Plumbytes Review 2026: Is It Still Safe vs Malwarebytes?

Plumbytes vs Malwarebytes in 2026: the short answer

Plumbytes Anti-Malware does not look like a live product in 2026. When we tried to open plumbytes.com and www.plumbytes.com in October 2026, neither domain resolved, so there was no official site to download from, buy from or ask for support. We found no current independent Plumbytes review either.

Malwarebytes is still active. Its free Windows scanner is offered as a cleanup tool for infections that already happened, while the paid Premium Security runs all the time to stop attacks.[1] If you are choosing between the two today, Malwarebytes or another maintained security tool is the safer pick. Our 2016 comparison below shows how they stood then.

Timeline: from our 2016 test to 2026

What changed since 2016

In 2016 we liked Plumbytes for its fast Smart scan, its expandable results and its 24/7 support. Most of that no longer matters if the vendor's site is gone. A security tool that gets no updates cannot detect new threats, and a missing site means no new signatures, no licence checks and no help.

Malwarebytes changed the other way. It grew from one Windows program into apps for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS, a Browser Guard extension and a VPN.[1] Its own page now describes the free scanner as a cleanup tool for attacks that already damaged a device, and Premium Security as the part that stops attacks first.[1] Real-time protection and scheduled scans are Premium features.[2]

Our 2016 point still stands: the free Malwarebytes is a free malware removal tool, not full antivirus. Malwarebytes now says so itself.[1] On Android and iPhone the company offers the first 7 days of Premium features for free.[1] On Windows, some users on the Malwarebytes forum have complained that the free install started a 14 day Premium trial without asking them first.[4]

Risks around both names in 2026 (our analysis)

Searches for Plumbytes and for a full version of Malwarebytes often lead to unsafe pages. These are the risks we see.

• Old Plumbytes installers on download portals. With no official site, any copy you find comes from a third party, may be modified and will not update.
• Cracked or full version Malwarebytes files. Pirated security tools are a common way to deliver information stealers and adware. Use only malwarebytes.com or official app stores.
• Fake keys and license generators. They often bundle unwanted programs or ask for payment details.
• Fake support numbers that use either brand name. Our original report praised Plumbytes support, but no official support channel exists to call now.
• Leftover Plumbytes programs on old PCs. An outdated scanner can give a false sense of safety.

How to switch safely in six steps

1. Check what you run. Open the list of installed apps in Windows settings and look for Plumbytes or any other security tool you no longer recognise.

2. Uninstall Plumbytes. Remove it through Windows app settings. Two security tools running real-time protection at once can slow the PC or conflict.

3. Use official sources only. Get Malwarebytes from malwarebytes.com or the official app stores.[1][3] Never use a cracked full version or a key generator.

4. Run a full scan. A free cleanup scan finds infections that are already on the computer.[1] Remove what it finds and restart.

5. Turn on ongoing protection. A free scanner only cleans up. For protection that runs all the time, use Premium or keep Microsoft Defender or another maintained antivirus active.[1][2]

6. Keep it updated. Let the program update itself. If a scanner shows no updates for weeks, replace it. Our virus removal guides help with threats a scanner misses.

What is still unknown

• When and why Plumbytes went offline. We found no statement from the company.
• Whether any official Plumbytes update server still works for old installs. We could not reach any Plumbytes site in October 2026.
• Whether existing Plumbytes customers can still get refunds or support. We found no contact that works.

Our original 2016 report

The text below is our report as first published in 2016. We keep it unchanged for the record; the sections above bring it up to date.

Today, anti-malware software companies offer users a wide range of various anti-spyware and anti-malware products. The cyber crime rate increases every day; criminals improve their techniques, and it becomes more and more difficult to protect the computer. We can see warnings here and there urging to install an anti-malware software to prevent virus attacks, however, choosing the right product from such variety of available products can be tough. Today, we are going to compare two products – Plumbytes Anti-malware and probably more known program – MalwareBytes AntiMalware. You might think that the more popular program is better than the less-known one, but we suggest you not to judge hastily. We suggest reading this Plumbytes vs Malwarebytes AntiMalware comparison first and only then decide which program you wish to use.

