IObit Malware Fighter

Developer(s)	IObit
Initial release	2004;20 years ago
Stable release	9.3 / September 5, 2022;2 years ago
Operating system	Microsoft Windows
Size	39.2 MB
Available in	34 languages
	List of languages Arabic, Bulgarian, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, Flemish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Romanian, Russian, Serbian (Cyrillic), Serbian (Latin), Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Ukrainian and Vietnamese
Type	Anti-malware
License	Proprietary software ; Free edition: Freeware; personal use only; Pro edition: Annual Subscription
Website	iobit.com

Last updated October 21, 2024

IObit Malware Fighter (introduced in 2004) is an anti-malware and anti-virus program for the Microsoft Windows operating system (Windows XP and later). It is designed to remove and protect against malware, including, but not limited to Trojans, rootkits, and ransomware.

Overview

IObit Malware Fighter has a freeware version, which can run alongside the user's existing anti-virus solution. In the paid edition, the product comes with anti-virus protection. As of version 6, released in 2018, the product includes the Bitdefender engine in its commercial version, along with its anti-malware engine.^[3] New features of the latest release includes an improved user interface called "Safe Box" created to protect specific folders from unauthorized access, and "MBR Guard" which protects the user's system from malicious attacks such as Petya and cryptocurrency mining scripts.^[4]

Releases

In 2010, the first beta for IObit Malware Fighter 1.0 was released to the public.^[5]
In 2013, IObit Malware Fighter 2 was released. In this version, IObit debuted its "cloud security" component, in which the user can upload a file to the cloud to determine whether it is malicious or not.^[6] In 2015, version 3 was released, and then, in 2016, version 4, which added the Bitdefender anti-virus engine in its commercial edition.^[7]^[8]
In 2017, version 5 was released. Among new features was an anti-ransomware component.^[9] Version 6 was released in May 2018.^[2]
In 2018, version 6 was released. It added new features, including Safe Box, and MBR Guard.

Reception

In November 2011, the free and paid versions of IObit Malware Fighter were reviewed by Bright Hub, in which the reviewer was unable to recommend the product, citing poor malware protection.^[10]
In May 2013, IObit Malware Fighter received a "dismal" score, half a star out of five, for its paid version by PC Magazine.^[11]
In December 2013, the paid version of IObit Malware Fighter received a 1 out of 5-star rating from Softpedia.^[12]
In March 2015, the commercial version of IObit Malware Fighter 3 received a negative review from PC Magazine, with the reviewer calling the product "useless".^[13]
IObit Malware Fighter received a 4 out of 5-star editors rating on CNET's Download.com.^[14]
In May 2017, PC Magazine gave the paid version of IObit Malware Fighter a 2 out of 5-star rating.^[15]
In July 2017, TechRadar gave the IObit Malware Fighter paid version a two-and-a-half star rating, in which the reviewer complained about the product's overall protection against malware.^[16]
In May 2018, IObit Malware Fighter 6 received a negative review from the ReviewedByPro.com website with the reviewer stating that the software "is not capable on protecting the entire family, or heavy internet users as the defenses are not very reliable and security features do not work well".^[3]

Related Research Articles

Malware is any software intentionally designed to cause disruption to a computer, server, client, or computer network, leak private information, gain unauthorized access to information or systems, deprive access to information, or which unknowingly interferes with the user's computer security and privacy. Researchers tend to classify malware into one or more sub-types.

Antivirus software, also known as anti-malware, is a computer program used to prevent, detect, and remove malware.

Spybot – Search & Destroy (S&D) is a spyware and adware removal computer program compatible with Microsoft Windows. Dating back to the first Adwares in 2000, Spybot scans the computer hard disk and/or RAM for malicious software.

Norton AntiVirus is an anti-virus or anti-malware software product founded by Peter Norton, developed and distributed by Symantec since 1990 as part of its Norton family of computer security products. It uses signatures and heuristics to identify viruses. Other features included in it are e-mail spam filtering and phishing protection.

