how to uninstall malwarebytes anti-malware

Tygb, I know this post is old but your solution helped me get rid of the free Malwarebytes software. I couldn't find the "uninstall Malewarebytes" option and going into Applications and choosing move to trash didn't completely remove the software, I could still see the Malwarebytes icon in the menu bar. Following your steps helped to completely uninstall. Thank you. Sometimes you have to go beyond what the manufacturer instructs you to do. Thank you,

Hi Thomas,

I have been following your threads since 2015 when I first downloaded Malwarebytes due to weird behavior and corruption of an entire exterior hard drive with all my work stuff. I am trying to uninstall the old version of the program and download the new one. The uninstall from the help menu isn't working. To put it in layman's terms - nothing happens. Please help.

Yes, without the helper tool, the old Malwarebytes Anti-Malware software can't remove itself. Of course, if you don't have the helper tool installed, you could also just drag the app to the trash. That is not the case with the newer software, though.

You did right tygb. Everything thomas-R says is wrong here and on other sites re: Malwarebytes. Thank you tygb for helping us remove this disgustingly annoying software that doesn't come with uninstall.

Thank you Thomas, for updating and adding correction to this thread.

And for helping Mac users everywhere since before adwaremedic in

your site pages and earlier in Apple discussions.

Best regards & happy trails! 🙂

I hate to resurrect an answered question, but I have a slight wrinkle on this. I did use the Malwarebytes uninstaller, but one file remains:

.library/StagedExtensions/Library/Extensions/com.malwarebytes.mbam.rtprotection. kext

At least I don't have the persistent menu bar icon.

I'm not sure why, but one kext file isn't removed, and it cannot be deleted using the Finder.

Is there any reason why I could not use the terminal to delete this kext? Does it need to be unloaded first? I just don't like having remnants of unwanted software on my Mac... there could be a future system update that renders it incompatible. But I'm not really experienced with the Terminal, and worry about making my system unbootable.

Thanks for any insight you have into this.

Thanks. I would have been more concerned if were placed there by the third party application. I'm content to leave SIP functioning and ignore the file. As you said, it isn't loaded. This whole problem started because when I installed Malwarebytes a few months ago, I couldn't turn off the trial active protection (which I don't want running). I performed the uninstall using the recommended uninstaller, and was only concerned if it had left a file that might still be active.

I appreciate the explanation - my Mac and I will both sleep better tonight. Thanks!

Once again, thanks. Actually, I had first installed this when the app was first released after it was upgraded to a paid app. At that time, it wasn't as clear as it is now how to stop realtime protection. Because I wasn't sure I wanted something running in the background (and possibly service as a new point of attack), I deleted Malwarebytes manually. When I found this one kext in the unusual location, and after it became clear that there was a way to uninstall, I reinstalled the app just for the purpose of uninstalling, hoping this one kext would also be removed.

When this kext wasn't removed, I began to worry why, and then solicited help here which led to your very helpful explanation of why it is there and why it's hard to remove.

Too much work for a simple app, but I understand why it needs to be installed this way. I also wish they had made things clearer when it was first released - they might have had a few more users by now, too.

This screen capture shows the Uninstall under Help.

Cheers..

Launch it and choose to uninstall it from the Help menu.

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Move the cursor to the very top of the computer’s screen and click on Help.

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The MalwareBytes anti-malware instructions (also within help in app) include uninstall;

see the link to .pdf guide from the maker site to read more about it, or look into the

Help Menu in open MalwareBytes application to choose Uninstall MalwareBytes.

https://www.malwarebytes.org/pdf/guides/MBAM-Mac-Guide.pdf

You can find the MalwareBytes Anti-Malware application in the LaunchPad in Dock, or in

Applications folder via GO in the Apple Menu bar in the Finder desktop window header.

It can be launched from either location to see the application & use removal instructions.

From the PDF above, about Uninstall Malwarebytes Anti-Malware:

"In addition to the helper tool, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will add an item named

"com.malwarebytes.services" to the keychain during installation....

This is used to store data which identifies your system to our update servers, and is a

pre-requisite for downloading of database updates. This is not something you will be

aware of unless you go looking for it, and be aware that adding an item to the keychain

does not mean that the app has access to anything else in your keychain; it does not...

If you wish to remove Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, as well as the helper tool and all

data and settings files, simply open Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and choose Uninstall

Malwarebytes Anti-Malwarefrom the Help menu."

Hopefully this helps somewhat; should you choose to use it again after uninstalling, go to

the maker site for the latest update version. There are other copies now that this has been

somewhat successful in removal of adware &/or malware.

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

Sorry, it does not work.

Hopefully, in the more than six months since this thread was last active, the poster has figured it out.