IObit Malware Fighter 3.3.0.8 Free Version

[LabZero]

When I start scanning, without that I have been asked anything, a downloader start and download a whole series of programs: IObit Advanced System Care and Driver Booster. They are all safe but not required and not expected.
I repeated the installation by placing the flag on "Yes, install Advanced SystemCare Ultimate" and started downloading again all programs. Bad!!

Spoiler: apps

IObit Malware Fighter has many features dedicated to protect browser from changes to the homepage, until the installation of security toolbar and dangerous plugins.

Spoiler: Browser protect

But during my tests...the homepage changes, but no warning by IObit malware Fighter ...

Spoiler

I used a 15 samples pack from HUB (thanks @sinu): https://malwaretips.com/threads/15-malware-samples-pack-2015-09-25.51328/
with very disappointing results: real-time protection active 1/15.. but not enough ... no signs of life.On demand scan 0/14.

Spoiler: Scan results

I hope to test the V4 and make a different review.

Thanks everyone for reading

 

[Sr. Normal]

Thanks my friend, read your reviews is really addictive!!

 

[LabZero]

Thanks my friend, read your reviews is really addictive!!

Thanks my friend, really appreciated

 

[Anupam]

Even the most of the malwares are better than this software. Atleast they do some work - good or bad. I used it one time and from that time onwards it's on my list of most hated and most useless software. Even widnows calculator is a better protection software compared to this piece of *yellow smelly thing* .

 

[woomera]

such a useless program. thanks for sharing the info though!

 

[jamescv7]

The version 4 should solve their very downfall fate however let's take an assurance where Bitdefender engine (signatures) will take care majority; but their in-house engine needs a lot of revamp or create from the scratch.

 

[frogboy]

A good review of a bad software. Thanks @Klipsh

 

[LabZero]

A good review of a bad software. Thanks @Klipsh

Tkanks my friend!I ask myself who would buy the paid version...

 

[conceptualclarity]

I'll never pay for it. It's good for removing tracking cookies and it's really good at detecting programs sneakily setting themselves on autostart, like my browser does every couple of days. I believe you get the latter function on the free version.

It's done some smart scans on me spontaneously lately, but I haven't had time to evaluate the results. It flagged dozens of things, but they were mostly registry entries that were all code, nothing to tell me what programs were involved. Probably so-called "PUPs" detections. See my attachment. If anybody has advice on how to research such results, I'd appreciate it. I won't let a program delete stuff from the registry without knowing what it is. I always configure security programs to let me have a look at things first.

 

[LabZero]

I'll never pay for it. It's good for removing tracking cookies and it's really good at detecting programs sneakily setting themselves on autostart, like my browser does every couple of days. I believe you get the latter function on the free version.

It's done some smart scans on me spontaneously lately, but I haven't had time to evaluate the results. It flagged dozens of things, but they were mostly registry entries that were all code, nothing to tell me what programs were involved. Probably so-called "PUPs" detections. See my attachment. If anybody has advice on how to research such results, I'd appreciate it. I won't let a program delete stuff from the registry without knowing what it is. I always configure security programs to let me have a look at things first.

They seem to registry entries related to Adware, PUP, toolbar, etc.
In this case I would like to have another opinion, maybe by MBAM and ADWcleaner to compare the results.

 

[Online_Sword]

Thank you for this review.
I have not and will not use this software, but I still have a question on it:

But during my tests...the homepage changes, but no warning by IObit malware Fighter ...

How do you test its capability of changing homepage? Did you change the homepage manually?
Maybe (I do not know....), this feature is designed to prevent malwares from locking down the homepage after modifying it, rather than prevent the user from changing it.
In my country, malwares that try to modify the homepage and lock it down to make profit, is rampant.
Maybe this feature is design to against such malware?

Could you try to modify the homepage with a 3-rd party software and test whether such an operation will be blocked or not?

 

[Deleted member 178]

Iobit MF was good before (because they "stole" MBAM signatures) but when the drama was discovered it fell in the deepest abyss...

 

[LabZero]

Thank you for this review.
I have not and will not use this software, but I still have a question on it:

How do you test its capability of changing homepage? Did you change the homepage manually?
Maybe (I do not know....), this feature is designed to prevent malwares from locking down the homepage after modifying it, rather than prevent the user from changing it.
In my country, malwares that try to modify the homepage and lock it down to make profit, is rampant.
Maybe this feature is design to against such malware?

Could you try to modify the homepage with a 3-rd party software and test whether such an operation will be blocked or not?

Well, simply go to oursufing.com (IMF >> No effective browser protection) well known to insiders
OurSurfing.com is a browser hijacker, a software that changes the start page of your browser.
If you want to try it is sufficient to go to a streaming video site and download one of the many fake plugin and you can find oursurfing.

 

[conceptualclarity]

They seem to registry entries related to Adware, PUP, toolbar, etc.
In this case I would like to have another opinion, maybe by MBAM and ADWcleaner to compare the results.

Sounds good. Are you suggesting the MBAM and ADWCleaner forums or just a couple of scans?

Some programs call Weatherbug adware or a PUP, but I happen to like it very much. I can't let a program go ripping up my registry without being able to see what is being targeted, which is impossible with those all-code entries. I like your suggestion. I'm thinking I'll also go to the IObit forum and ask if they can give me some idea of what these detections are. I wish there was some place on the web where one knows to go to find out what these undecipherable registry entries are...and also those all-code Mozilla extension identities.

 

[LabZero]

Sounds good. Are you suggesting the MBAM and ADWCleaner forums or just a couple of scans?

Some programs call Weatherbug adware or a PUP, but I happen to like it very much. I can't let a program go ripping up my registry without being able to see what is being targeted, which is impossible with those all-code entries. I like your suggestion. I'm thinking I'll also go to the IObit forum and ask if they can give me some idea of what these detections are. I wish there was some place on the web where one knows to go to find out what these undecipherable registry entries are...and also those all-code Mozilla extension identities.

Usually these registry entries are references of the malware removed by antimalware, but if malware is detected but not removed, these references indicate changes made to registry level.
You can do regular scans and always check references to avoid problems.

 

[conceptualclarity]

Usually these registry entries are references of the malware removed by antimalware, but if malware is detected but not removed, these references indicate changes made to registry level.
You can do regular scans and always check references to avoid problems.

I do scans with a number of programs. I scan every download (except PDFs--I'm lazy on that) with Virus Total, Jotti, and Metascan. Probably overkill.

I get my PDFs from pretty respectable sources, though.

What do you mean by "check references"?

 

[kev216]

I already tested it a while ago on my own, and like every other Iobit software, it is more adware than an effective anti-malware program. I don't recommend using any software of Iobit. It slows down your pc, shows annoying ads and messages and has useless 'protection'.

 

[LabZero]

I do scans with a number of programs. I scan every download (except PDFs--I'm lazy on that) with Virus Total, Jotti, and Metascan. Probably overkill.

I get my PDFs from pretty respectable sources, though.

What do you mean by "check references"?

In the case of ADWcleaner, for example, checking the references you'll avoid the very low risk, but keep in mind, to delete registry keys that might erroneously be attributed by antimalware to spyware/adware but actually serve to operate legitimate applications that you have installed on your PC.

 

[Behold Eck]

Even widnows calculator is a better protection software compared to this piece of *yellow smelly thing* .

Big LOL....nothing much more needed to be said.

Regards Eck

 

[Kent]

Great and impartial review!! Thanks I would stay away from it as it installs software/crapware without consent