Avast Software s.r.o. is a Czech multinational cybersecurity software company headquartered in Prague, Czech Republic, that researches and develops computer security software, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. Avast has more than 435 million monthly active users and the second largest market share among anti-malware application vendors worldwide as of April 2020. The company has approximately 1,700 employees across its 25 offices worldwide. In July 2021, NortonLifeLock, an American cybersecurity company, announced that it was in talks to merge with Avast Software. In August 2021, Avast's board of directors agreed to an offer of US$8 billion.

Norton Internet Security, developed by Symantec Corporation, is a discontinued computer program that provides malware protection and removal during a subscription period. It uses signatures and heuristics to identify viruses. Other features include a personal firewall, email spam filtering, and phishing protection. With the release of the 2015 line in summer 2014, Symantec officially retired Norton Internet Security after 14 years as the chief Norton product. It was superseded by Norton Security, a rechristened adaptation of the original Norton 360 security suite. The suite was once again rebranded to Norton 360 in 2019.

Adaware, previously known as Lavasoft, is a software development company that produces spyware and malware detection software, including Adaware. It operates as a subsidiary of Avanquest, a division of Claranova.

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Norton AntiBot, developed by Symantec, monitored applications for damaging behavior. The application was designed to prevent computers from being hijacked and controlled by hackers. According to Symantec, over 6 million computers have been hijacked, and the majority of users are unaware of their computers being hacked.

Bitdefender is a multinational cybersecurity technology company dual-headquartered in Bucharest, Romania and Santa Clara, California, with offices in the United States, Europe, Australia and the Middle East.

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Malwarebytes is anti-malware software for Microsoft Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, Android, and iOS that finds and removes malware. Made by Malwarebytes Corporation, it was first released in January 2006. This is available in a free version, which scans for and removes malware when started manually, and a paid version, which additionally provides scheduled scans, real-time protection and a flash-memory scanner.

Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) is a discontinued antivirus software (AV) product that provides protection against different types of malicious software, such as computer viruses, spyware, rootkits, and Trojan horses. Prior to version 4.5, MSE ran on Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7, but not on Windows 8 and later versions, which have built-in AV components known as Windows Defender. MSE 4.5 and later versions do not run on Windows XP. The license agreement allows home users and small businesses to install and use the product free of charge.

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Kaspersky Lab is a Russian multinational cybersecurity and anti-virus provider headquartered in Moscow, Russia, and operated by a holding company in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1997 by Eugene Kaspersky, Natalya Kaspersky and Alexey De-Monderik. Kaspersky Lab develops and sells antivirus, internet security, password management, endpoint security, and other cybersecurity products and services.

