them all. If you have an Other vote for a completely different malware-removal tool, we're happy to hear it in the comments.

Which Malware Removal Tool is Best? (Poll Closed)

Spybot Search and Destroy  48.78%  (3,327 votes) 

SUPERAntiSpyware  5.37%  (366 votes) 

ComboFix  5.31%  (362 votes) 

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware  31.14%  (2,124 votes) 

HijackThis  9.4%  (641 votes) 

Total Votes: 6,820

This week's honorable mention goes to "Reformat" (as in your hard drive) as a last-ditch, foolproof solution to your malware problems. Apparently sometimes when you find a mouse in the kitchen the only way to be sure there aren't any more of them in the walls is to burn the whole house down. Have a malware horror story, a favorite tool, or a prevention tip you want to share? Sound off in the comments below.

via lifehacker

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