Recent Posts

4526

Living Room / Hurricane Sandy - relative size to previous hurricanes.

« Last post by IainB on October 31, 2012, 06:20 PM »

Following on from my comment above, Roger Pielke Sr. has more posts about H-Sandy and other hurricanes on his blog. One of them: The Size Of Hurricane Sandy – How Does It Compare?
There are embedded images and links in his blog, so it is probably best to read them directly via the link, but here are two interesting extracts:

• Extract #1: For comparison with the figure from the book, the distance between 5 degrees of latitude in the figure below is 555 km (300 nautical miles or 345 statute miles ).  Tip had tropical storm winds out to ~700km on the east side and  hurricane winds out to about ~175 km from the eye.
  The  analyses from NHC [shown below] show that Sandy’s size of tropical storm and hurricane winds were comparable to Tip, but, fortunately, the hurricane winds were much less in Sandy.  Also, the radius of hurricane winds, appears to have contracted substantially at and right after landfall.
  
  
• Extract #2: Clearly, Sandy was a giant tropical cyclone, and rivals the largest ones in size that occur in the Pacific Ocean. A major difference with Tip, however, is that Tip attained wind speeds of up to 190 mph (305 km/h) and a central pressure of 870 millibars (25.69 inches of mercury) – see, while Sandy was a much more modest hurricane.  This suggests the potential that if a major hurricane (such as Hazel from 1955) followed the same path as Sandy as it merged with a midlatitude storm system, a truly worse-case superstorm could occur.  Thus the worse-case scenario, even with the current climate, did not happen with Sandy.
  Regardless, how, or if, the risk from hurricane landfalls of this type increases in the future, a prudent policy path would be to reduce the risk from all plausible hurricane landfalls. through more effective land use planning.
  

4527

Living Room / Hurricane Sandy in the context of the phenomena of hurricanes in general.

« Last post by IainB on October 31, 2012, 05:59 PM »

(@SKA: I wonder if you could correct the title of the OP to read Hurricane... - i.e. not the "...caine" ending?)

There's a really interesting and informative post about H-Sandy in the context of the phenomena of hurricanes in general, on a climate scientist's blog (Climate Science: Roger Pielke Sr.) - “Hurricanes: Their Nature And Impacts On Society” Published In 1997 By Pielke Jr. and Pielke Sr. Available As A PDF
(The post is copied below including typos and the embedded hyperlink to the .PDF file.)

Our book Pielke, R.A., Jr. and R.A. Pielke, Sr., 1997: Hurricanes: Their nature and impacts on society. John Wiley and Sons, England, 279 pp. is available as a pdf. The material is not updated for more recent storms (since 1997) but the recommendations and information on tropical cyclones may useful in the discussion of the impacts of Sandy. Of particular interest related to such late season hurricanes is the text on Hurricane Hazel (1954) where we wrote that

   Hazel joined with another storm system to devastate inland communities from Virginia to Ontario, Canada. Washington, DC experienced its strongest winds ever recorded……..In 1954, Hurricane Hazel…..underwent a similar rapid acceleration to a speed of 60 mph (27 meters per second), as strong south to southwesterly winds developed to the west of the storm. Hazel crossed the North Carolina coastline at 9:25 am on 15 October, and reached Toronto, Canada only 14 hours later where it resulted in 80 deaths (Joe et al. 1995). At that time, it was the most destructive hurricane to reach the North Carolina coast. Every fishing pier was destroyed over a distance of 170 miles (270 km) from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to Cedar Island, North Carolina. All traces of civilization were practically annihilated at the immediate waterfront between Cape Fear and the South Carolina state line.
__________________

We reported that

   “….tropical cyclones can become absorbed into developing mid-latitude storms thereby infusing added moisture and wind energy from the tropical cyclone and resulting in a more intense mid-latitude storm than otherwise would occur.
__________________

Clearly, this later behavior is what made Sandy a much stronger storm than either a mid-latitude or hurricane would have been separately. In contrast to Hazel, however, Sandy was not as strong a hurricane. It also tracked towards the west as it interacted with the developing mid-latitude storm rather than accelerating northward as Hazel did.  This resulted in the large fetch of easterly and southeasterly winds into northern New Jersey, Long Island and New Your City which produced the large storm surge.

Our book also discusses the impacts of tropical cyclones which includes extreme winds, storm surge, tornadoes, flash flooding and riverine (i.e. large river) flooding. The analysis has yet to be completed, but I suspect that storm surge will attributed, by far, to  largest economic damage.