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References

↑ Knell, Doug (2018). "Secret #9: Install malware and spyware tools as well to keep Big Brother at Bay". Computer Comprehensive Companion: Over 100 computer tips and Windows tricks your friends, family, and most hated enemies only wish they knew!. Innovasion. p. 40. ISBN 9786163821751 – via Google Books.
1 2 3 4 5 "IObit Malware Fighter" (PDF). IObit.com. September 5, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
1 2 Linas Kiguolis (May 14, 2018). "IObit Malware Fighter 6 Pro review, manual and guides". reviewedbypro.com. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
↑ Maria Baeta (May 11, 2018). "The new IObit Malware Fighter 6 is here: download it for free before everybody else". Softonic.com . Retrieved August 23, 2018.
↑ Martin Brinkmann (December 28, 2010). "IObit Malware Fighter, New Anti-Malware Software". Ghacks . Retrieved August 23, 2018.
↑ Ionut Ilascu (May 21, 2013). "IObit Malware Fighter 2 Stable Released". Softpedia . Retrieved August 23, 2018.
↑ Mike Williams (January 21, 2015). "IObit Malware Fighter 3 Free extends browsing protection". betanews.com. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
↑ Bogdan Popa (March 7, 2016). "IObit Malware Fighter 4.0 Final Brings Full Support for Windows 10". Softpedia . Retrieved August 23, 2018.
↑ Mike Williams (March 3, 2017). "IObit Malware Fighter 5 adds anti-ransomware engine, webcam protection". betanews.com. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
↑ Donna Buenaventura (November 26, 2011). "IObit Malware Fighter Review". brighthub.com. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
↑ Neil J. Rubenking (May 17, 2013). "IObit Malware Fighter 2". PC Magazine UK . Retrieved August 23, 2018.
↑ Elena Opris (December 27, 2013). "IObit Malware Fighter Pro Review". Softpedia . Retrieved August 23, 2018.
↑ Neil J. Rubenking (March 12, 2015). "IObit Malware Fighter 3 Pro". PC Magazine UK . Retrieved August 23, 2018.
↑ Eddie Cho (May 20, 2013). "IObit Malware Fighter". Download.com . Retrieved August 23, 2018.
↑ Neil J. Rubenking (May 2, 2017). "IObit Malware Fighter 5 Pro". PC Magazine . Retrieved August 23, 2018.
↑ Mike Williams (July 18, 2017). "IObit Malware Fighter Pro review". TechRadar . Retrieved August 23, 2018.

External links

Official website

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[1] Knell, Doug (2018). "Secret #9: Install malware and spyware tools as well to keep Big Brother at Bay". Computer Comprehensive Companion: Over 100 computer tips and Windows tricks your friends, family, and most hated enemies only wish they knew!. Innovasion. p. 40. ISBN 9786163821751 – via Google Books.

[release-2] 1 2 3 4 5 "IObit Malware Fighter" (PDF). IObit.com. September 5, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2022.

[pro-3] 1 2 Linas Kiguolis (May 14, 2018). "IObit Malware Fighter 6 Pro review, manual and guides". reviewedbypro.com. Retrieved August 23, 2018.

[4] Maria Baeta (May 11, 2018). "The new IObit Malware Fighter 6 is here: download it for free before everybody else". Softonic.com . Retrieved August 23, 2018.

[5] Martin Brinkmann (December 28, 2010). "IObit Malware Fighter, New Anti-Malware Software". Ghacks . Retrieved August 23, 2018.

[6] Ionut Ilascu (May 21, 2013). "IObit Malware Fighter 2 Stable Released". Softpedia . Retrieved August 23, 2018.

[7] Mike Williams (January 21, 2015). "IObit Malware Fighter 3 Free extends browsing protection". betanews.com. Retrieved August 23, 2018.

[iobit-8] Bogdan Popa (March 7, 2016). "IObit Malware Fighter 4.0 Final Brings Full Support for Windows 10". Softpedia . Retrieved August 23, 2018.

[9] Mike Williams (March 3, 2017). "IObit Malware Fighter 5 adds anti-ransomware engine, webcam protection". betanews.com. Retrieved August 23, 2018.

[10] Donna Buenaventura (November 26, 2011). "IObit Malware Fighter Review". brighthub.com. Retrieved August 23, 2018.

[11] Neil J. Rubenking (May 17, 2013). "IObit Malware Fighter 2". PC Magazine UK . Retrieved August 23, 2018.

[12] Elena Opris (December 27, 2013). "IObit Malware Fighter Pro Review". Softpedia . Retrieved August 23, 2018.

[13] Neil J. Rubenking (March 12, 2015). "IObit Malware Fighter 3 Pro". PC Magazine UK . Retrieved August 23, 2018.

[14] Eddie Cho (May 20, 2013). "IObit Malware Fighter". Download.com . Retrieved August 23, 2018.

[15] Neil J. Rubenking (May 2, 2017). "IObit Malware Fighter 5 Pro". PC Magazine . Retrieved August 23, 2018.

[16] Mike Williams (July 18, 2017). "IObit Malware Fighter Pro review". TechRadar . Retrieved August 23, 2018.

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