Solved Malwarebytes Premium issues

[urbanspaceman1]

I upgraded to the paid-for premium version of MBAM last week; installed the package, activated it, set it up and then went about my business as normal. At least it was supposed to be normal, but I discovered my memory usage went up from 27% in idle mode to 40% and my CPU monitor showed activity of up to 20% on frequent occasions despite nothing apparently happening in my resources Monitor. There was a distinct lag in my computer's response time to a lot of 'opening' operations (not irritating but definitely apparent) so I took it out and everything went back to normal (ie as it had been before installing MBAM).
Should this be happening? I don't find it acceptable. I've worked with MSE etc and run MBAM freeware scans regularly along with MSE scans and never found any boogie-men ,but I was just tempted to add an extra layer for £17 a year. Doesn't feel right to me; any comments folks?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

nothing apparently happening in my resources Monitor.


There was a distinct lag in my computer's response time to a lot of 'opening' operations (not irritating but definitely apparent) so I took it out and everything went back to normal (ie as it had been before installing MBAM).
Should this be happening? I don't find it acceptable.

No, it shouldn't be happening. No, it's not acceptable.

When it was slowing you down, you saw NOTHING in Resource Monitor that pointed to MBAM as the culprit?

I've used the app for years and am generally happy with it, but due to the widely reported issues with the 2.0 and later releases, I have retreated to 1.75--as have some others on this forum.

All I can tell you is to take a look at MBAM's own forum and possibly make a post there. I haven't kept up in the last few months and don't know if the most recent release is still prone to problems. I'm in no rush to upgrade and don't want to if it's still shaky.

You might want to wade through the "Latest Version Of Malwarebytes" thread at the top of this forum.

 

[urbanspaceman1]

I'm sorry, I was not precise enough there; I saw MBAM eating a lot of resources in my Resource Monitor but nothing else that might be responsible which is why I decided to remove it. Sorry, I was unclear. I will do some research where you suggest and see what comes up. I would prefer to have it up and running but not at such a cost.

 

[Layback Bear]

Exactly how much ram is Malwarebytes using?

Could by chance be running a scan?

Just doing a little browsing with a couple of browsers open.
Malwarebytes and MSE active I'm using 2.4 gigs of ram total for the system.

Malwarebytes is using around 130k of memory.
Around 280k when doing a scan. That will jump around a lot when scanning.
I use version 2.0.2.1012

 

[urbanspaceman1]

I am using 30% or 2.5 gig of Ram as we speak; I have 8. With MBAM active it was up at 40%+ and would remain that way even when no apps were running. MBAM was definitely doing something all the time; if it was scanning there was no indication of it on its control panel and no scan scheduled, so I don't know what it was doing. It just felt wrong to me and now it's gone everything feels right again. 10% of my RAM used at all times for MBAM seems wrong. Because I am using an SSD for the OS and apps I enjoy instant results; when MBAM was installed everything became sluggish (by comparison). Although I was keen to have the additional protection it was not needed in the past and I don't want these changes to my system as a result.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi the only thing I can think of is the real time protect does have a default to check for updates every 10 minutes ?
Kind of a weird default if you asked me ?
Go to Automated scheduling and click on Update and then edit,
Confirm the settings and change it to once a day or something ?
Cheers.

 

[DavidE]

Your specs show you use Cryptoprevent.
Do you have the latest version?
There is a recent update with this comment:

• Updated to not trigger Malwarebytes Anti-Malware detections with the installed version (thanks to the MBAM research team.)

Source: CryptoPrevent v7.0 Released!

Maybe there are issues with MBAM and Cryptoprevent ???

 

[Layback Bear]

How about we get off the percent thing and just let us know how much ram dose Malwarebytes uses in KB's.

I do all my updates manually several times a day. That way it doesn't get in the way of other things until I tell it to.

Schedule scans can also get in the way. All my scans are done manually also.