Also, with a storm of this magnitude, the National Hurricane Center, the National Center for Environmental Prediction, the media and public officials must be recognized and commended for their early warming. This has resulted in a much lower loss of life than would have otherwise occurred.

4528

Living Room / Re: Internet freedoms restrained - SOPA/PIPA/OPEN/ACTA/CETA/PrECISE-related updates

« Last post by IainB on October 31, 2012, 04:55 PM »

I'm just amazed, of all the sources of oppression, it's ... music and motion pictures? Really?! Not to commend an evil job well done, but really?! Of all the moneyed sources out there, it's those two that have managed to totally lock all of politics?!

-TaoPhoenix (October 30, 2012, 07:54 AM)

As @Renegade says:

...It's not just the entertainment industry...

Probably the most likely - and certainly the simplest - explanation is provided by the GCS "Good Corporate Psychopath" model. (Sorry, "GCS" being used phonetically.)
Go back to basics: the GCSes are those legal persons created by Western legal systems and which are effectively more powerful and in possession of apparently greater lobbying and voting rights than the consumers - the latter being the legal persons called "voters" (QED).
The GCSes that succeed do so because they focus remorselessly on their primary objective of max. return to shareholders - continued survival with max. profitable revenues  - above all else. They hang on to that objective like grim death, hacking down all opposition in their paths. Nothing else matters. This is what they must do, according to the laws governing their incorporation (QED).

Thus, if a corporation that has as one of its mottoes "Do no evil", then it is, by definition, an anomaly and an aberration, and the motto will necessarily  - nay must - become just another cliché without substance, regardless of how high-sounding, humane or philanthropic it might have been when first announced. It will revert to meaningless corporate BS where it arguably rightly belonged in the first place.

So, though it is disappointing, there are no surprises really when we read that Google Ties the Knot with Warner Music Group
Of course they would - must - do something like this.
And yes, it is "...music and motion pictures..." - really! It is arguably obvious that it has to be so, as they are part of the **AA, a syndicate of GCSes with a strong common interest, combining their resources to succeed in their role as GCSes.
We can be assured that they are not doing this out of a sense of bonhomie, camaraderie, mutual philanthropy or loving-kindness. The GCS model is perfect and intact. This is all as it should be. "We" made it that way. If they need to be dishonest with each other or stab each other in the back with callous disregard to make max. profits, then they will do so and without compunction - they're psychopathic, remember?

So, when you read about something like this: “Six Strikes” Evidence Re-reviewed to Fix RIAA Lobbying Controversy

..."A lack of transparency is also at the origin of the current controversy as TorrentFreak learned that other than the RIAA, none of the CCI partners were aware of the link between Stroz Friedberg and the RIAA. It’s not unthinkable that CCI would have picked another company to start with if the RIAA had disclosed this relationship."...

- you might be able to fall about laughing (as I did) because of the apparent naivety of the journalist. Why would the RIAA not wish to keep mum about the relationship for goodness' sake? It would surely be obvious to all but the most obtuse that to have their plant on the inside would mean that the odds would be stacked more highly in their favour.
The GCS model is here seen working perfectly, again.

4529

Living Room / Re: silly humor - post 'em here! [warning some NSFW and adult content]

« Last post by IainB on October 31, 2012, 03:01 PM »

Cuttingly relevant cartoon.

4530

General Software Discussion / Re: overcome compatibility issues

« Last post by IainB on October 31, 2012, 09:24 AM »

^ - what @Stoic Joker said.
I was left with a couple of pieces of hardware that HP forced into obsolescence like this (no drivers for the hardware in the new OS).

4531

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: Rarma Radio (Raimersoft) - Mini-Review (as at 2012-11-01)

« Last post by IainB on October 31, 2012, 07:59 AM »

2012-11-01: made an update to the OP (Minor updates and rearrangement of layout.)
Worth noting also that the sound from this radio player generally sounds better in stereo than in 7.1 surround sound - on my Logitech G930 headphones, at any rate.

4532

Living Room / Re: Steve Ballmer's Dilemma

« Last post by IainB on October 30, 2012, 06:37 PM »

^ - Nice Fibonaccies!    
But it's only just some dude with his fingers in his ears.
And the earlier pic is just some dude waving his fingers/hands around in the air.

