Malwarebytes 3.4.4 update released

Malwarebytes, maker of the security software of the same name, released Malwarebytes 3.4.4 for the Microsoft Windows operating system yesterday.

The new version is the first stable release for Windows in 2018. Existing Malwarebytes installations should pick up the update automatically as automatic updates are enabled by default.

A click on "install application updates" under Settings > Application runs a check for updates if the automatic update functionality is turned off. The new version is available on the Malwarebytes website as well and can be downloaded from there for manual installation.  The new version should install without issues over existing installations.

Malwarebytes 3.4.4

The new version of Malwarebytes includes improvements across the board. The most prominent change improves the notification and reporting system of the security software.

Malwarebytes displays information about blocked websites that include the blocked category in the new version according to the release notes. The category reveals why a site was blocked by the application. I did not find the category listed in the popup but in the report section.

The notification lists the blocked domain and IP address, the program that tried to connect to it, and the reason for the block in the latest version.

A button to close the notification and to manage the list of exclusions is provided. The new version features an updated report design "for better usability" according to Malwarebytes.

The reports overview listing lacks information in my opinion. Malwarebytes lists the protection event and date and time only, and not other information.

I'd like to see information added to the listing to improve usability; for websites, Malwarebytes should at least display the domain name of the blocked site to make identification easier.

You can open one report at a time; if you get lots of reports, you may not be able to identify the event you want to analyze based on the provided information.

Report details list a summary and advanced information. The summary lists the same information that Malwarebytes displays in the notification popup that it opens when events are triggered plus The category is listed there. The advanced tab lists additional information that are mostly useful if you need assistance.

Malwarebytes 3.4.4 includes a new notification center that lists the most recent block notifications.

Malwarebytes improved protection, detection and remediation in the new version according to the release notes. The company improved how the security program removes malware on systems that are heavily infected, and how shortcuts and tasks are handled.

The changelog lists stability issues and fixes; Malwarebytes updated the 7-Zip library to version 18.01 and improved the upgrade process for earlier versions of the software application. The company fixed several crashes including a blue screen crash caused by the web protection module.

Read the full changelog here for the complete list of changes in Malwarebytes 3.4.4.

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