Top antivirus solution.
Top antivirus solution.
Malwarebytes functions as anti-malware, not antivirus. You can use it alongside an existing antivirus program. I’m currently running BitDefender Anti-Virus, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, ZoneAlarm Firewall. I have a copy of ESET Nod32 in mind but ran into a problem when I didn’t uninstall BitDefender first. I’m trying it in a virtual machine before moving to my main system. I liked Avast! during its paid version trial last month. The free edition fell short afterward. WebRoot Secure Anywhere also appealed to me, though they don’t offer a free option. I haven’t encountered any issues with Microsoft Security Essentials or Windows Defender in Windows 8. Dr. Web performs adequately. A few aspects didn’t quite meet my expectations, so I stopped using it for a while. AdAware was straightforward, clean, and simple. There’s no single “best” antivirus—each has its own strengths. It really comes down to what you need from your protection before anyone suggests a clear winner.
Malwarebytes fits multiple definitions and excels at high CPU usage during scans, a trait often associated with effective malware detection tools. In today’s landscape, most antivirus programs can also be labeled as anti-malware since they focus on blocking malicious threats. These scanners don’t rely solely on virus signatures; instead, they detect suspicious behavior. You only need to have basic common sense—no additional software is required beyond Malwarebytes Pro, aside from a cautious mindset. Personally, I rarely get infected when no protection is active, though I keep Malwarebytes enabled just in case.
I often mention this, and I could write a full essay about it, but in short, the less common options tend to be the strongest. There are always situations where one method outperforms others, though not consistently. Sometimes X is the quickest at stopping a virus while Y completely misses the mark until it's too late, then it might even get undone. As for why I suggest avoiding the most popular ones, it’s not about popularity itself, but about the fact that virus creators usually target widely used antivirus software to exploit weaknesses. A solid but less-known program should still be able to detect bad code and protect your system effectively. Personally, I use Eset on my desktop—not because it's the top choice, since many better options exist, but simply because I like it and haven’t faced any issues with it.
I'm an AVG supporter, so I have a personal angle... AVG is solid, but Avast, Bitdefender, AVG and Microsoft Security Essentials all have their strengths. It really comes down to what you consider the top choice—balancing speed and security. My take is that the best antivirus should offer strong protection without sacrificing performance.
I suggest Avast or MSE. MalwareBytes works well for fixing problems, though the latest release isn't great.