Mind you, I'd probably start waving my hands about like that - and a lot more strange things too - if I carried the enormous responsibility for keeping a behemoth like M$oft from running off the rails. And I suspect that I'd be well past the point where I was doing it for the money.

4533

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: Malwarebytes FREE and PRO - Mini-Review (as at 2012-10-30).

« Last post by IainB on October 30, 2012, 04:57 PM »

Just to add this bit of info from an old thread (https://www.donation....msg176095#msg176095):
20% coupon code for Malwarebytes valid as of 30 October 2012: BM6-3S7-665
I don't know how long the code will be good, but it's been valid since at least March 2012.

-mwb1100 (October 30, 2012, 03:19 PM)

@mwb1100: Thanks  for that. I have added it as a note to the OP.

4534

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: Malwarebytes FREE and PRO - Mini-Review (as at 2012-10-30).

« Last post by IainB on October 30, 2012, 04:48 PM »

One nice thing is that it is easy to use only on demand when you need it, rather than having it stay resident, which makes it a good secondary tool to have in addition to a resident antivirus.

-mouser (October 30, 2012, 10:16 AM)

That's true, but according to the Malwarebytes folks, the software is intended to supplement, not duplicate, the work done by an antivirus program.  That is, Malwarebytes is designed to ignore many of the things a good AV is expected to catch and to find the malware that most AV programs often miss.  That's why I feel that the Pro version's always-on protection is worth the modest amount it costs.  You don't get this if you use MBAM only every now and then.

-cyberdiva (October 30, 2012, 02:15 PM)

Yes, I tried out MBAM PRO rather tentatively at first, to see if its always-on realtime protection was an overhead or intrusive. It seemed fine on both counts, and I always check out any site that it blocks - they have all been dodgy so far; every time a coconut.
I also installed MBAM PRO on my other laptop that my daughter uses. Even if MBAM PRO potentially sometimes could be a bit conservative (e.g., "false positives" as suggested by @rgdot), I have not yet experienced that and anyway I could put up with that. Big plus is that it's an ideal safeguard for my daughter's trouble-fee browsing and Internet use. That is, she's unlikely to inadvertently or easily download any malware/adware from her casual click-happy antics.

4535

Living Room / Re: Steve Ballmer's Dilemma

« Last post by IainB on October 30, 2012, 04:23 PM »

Very deep.
In the photo you provide, Steve Ballmer appears to be making two Fibonacci ("Golden") spirals with his hands. I wonder if that has any more-than-coincidental meaning in terms of the Fibonnaci spiral made by hurricane Sandy lately? (Balmer's an Illummumino-something - right?)
For example, from here: (This is so WOW!)



Oh, wait...or maybe not - e.g., here.
Bugger. Another myth debunked. I hate that.



...

4536

General Software Discussion / Re: overcome compatibility issues

« Last post by IainB on October 30, 2012, 09:04 AM »

What is the make and model number of the printer?

4537

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: Malwarebytes FREE and PRO - Mini-Review (as at 2012-10-30).

« Last post by IainB on October 30, 2012, 09:02 AM »

Thanks Iain
I've had a license for the pro version for a couple of months now, but haven't installed it yet - this might be me moving.
Here's their 'compare' link for the two versions:
http://www.malwareby...s/malwarebytes_free/

-tomos (October 30, 2012, 07:28 AM)

@tomos: Thanks for pointing that link out. I have added the comparison table to the OP.
If you have the PRO licene, then you really should install the thing. It's doing no good whilst it remains uninstalled, and who knows but that if it was installed, then it just might stop your PC from becoming infected with some nasty malware/adware hijack.

4538

Living Room / Re: Reader's Corner - The Library of Utopia

« Last post by IainB on October 30, 2012, 08:02 AM »

Good e-Reader Radio – Penguin Merger, Microsoft Surface and Daily News

"Today on the show we talk about some of the details surrounding the Penguin and Random House merger. What it means to the industry and what type of control each company will have. This is a huge deal and the effects will reverberate throughout the industry for years to come."

4539

Living Room / Re: Amazon closes woman's account and wipes her Kindle

« Last post by IainB on October 30, 2012, 07:54 AM »

You don't have to stand still and wait for the next move. You could always Backup those eBooks - protect your property.

4540

General Software Discussion / Re: The Best Way to Share Kindle Books on Nook, Kobo, iPad

« Last post by IainB on October 30, 2012, 07:53 AM »

Following on from my comments above: Backup those eBooks - protect your property.

