The first is the free version that is only capable of removing malware infections during a scan. “With the launch of Malwarebytes 3.0, we are confident that you can finally replace your traditional antivirus,” the company said in a blog post. That all changed in December 2016 when the company announced its paid version, Malwarebytes Premium, was capable enough to be your primary security program. It was a backstop to catch and remove particularly troublesome malware that your primary security program couldn’t. Malwarebytes began life as a complement to antivirus suites.
