Using Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 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 installation of the freeware version of the application on a Windows 7 computer using the Firebird browser.

If you are using a different version of Windows or a different browser, the images may not appear exactly as they do here. However, their function should remain the same.

NOTE
You should scan your computer using Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware at least once a week.

  1. Open the Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware application.
  2. The Main Menu window will be the first window to appear and should look similar to the following:

    main menu
     
  3. 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:

    main menu
     
  4. Click Check for Updates. If new definition files are available, they will be automatically downloaded and installed.
  5. Click OK.
  6. 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:

    scanning window
     
  7. Click the radio button in front of the type of scan you want to run.
  8. Click Scan.
  9. Depending on the computer you have, the number of applications and files it contains, and the type of scan selected, the scan may take several minutes to an hour or more to finish.
  10. When the scan is complete, you should see a Scan Results window, which—if nothing suspicious was found— should appear as a text file and look similar to the following:

    no infections found window
     
  11. If suspicious items were found, you would instead see a window such as the following:

    infections found window
     
  12. Click Show Results. You should see a scan summary window, which should look similar to the following:

    malwarebytes log file
     
  13. Confirm that all detected items are selected.
  14. Click Remove Selected.
  15. If you are prompted to reboot your computer, click Yes to complete the removal.
  16. 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.