4541

Living Room / Re: Internet freedoms restrained - SOPA/PIPA/OPEN/ACTA/CETA/PrECISE-related updates

« Last post by IainB on October 30, 2012, 07:45 AM »

Time to throw in the towel?
Some people might say that with this news, Google would seem to have irretrievably "gone to the Dark Side" (the **AA): Google Ties the Knot with Warner Music Group

4542

Living Room / Re: General av and anti-malware discussion

« Last post by IainB on October 30, 2012, 07:36 AM »

Prompted by the discussion that led to this post - You like science fiction, don't you? Of course you do! (where the issue of malware/adware on eBook-related websites was raised) - I got off my backside and posted: Malwarebytes FREE and PRO - Mini-Review (as at 2012-10-30). - which I had been meaning to do for some time now.

Hope this helps or is of use.

4543

Living Room / Re: You like science fiction, don't you? Of course you do!

« Last post by IainB on October 30, 2012, 07:33 AM »

Cool. I'll just stick the link here for the jump:
https://www.donation....msg304911#msg304911

-MilesAhead (October 29, 2012, 10:58 PM)

Prompted by the discussion (above) that led to @MilesAhead making the post - General av and anti-malware discussion, I got off my backside and posted: Malwarebytes FREE and PRO - Mini-Review (as at 2012-10-30). - which I had been meaning to do for some time now.

4544

Mini-Reviews by Members / Malwarebytes FREE and PRO/Premium - Mini-Review.

« Last post by IainB on October 30, 2012, 07:20 AM »

Originally posted:

2012-10-30 - for the version series v1.x on XP, Vista Ultimate and Win7HP (64-bit) 2014-06-28 - for the version series v2.x on Vista Ultimate and Win8, 8.1 (64-bit) and PRO 2017-02-02 - for the version series v3.x on Win10-64 PRO

Last updated

2014-03-17 - this was my final/last update for the version series v1.x on XP, Vista Ultimate and Win7HP (64-bit) 2014-09-26 - this relates to updates regarding the later version series v2.x on  Vista Ultimate, Win8, 8.1 (64-bit) 2015-03-27 - version 2.1.4 update.[/b] 2015-05-12 - note re McAfee Stinger.(Refer: How it compares to similar products) 2017-02-02  - version 3.0.6.1469 (with the "Awesome" screens...)

Basic Info

App Name	Malwarebytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) $FREE and PRO/Premium "Because your anti-virus alone is not enough"
Thumbs-Up Rating
App URL	http://www.malwarebytes.org/
App Version Reviewed	$FREE versions v1.x on XP and Win7. (PAID) PRO versions up to v1.75.0.1300 on Vista Ultimate and Win7. (PAID) Premium v2.0.4.1028 on Win8,8.1-64 PRO. (PAID) Premium v3.0.6.1469 on Win10-64 PRO (Not tested/reviewed $FREE versions v2.x on Win8,8.1.)
Current Version	Premium v3.0.6.1469 as at 2017-01-28
Test System Specs	Win XP Vista Ultimate Win 7-64 Home Premium. Win8,8.1-64 PRO. Win10-64 PRO
Supported OSes	Compatible with Win 64-bit/32-bit.
Support Methods	Download: http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/ Support: http://www.malwarebytes.org/support/ Help file: comes with the software.
Upgrade Policy	Upgrades are FREE to the $FREE version and also to the paid PRO and Premium versions.
Trial Version Available?	$FREE - as reviewed in this review.
Pricing Scheme	PRO/Premium version US$26.00 (approx.). See: What's the difference between the Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free and PRO/Premium versions? : Malwarebytes Support The free and PRO/Premium versions are only available for non-commercial use. Non-commercial licences are valid indefinitely (lifetime). For commercial use, there is an extended licence costing approx. $6 for 2 years Licencing notes: 1. In the discussion below, @mwb1100 mentions that, from an old thread in DC Forum - here, a 20% discount coupon code (from March 2012) for Malwarebytes was still valid as at 30 October 2012: BM6-3S7-665. 2. Refer also the discussion thread Malwarebytes is moving away from lifetime licenses

