Formerly known as ExploitShield, the rebranded security tool Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit offers protection for popular applications against all sorts of exploits. The program is still in beta and for now it can be used for free, but we can expect to see it become commercial as soon as this development stage is over.
Installation & Requirements
Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit has a snappy installation and users only get standard settings throughout the process. The lightweight tool has no hardware requirements and runs on all versions of Windows XP, Windows Server, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8.
Interface
By default, Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit runs quietly in the system tray and you’ll never see it unless you choose to reveal its interface. The tray icon context menu comes with four options: show the UI, start & stop protection and exit the program.
The tabbed UI is very straightforward: the General tab shows a quick view of the protection status: number of shielded applications, blocked exploit attempts, files quarantined and program version. Here, users can also stop and start the protection and close the UI (not the program).
Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit can shield some of the most popular applications against exploits: the list is displayed in the Shields tab and includes major browsers (Firefox, Chrome, Internet Explorer, Opera), Microsoft Office programs (Excel, Word, Powerpoint), Java, Adobe Reader, Windows Media Player, Winamp and others.
The application also has a Logs tab, showing the history of actions and events and an Exclusions tab, although it cannot be edited, at least not right now.
Pros
– Fast setup with standard options.
– Straightforward, tabbed UI.
– Runs unobtrusively in the system tray.
– Protects popular third-party applications against exploits.
Cons
– Users cannot make any settings to customize the program’s functionality.
Conclusion
For now, Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit can be a valuable tool for those seeking protection against exploits, but it supports a limited number of applications and customization is out of question. Even so, the program is still in beta and since now it is a Malwarebytes product we can expect significant improvements very soon.
