Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Premium free trial expiring 4 days

[Liz from Lancs]

The Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Premium (Trial) installed free by the computer shop recently when it installed Windows 7 expires in 4 days!

The free one I had on with XP was ongoing. I have clicked the icon on my toolbar which has a warning exclamation mark on but the only option seems to buy Premium and End Free Trial.

I have googled and see from the Malware website that the free one is available to download. Should that be sufficient for me along with Avast? It must be what I had before. Do I download the free version and then cancel the free trial one or leave both on my computer and let the free trial expire?

Also notice my Windows Defender is active and wonder if I need that and Avast?

Many thanks. I am learning not to panic ...

[AntonyM]

The free Malwarebytes version should be perfectly fine - remove the trial version, then download the free one. Just run it once in a while, or when you think you may have downloaded something problematic.

I believe Windows Defender is an antispyware program, much the same as Malwarebytes - so you probably don't need to use both of those, and could not bother with Malwarebytes at all.

Avast is an antivirus package.

[Elaine ..Spain]

Liz, my husband had a similar problem last week - even though he had originally downloaded the free trial offer.
When the box pops up to say that your Premium Trial is due to expire in x days, he said that in small print at the bottom of that box was an option to CANCEL. Just click on that and it automatically takes you to the free version.

[Liz from Lancs]

Thank you, Anthony and Elaine. Saved my bacon, once more .

ADDED: No small print under mine, Elaine, and when I cancelled the free trial, the icon on my toolbar disappeared. However, it was still in my Programmes and I clicked on it and said Yes to altering my hard drive, whatever and the icon is back on toolbar and active as free version.

Whew!

[PeteW1959]

...when I cancelled the free trial, the icon on my toolbar disappeared.

That is the main difference between the free and premium versions. The premium runs silently in the background giving you 'real-time' protection, whereas you have to run the free version manually.

[Liz from Lancs]

Thanks, Pete. I still have Windows Defender which has prompted me to scan now, which have done.

Do I have to regularly scan with Malware too. Have I understood right that I have to do that manually? When I had XP, I must admit I never did anything...

[PeteW1959]

Just like checking the oil, water and tyre pressures in your car, you should always check some things regularly on your PC.

This includes running a malware scan with Malwarebytes (other scanners are available), a virus scan and updates. You could also run a disc defragmenter and clear out old and duplicated files occasionally, but this isn't as important as it used to be, as hard drives are much bigger and faster than they used to be.

Some of these things do run automatically, but that very much depends on the version (e.g. free or paid).

[Liz from Lancs]

Thank you, Pete.