Intro and Overview:
MBAM (Malwarebytes Anti-Malware) is a malware detector/avoider/fixer, not an anti-virus checker. It protects you from sources of infection by malware/adware - stuff that can get past an AV checker because it does not behave like a virus. It also can be used to "forensically"  (that's my term for it) clean up PCs that have already been infected by malware/adware - and viruses.
I originally started trialling MBAM (the $FREE version, with version series 1.x) on PCs/laptops using Win XP, and then Win 7, just as a suck-it-and-see exercise. I then purchased the PAID (PRO) version, as my trial had proved MBAM to be a superb tool for malware avoidance, detection and removal - and virus removal - and there seemed to be nothing else quite like it on the market (or not that I was aware of, anyway) until I came across McAfee Stinger Portable | PortableApps.com (which I have not trialled).
I later installed MBAM Premium (PAID) on a temporary laptop using Vista Ultimate, and then another laptop using Win8 and its upgrade to 8.1 (using my existing MBAM PRO licence). The Win8 version was different to the Win7 version, and used the version series 2.x. On 2014-07-03, I noticed that the Vista Ultimate installation of MBAM updated itself from version series 1.x.to the newer version series 2.x, so I would guess that the version series 1.x might now be obsolete.

This review is split up below into three parts:

• 1. Using MBAM version series 3.x (on computers with the Win10-64 PRO operating system).
• 2. Using MBAM version series 2.x (on computers with the Vista Ultimate (32-bit) and Win8, 8.1-64 operating systems).
• 3. Using MBAM version series 1.x (on computers with the WinXP, Vista  (32-bit) Ultimate or Win7-64 operating systems).

________________________________________________________
1. Using MBAM version series 3.x Premium (PAID)
============================================
UPDATE 2017-02-02: Release of version 3.0.6.1469 (with the "Awesome" screens...)
General notes re v3.x:

• I have not had the time to exhaustively check this version out yet, having only just updated to v3.x
• I would have updated a couple of weeks ago but was delayed because the v3.x updater could not seem to run standalone or automatically from the GUI update command (the installers kept crashing with the same obscure error). This went on for a couple of weeks, so I had to wait till I had the time to fix it.
• I then used the latest version of the special MBAM uninstall software to force a clean uninstall of the v2.x, before running the v3.x installer. That seemed to work OK.
• NB: Before uninstalling MBAM v2.x you need to Deactivate the licence.
  You then install the new version and Reactivate the licence.
  I found from experience that failure to understand this (it decrements/increments a counter in the licencing database at MBAM HQ), means that the user will exhaust the allotted number of key uses, and will have to file a request with MBAM support to get the licence revalidated. MBAM Support were very helpful.     
• An initial glitch in MBAM seems to be that v3 sometimes starts up from a cold boot with "Realtime protection disabled", when it had been enabled at setup time. Then the user cannot then enable it in the GUI (you press the button and it sits there thinking, but apparently doing nothing). The workaround I have for this is simply to close/terminate MBAM and then restart it. Not sure if the settings are always persistent for the next boot though.
• This update otherwise looks like it has a few relatively minor changes/improvements, including to the GUI (again), which now exudes an irritatingly positive colloquial personality, telling the user that things are OK with the cliché "Awesome".      
• I intend to search up for an independent review of MBAM v3.x and post the link here.

________________________________________________________
2. Using MBAM version series 2.x Premium (PAID)
============================================
UPDATE 2015-03-27: Release of version 2.1.4

• This update includes some major changes and improvements, including to the GUI. There is a good review of this update here: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 2.1.4 brings new UI redesign | 404 Tech Support

General notes re v2.x:
Having taken delivery of a refurbished Toshiba L855D laptop running Win8-64, one of the first things I did was to install MBAM PRO using my existing installer backup copy and my existing MBAM PRO licence. However, I then found that the real-time checking functionality of MBAM was disabled - presumably by the pre-installed Norton AV that came with the laptop. In the discussion thread below, I describe how I uninstalled/expunged Norton AV, then enabled MS Security Essentials (which is now part of Windows Defender and which had been been disabled by Norton AV), then re-installed MBAM - which could then operate its real-time checking functionality unimpeded.
On running a full scan with MBAM, it detected and removed a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Program) that Norton AV must have missed. After I had connected the laptop to the Internet, MBAM automatically updated itself to the latest version of MBAM Premium, and I subsequently got the Win 8.1 update to complete successfully (it would not do so before).

