Popular anti-malware package Malwarebytes is trialling a beta of its biggest rewrite ever, but the improvements come at a cost as the software moves to a paid subscription model.
Malwarebytes 2.0 introduces a completely redesigned user interface which the company claims makes the software easier to use with faster access to its key functionality. The new release also includes an improved engine for malware detection and removal, and claims of significantly boosted capabilities against root-kit malware. 'This is the biggest rewrite we have ever undertaken,' claimed chief executive Marcin Kleczynski of the beta release, 'and we hope you’re thrilled with the result.'
The release of Malwarebytes 2.0 will come with a less popular change in tow, however: the shift to a subscription-based model costing $24.95 per year for coverage of up to three systems. 'As more and more people have come to rely on us for malware protection and cleanup, our costs in bandwidth, hosting fees, infrastructure, salaries of our researchers, QA department, and more have grown immensely,' explained Kleczynski. 'Though our company is about more than just making money, we are a company and we do have to make money to pay our staff to continue doing what they love, which is fighting malware. The subscription model will help us to be sustainable for the future while staying true to our roots that we will always make malware cleanup free for everyone.
'We could have gone other routes to make our business more financially sustainable, like adding toolbars or advertisements like many other security products have, but that's not the company we are. We believe that products should be nag-free and cleanup shouldn't cost our users a dime, and we're going to stay true to that.'
Customers who have already purchased a lifetime licence for Malwarebytes will not need to pay the subscription fee, Kleczynski added, and the company plans to ease the transition with the offer of a limited number of additional lifetime licences for those who have not yet made the plunge.
Malwarebytes 2.0 introduces a completely redesigned user interface which the company claims makes the software easier to use with faster access to its key functionality. The new release also includes an improved engine for malware detection and removal, and claims of significantly boosted capabilities against root-kit malware. 'This is the biggest rewrite we have ever undertaken,' claimed chief executive Marcin Kleczynski of the beta release, 'and we hope you’re thrilled with the result.'
The release of Malwarebytes 2.0 will come with a less popular change in tow, however: the shift to a subscription-based model costing $24.95 per year for coverage of up to three systems. 'As more and more people have come to rely on us for malware protection and cleanup, our costs in bandwidth, hosting fees, infrastructure, salaries of our researchers, QA department, and more have grown immensely,' explained Kleczynski. 'Though our company is about more than just making money, we are a company and we do have to make money to pay our staff to continue doing what they love, which is fighting malware. The subscription model will help us to be sustainable for the future while staying true to our roots that we will always make malware cleanup free for everyone.
'We could have gone other routes to make our business more financially sustainable, like adding toolbars or advertisements like many other security products have, but that's not the company we are. We believe that products should be nag-free and cleanup shouldn't cost our users a dime, and we're going to stay true to that.'
Customers who have already purchased a lifetime licence for Malwarebytes will not need to pay the subscription fee, Kleczynski added, and the company plans to ease the transition with the offer of a limited number of additional lifetime licences for those who have not yet made the plunge.
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