When it comes to antivirus software, one of the most popular options available is Malwarebytes. This software is renowned for its ability to detect and remove malware from your computer. However, many users have noticed that Malwarebytes will often quarantine malware instead of deleting it outright. This can be confusing for some users, who may wonder why the software is not simply removing the malware from their computer. In this article, we will explore why Malwarebytes quarantines malware instead of deleting it and what this means for your computer's security.
What is Malware?
Before we dive into the reasons why Malwarebytes quarantines instead of deleting malware, it is important to understand what malware is and how it can affect your computer. Malware is a type of software that is designed to harm your computer or steal your personal information. It can take many forms, including viruses, trojans, spyware, and ransomware. Malware can be transmitted through email attachments, downloads, or even visiting a malicious website.
Why Does Malwarebytes Quarantine?
The reason why Malwarebytes quarantines malware instead of deleting it is simple: it is a safety precaution. When Malwarebytes detects malware on your computer, it will quarantine it by isolating the infected file and preventing it from executing. This prevents the malware from causing further harm to your computer, such as spreading to other files or stealing your personal information.
By quarantining the malware, Malwarebytes gives you the opportunity to review the file and determine whether or not it is safe to keep on your computer. If you are unsure about the file, Malwarebytes recommends that you submit it to their research team for analysis. This helps to improve the software's ability to detect and remove malware in the future.
How to Review and Delete Quarantined Malware
If you do decide to review the quarantined file, you can do so by accessing the Quarantine tab in the Malwarebytes dashboard. From here, you can view a list of all quarantined files and their associated details. If you determine that a file is safe to keep on your computer, you can restore it from quarantine. However, if you determine that a file is malicious, you can choose to permanently delete it from your computer.
It is important to note that deleting a file from quarantine will permanently remove it from your computer. This means that you will not be able to restore it later, so it is important to be absolutely sure that the file is malicious before deleting it.
Why Quarantine is Better Than Delete
While some users may be frustrated by the fact that Malwarebytes does not delete malware outright, there are actually several benefits to quarantining malware instead. One of the main benefits is that it allows you to review the file and determine whether or not it is safe to keep on your computer. This helps to prevent false positives, which can occur when legitimate files are mistakenly identified as malware.
Quarantining malware also helps to improve the software's ability to detect and remove malware in the future. When you submit a quarantined file to Malwarebytes for analysis, their research team can use the information to improve the software's detection capabilities. This helps to make the software more effective at detecting and removing malware in the future.
Conclusion
While it may be frustrating to see malware quarantined instead of deleted, it is important to understand that this is a safety precaution designed to protect your computer. By quarantining malware, Malwarebytes gives you the opportunity to review the file and determine whether or not it is safe to keep on your computer. If you are unsure about a file, it is always a good idea to submit it to Malwarebytes for analysis. By doing so, you can help to improve the software's ability to detect and remove malware in the future.
Overall, Malwarebytes is a powerful antivirus software that can help to keep your computer safe from malware. By understanding why it quarantines malware instead of deleting it, you can make more informed decisions about how to manage infected files on your computer.