 

[ThrashZone]

I'm not great at reading these things but,
mbamservices shows,
Working set @ 90,224
Commit @ 173,576
mbamscheduler @ 10,800
Commit @4,924

 

[urbanspaceman1]

Hello Folks. been doing some housekeeping today. I removed MBAM (Prem) and Cryptoprevent then re-installed MBAM. I monitored activity and saw it sitting at 87,584 Working and 174,896 Commited. RAM is now sitting at 30% as opposed to 27% pre MBAM ;so 3% increase seems acceptable. I downloaded and installed the latest CryptoPrevent and it immediately wiped out my gadgets; couldn't get them back or find any facility on the Settings window to do anything. I uninstalled CP and was presented with a window that said MS considers Gadgets as a security risk, do you want to keep them de-activated yes/no. I re-activated them and did a re-start: they re-appeared. Never really got to find out if the latest CP would hold up MBAM. How important is CP? Is there an alternative that won't wipe out my gadgets? The earlier version I was using didn't affect them. Isn't it about time MS stopped messing around and rubber stamped gadgets as OK?

 

[urbanspaceman1]

ps
My updates are all scheduled for 11 - 11:30pm when my computer is generally on but idle; my MSE and MBAM scans are set for the same period. Most other auto updates are turned off anyway and done manually like the Bear does.

 

[ThrashZone]

Running scanners at the same time is a big mistake,
Cheers.

As already pointed out MSE and CP are both Antivirus programs,
Choose Only One and Uninstall the other.

 

[urbanspaceman1]

Yes: running scanners together, intuitively, seemed wrong - so I don't. Regarding your reference to previous indications that CryptoPrevent is an anti-virus program - I'm afraid you've lost me there: I don't remember being told this. I do remember when I first installed CP being assured that it would not conflict with any other protection I had running, but that was the basic, entry-level, first release of CP and maybe it has become more comprehensive in its recent incarnation. Anyway, it now wipes out my gadgets so I'm not using it; but I am concerned that I have de-activated an important piece of protection. Most importantly however: MBAM is now ticking away quietly in the background and my system activity has returned to normal; so it looks like David's suspicion that it was CP conflicting was bang-on target; thank-you.

 

[Layback Bear]

I do agree with ThrashZone post # 12.


One anti virus on one computer at one time is just a basic rule I think should always be followed.

Run one scanning program on one computer at one time is another golden rule.

The programs have a good chance of auguring with each other run at the same time whether schedule or done manually. Their is also a good chance that running two programs something might be missed.

One anti virus program will see the other anti virus program as a possible infection and all other kinds of problems can and will arise. This isn't news shattering; it has been known for over a decade.

 

[urbanspaceman1]

Hello Bear. Thank-you: you're confirming my intuitive understanding.
Thrash-Zone's post said that it had already been indicated that CP was an anti-virus program but I was not aware of such an announcement and indeed, as I said, was assured at the beginning of the year that CP would run comfortably alongside MSE.
What is now my issue of concern is that CP (which I assumed was developed purely to counteract a specific threat) has been de-activated, potentially leaving me vulnerable to CryptoLocker etc.

 

[Layback Bear]

I'm no security expert but my thinking is that most quality anti virus and anti malware protect from this CryptoLocker.

Please read this in total.

https://blog.malwarebytes.org/intelligence/2013/10/cryptolocker-ransomware-what-you-need-to-know/

 

[urbanspaceman1]

Hi Bear. Thank-you: it appears I have covered most bases by upgrading to MBAM Premium which is splendid news; I'll dump CP and rest easy. As ever, I am much obliged to all you Folks for your help.

 

[Layback Bear]

I would recommend checking in Setting/Adavance settings that Auto quarantine is unchecked.

 

[urbanspaceman1]

Everything in Advanced settings was checked except the delay protection option. I've unchecked Auto Quarantine; I would never have considered it relevant but I do see how it could be problematic now you mention it. What about 'Self Protection' is that desirable or not?

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi sorry for the confusion on cp being an antivirus program,

Self protection is only an issue if your attempting to remove/ uninstall mbam
If all is well and you haven't been instructed to remove mbam self protect will not hurt anything,
But it is something to remember is activated
Cheers.