There's not a lot to report otherwise, except that the latest MBAM Premium version 2.x GUI and modus operandi are different/improved to the MBAM PRO version 1.x. These differences are discussed in a rigorous test review report of MBAM Premium, by the excellent Neil J. Rubenking - Lab Results Looking Up - Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 2.0 Review & Rating | PCMag.com.
So, for more information, please refer to that review - which also includes 10 or so screenshots of the MBAM GUI and windows.
(My thanks to @Arizona Hot for pointing out the PCMAG review in his comment Re: Interesting "stuff".)

Summary rating from that PCMAG review:
Note that Install and scan in Safe Mode is a newly-added feature, and the Chameleon and rootkit scan features were previously functions that were separate to and not integrated with MBAM v1.x.

PROS Installs and scans in Safe Mode. Chameleon technology resists malware attack.[Note: this is always ON by default] Excellent results in malware removal lab test. Improved user interface and ease of use. Integrates previously separate rootkit scan. Premium version has real-time protection against attack.

CONS FREE version has No real-time protection against attack.

BOTTOM LINE When other antivirus products fail, tech support agents turn to Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 2.0. It remains a very effective cleanup tool, and with version 2.0 it gets significant improvements in appearance and ease of use.

________________________________________________________
3. Using MBAM version series 1.x ($FREE) and PRO (PAID)
============================================
Examples of use:

• Cleanup #1: I had seen MBAM referred to in DC Forum and other forums, and first downloaded the FREE version in 2010 to help me clean a friend's new laptop. The laptop was running Win7-64, and had been infected with a particularly tenacious hijack trojan.
  The trojan had somehow got past the Microsoft Security Essentials anti-virus software that I had installed in the laptop. The user had clicked on a link in a piece of spam email that he had received, and that had triggered the trojan to download.
  The laptop being unusable (locked by the Trojan), I removed the 2.5" format hard drive and attached it via a USB caddy to my laptop - having previously already installed MBAM onto my laptop (WinXP) for this purpose.
  The ease with which MBAM scanned, quarantined and helped eradicate the trojan was very impressive.
  I realised that the features which were not enabled in the FREE version of MBAM - realtime scanning and blocking of incoming/outgoing URLs - would be necessary for this user's laptop.
  So I bought two MBAM PRO licences - one for the user and one for myself.
  
  
• Cleanup #2: In early 2012 I used MBAM PRO again to clean up another user's laptop. This one was running Win XP, and had seven (7) viruses and trojans on board. It didn't have a current anti-virus proggy, and they let their 8 y/o daughter play games online with it. C'est la vie. Children are notoriously casual and click-happy with a mouse.
  Again, the ease with which MBAM scanned, quarantined and helped eradicate the malware was very impressive.
  After cleaning-up the laptop with MBAM, I installed Microsoft Security Essentials on the laptop.
  
  
• Realtime protection: I use MBAM PRO on two laptops (both using Win7-64 HP), and have set it in always-on realtime mode. I and my daughter are the users of both laptops - she mainly uses one that we call "hers". The realtime activity is not intrusive and has no apparent excessive overhead - seems to leave performance unaffected.
  When the logs of the realtime mode show that MBAM PRO has blocked a site, I always check up that site's bona fides, and so far they have all turned out to be dodgy sites. This is great for peace-of-mind - especially mine! I know that my daughter's casual click-happy antics as she browses are unlikely to cause any malware/adware to be downloaded. (I saw from the second cleanup described above how a child can inadvertently wreak havoc like that.)
  Note the comment and screenshot from @dcwul62 regarding resource loading/ usage and sluggishness on his system when MBAM is running - Re: Malwarebytes FREE and PRO - Mini-Review.. From my experience, if the user initiates a malware scan, then, though MBAM is unobtrusive, there may be an intermittent sluggishness, but this is little different to what one might expect when initiating (say) an MS Security Essentials virus scan. Again, in my experience, when MBAM is running and just in real-time protection mode, there is no noticeable delay, but YMMV.
  
  
• Other users: The following comment by @Innuendo in the discussion thread Malwarebytes is moving away from lifetime licenses was echoed by some other users on the DC Forum:
  

  I bought a MBAM license a few years back, not because I wanted/needed the real-time protection, but because I wanted to support them because they have helped me get *metric tons* of crap off of the computers that people have dragged in front of me begging me to fix over the years.
  

  -Innuendo (March 15, 2014, 06:39 PM)

Here are some screenshots of the tabbed UI:







Here is proof of it having done its job: (Quarantined some nasty adware in a downloaded program.)





