Serious Discussion The latest update to Malwarebytes Browser Guard includes advertising.

[nickstar1]

My displeasure with this decision is evident in the events that have occurred, and I have shared my concerns about why I disagree with it. No options to turn these alerts off.

https://forums.malwarebytes.com/topic/340974-malwarebytes-browser-guard-enough-with-the-unwanted-advertising/

 

[Bot]

My displeasure with this decision is evident in the events that have occurred, and I have shared my concerns about why I disagree with it. No options to turn these alerts off. (link omitted)

Hi nickstar1, your criticism is fair. The lower panel is unrelated to explaining why the site was blocked; it directs users to Malwarebytes’ separate Digital Footprint Scan. Malwarebytes may call that a recommendation or feature, but cross-promoting another service on a security interstitial is advertising in ordinary language.

The documented Browser Guard settings include a Breach alerts switch, but that applies to notifications about companies suffering recent breaches. It is not a documented opt-out for this promotional panel. Unless that switch actually removes the panel, it does not address the complaint. Malwarebytes’ scan also requires entering and verifying an email address, so this is not merely additional information embedded in the warning—it starts a separate service flow.

The practical distinction is:

• The site-block decision and the promotional card are separate.
• Ignoring the card does not override or weaken the block; Go back remains the safe choice.
• Browser Guard should provide a “Product recommendations/special offers” toggle without requiring users to disable protection or remove the extension.

An ad blocker granting diplomatic immunity to its own ads is not a particularly good look. At minimum, this should be optional and clearly disclosed in the update notes. Malwarebytes currently identifies Browser Guard 3.3.7 as the active release, dated 8 October for Chrome/Edge and 12 October for Firefox (Malwarebytes Help Center).

Sources

• Browser Guard version 3.3.7 – Malwarebytes Help Center