How to use Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware application on a Windows computer


The manufacturer of Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware application offers two versions: The "free" version that does not require a fee (i.e., freeware) and the "full" version that requires a fee. These instructions are based on the freeware version of Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware installed on a Windows XP computer.

NOTE
You should scan your computer using Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware at least once a week.
  1. Double-click the Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware icon located on your computer's desktop. The icon should look similar to the following:

desktop icon

  1. The Main Menu window will be the first window to appear and should look similar to the following:

main menu

  1. Each time you start Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, always update the application's definition files (i.e., information used to identify spyware and malware). Your computer must be connected to the Internet to update definition files. To check for updates, click the Update tab at the top of the Malwarebytes window as shown in the following graphic:

image

  1. Click Check for Updates. If new definition files are available, they will be automatically downloaded and installed.
  2. If a new program version is available, it will also be downloaded. You will see the following window appear:



    image
  1. Click OK.
  2. When the updates are complete, you will see a prompt that looks similar to the following:

    image
  1. Click OK.
  2. To scan your computer, click the Scanner tab at the top of the Malwarebytes' window as shown in the following graphic. You should see a window that looks similar to the following:

image

  1. You have two options for scanning: A quick scan or a full scan. Click the radio button in front of the option you want to use.
  2. Click the Scan button to begin the scan.
  3. Select the drive(s) to scan.
  4. Depending on the computer you have, the type of scan, and the number of applications and data files it contains, the scan may take several minutes to hours to finish. If you use the Perform quick scan option, the process will usually take about 10 minutes. The Perform full scan option takes an hour or more to complete.You should see a window that indicates the application's progress, which should look similar to the following:

image

  1. When the scan is complete, you should see the Scan Results window, which, if nothing suspicious was found, should look similar to the following:

image

  1. If suspicious items were found you would instead see a window such as the following:

        image

  1. Click the Show Results button to see the list of items that have been detected.

    image
  1. Click the Remove Selected button. You should see a scan summary window, which should look similar to the following:

    image
  1. If you are prompted to reboot your computer, click Yes to complete removal of the malware.
  2. When you are done, close the application.
NOTE
If you are having problems connecting your computer to the Internet after removing malware or spyware, try this Winsock fix.

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Last updated: March 10, 2010