Latest versions: Plumbytes Anti-Malware 1.0.1.9; Malwarebytes AntiMalware 2.2.1.1043.
Free versions: Plumbytes Anti-Malware Free; Malwarebytes AntiMalware Free.
Paid options: Plumbytes Anti-Malware 2016; Malwarebytes AntiMalware Premium.

Installation: During installation, we haven't encountered any difficulties – both programs can be installed quickly and easily. However, we have noticed one disadvantage in Malwarebytes – we have installed it in a different language, and the text in the program has been clearly auto-translated. We believe that it is better to provide properly translated text rather than haphazardly translated one. The rest of the installation process went smoothly.

System requirements: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is compatible with 32/64-bit versions of Windows 7, 8, 8.1, and 10. It is also compatible with Windows Vista (Service Pack 1 or later, 32/64-bit), and Windows XP (Service Pack 2 and later, 32-bit only). Plumbytes Anti-Malware is also compatible with 32/64-bit Windows 7, 8, 10, Vista (with SP2, 32 bit only) and XP (with SP3, 32 bit only). While Plumbytes asks for 60 MB free disk space and 512 MB RAM, Malwarebytes asks for more. It needs even 2048 MB RAM, except 256 MB for Windows XP, 800 MHz CPU or faster with SSE2 technology, 20 MB of hard disk space and greater than 1024×768 screen resolution. However, Malwarebytes offers a version for Mac users, too.

Scanners: We must note that both programs have a very friendly user interface. They both are designed to scan the system and particular areas automatically. Therefore, the user does not need to adjust any settings, just to sit back and relax until these programs finish to scan the system. However, if the user wants to do something at the same time while the scanners are active, he/she might notice that Malwarebytes scan lasts longer and that it slightly slows down the computer system. Meanwhile, Plumbytes Smart scan feature helps to scan the system faster and get scan results sooner. We have also noticed that Malwarebytes Anti-Malware presents each virus components separately, while Plumbytes shows each infection as a category that can be expanded. The user can choose whether he/she wants to see all files related to the infection or just to see the summarized results.

Malware removal: After scanning the system, both of these anti-malware programs offer malware removal service. The user can select and deselect threats that he/she wants to remove, and then eliminate them with a single click. Now, we have to say that the free version of Malwarebytes can remove threats for free, however, the full pack of useful features comes only with the Premium version, which is a paid one. The paid version of Malwarebytes can not only clean the infections, but also to prevent future infections, block malicious websites, hide from malware and, supposedly, scan the system quickly. As we have mentioned already, Plumbytes has proven to be a faster scanner. For comparison, Plumbytes can scan the system for free and detect numerous computer threats, but it clearly states that all advantageous features come with the licensed version of it. The paid version of Plumbytes Anti-Malware 2016 comes with these functions: malware and spyware detection, browser "anti-hijack" protection technology, fast scan, basic security threat detection, and premium support service. Now, let us talk about the last feature. It appears that Plumbytes offers 24/7 Technical Support service; this feature is very helpful because it means that users who discover that the anti-malware program cannot identify or remove a certain threat successfully can ask for individual help from IT technicians and get a custom fix for their computers. In comparison to Plumbytes, Malwarebytes suggests sending a ticket or posting on their forums for help. In our opinion, this way customers might have to wait for help longer than contacting 24/7 support service offered by Plumbytes.

Final notes: There is no doubt that both programs are powerful and useful, however, there are some aspects that you should evaluate before installing one or another program. Although Malwarebytes Anti-Malware software is often advertised as a free anti-malware program, we believe that it would be right to say that it is a free malware removal tool, because all of its anti-malware features are available only for those who purchase its full version. Plumbytes offers free scan feature to allow the user to see whether the computer is infected or not, and it clearly states that it is a paid anti-malware program. Besides, Plumbytes can refund your money within 60 days from the purchase day, while Malwarebytes provides a twice shorter period to fill refund request form – 30 days.

If you want to see more Plumbytes vs other security programs comparisons, navigate to this post – Plumbytes review.

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