Who this software is designed for:
The software is designed for any home or business user who is keen to mitigate/avoid the risk of infection by malware/adware.
It is also an excellent tool for detecting and eradicating malware/adware on already-infected PCs, and for preventing further infection.
If you feel you have no need for the always-on realtime checking feature, then you may only need the FREE version rather than the PRO version. Here is a comparison between the two, from the website: http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free/
(Thanks to @tomos for pointing me to this.)



The Good:

• Does a superb job of cleaning malware/adware off an infected PC. (FREE and PRO versions).
• Does a superb job of realtime blocking of incoming/outgoing traffic to "bad" URLs whilst browsing. (PRO version only)
• Works well and without conflicting the anti-virus package. (FREE and PRO versions)

The needs improvement section:
Nothing to comment on here.
When I first started using MBAM in 2010, the UI had seemed a bit sluggish to me, but this disappeared after 2 or 3 updates later.

Why I think you should use this product:

• Risk mitigation: and it's probably only a matter of time before you belatedly discover that you should have bought the PRO version.
• Cost-effective: MBAM (FREE and PRO version) is a relatively cheap and cost-effective security tool to have on board to treat malware/adware infection, and (PRO version) to mitigate against future infection.

How it compares to similar products:
I do not have any knowledge or experience of comparable tools to MBAM. It seems to sit in a niche.
On 2014-07-03 I came across McAfee Stinger Portable | PortableApps.com (which I have not trialled).
2015-05-12: Also see ghacks post about Stinger and a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Program) here - McAfee Stinger installs McAfee Validation Trust Protection Service

Conclusions:
Get this anti-malware tool!
It is extremely effective.

Links to other info sources/reviews of this application:
You will be able to find various references to MBAM if you google "Malwarebytes". I have not so far come across any particularly critical or adverse comments about it.

Addendum:
On the MBAM More Tools tab, there are 4 other applications you can get from software authors:

• Secure Backup
• Anti-Rootkit
• Chameleon
• StartupLite

In the discussion thread: FBI ALERT SCAM - Malware or Virus ? one DC Forum member had used one of those apps and recommended it - the Chameleon app. The Chameleon helped overcome an infection of a newer version of the FBI Scam. Once installed, Chameleon killed the process and enabled normal use of the PC again.

If you get the FBI scam hoax/hijack virus, you will apparently see an alarming "WARNING" screen. There are apparently different screens you might see. Do a Google search for "FBI scam images" and you will see them.

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Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: FreeFileSync - automated backup - Mini-Review (updated 2012-10-30)

« Last post by IainB on October 30, 2012, 05:18 AM »

@Ath: Thanks. There were several with a "wrong" date reference. Fixed now.

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Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: FreeFileSync - automated backup - Mini-Review (updated 2012-10-30).

« Last post by IainB on October 30, 2012, 02:40 AM »

Just did a detailed update and added an image to the opening post review notes (now re version 5.8, as at 2012-10-30).

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General Software Discussion / Comparison of appearance of text in different fonts - OneNote v. MS Word

« Last post by IainB on October 30, 2012, 02:17 AM »

Where document layout and appearance is important, then consider copying your notes into a MS Word document, if you want them to look their nicest on publication.
This is an example of why:

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Living Room / Re: Internet freedoms restrained - SOPA/PIPA/OPEN/ACTA/CETA/PrECISE-related updates

« Last post by IainB on October 29, 2012, 03:02 PM »

@Renegade: Some people (not me, you understand) might say that when people use terms like "my 110%...", it is proof that there are three kinds of people in this world - those who can count, and those who can't. However, I couldn't possibly comment.     

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Living Room / Re: Windows 8 Primer

« Last post by IainB on October 29, 2012, 02:18 PM »

Just as long as FARR works OK in that OS...

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Found Deals and Discounts / Advanced Task Scheduler - BitsDuJour

« Last post by IainB on October 29, 2012, 06:48 AM »

As at time of posting, the deal has 20hrs and 20 mins left to run.
Normal price = $39.95 - this deal is 100% discount.
The BDJ deal is here: https://www.bitsdujour.com/software/100-percent-free/

WARNING: When you get the email with a "Registration Key", the key is actually the Activation Code - not the Registration Key. Enter just that Activation Code into the software registration details in the Activation Code field, and you will get successful activation/registration. (That should save you the 20 mins or so of mucking about that I had.)

Looks like a useful Task Scheduler from http://www.advscheduler.com/
This is an image copy of the Hints and Tips points to be found at http://www.advscheduler.com/docs/manual/hints.html