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vpnMentor was established in 2014 as an independent site reviewing VPN services and covering privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize the independent, professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.
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vpnMentor was established in 2014 as an independent site reviewing VPN services and covering privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize the independent, professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.

Malwarebytes Privacy Review 2024: Read This Before Buying

Our Score: 3.8/10
Ranked 281st out of 306 VPNs
MJ Marsden Updated on 29th December 2023 Cybersecurity Researcher

Malwarebytes Privacy VPN is predominantly an anti-virus company, but it also offers users a VPN. Since its main focus seems to be malware protection, I wanted to find out whether its speeds, streaming abilities, and device compatibility are just as good as its security features. Is it good enough to be declared a great VPN service?

After testing its features I have to say that for a high-cost option, this VPN is lacking in some of the most fundamental areas. It failed to unblock my favorite streaming sites, and its customer support is practically non-existent.

If you’re considering Malwarebytes because of its cyber security reputation, I’d recommend you try one of my other top ranked VPNs. These options all have military-grade security features but also come with outstanding speeds, a network of world-class servers, and 24/7 customer support.

Try Malwarebytes Privacy VPN Today!

Short on Time? Here Are My Key Findings

  • Failed to unblock most streaming sites. Malwarebytes Privacy VPN couldn’t unblock Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, or Hulu. Take a look at my results.
  • Good speeds on local servers. I had good results close to my location, but farther away the speeds and ping were disappointing. Jump to my speed test results.
  • Decent server network. It has multiple servers in Europe, but less choices across the globe. Check out the list of current country locations.
  • Strong security features. Leak protection, AES 256-bit encryption, and WireGuard protocol in effect, keeping data and devices safe. Read all about it here.
  • Strict no logs policy. The company is based in the US, so data can be shared on request. That said, apart from standard personal data, it appears to have a solid no-logs policy. Check out all the details.
  • Unclear torrenting regulations. It is not made explicit on the website whether P2P file sharing is allowed, and customer support wouldn’t tell me. Find out why it’s important.
  • Extremely easy to set up and use. However, it’s only compatible with Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android and can’t be used on routers or games consoles. Find out more here.
  • Get a 1 week free trial. Plus, you can try Malwarebytes Privacy VPN out with its generous 60-day money-back guarantee.

Malwarebytes Privacy Features — 2024 Update

5.5
💸 Price 3.33 USD/month
📆 Money Back Guarantee 60 Days
📝 Does VPN keep logs? No
🖥 Number of servers 500+
💻 Number of devices per license 5
🛡 Kill switch Yes
🗺 Based in country United States
🛠 Support non-existent
📥 Supports torrenting Yes

Streaming — Limited Streaming Capabilities

Malwarebytes Privacy VPN couldn’t unblock most of my favorite streaming services, including Netflix, HBO Max, and Hulu. This was a surprise considering its price, as more premium VPNs tend to perform well in streaming tests.

I did manage to unblock BBC iPlayer and YouTube TV using its UK server.

Unblocked: BBC iPlayer and YouTube TV

Screenshot of BBC iPlayer streaming The Pros using Malwarebytes Privacy VPNIts picture quality was excellent and I had a solid connection throughout my test

Since its UK server gave me a strong connection coupled with great speeds, I could easily access BBC iPlayer and watched a few shows without any problems.

Blocked by: Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, DAZN, Disney+, and 10Play

I tested multiple servers in different locations, but Malwarebytes Privacy failed to unblock most of the popular streaming platforms.

Screenshot showing Supernatural on Netflix's homescreen with Malwarebytes Privacy VPNNone of the US servers I tried bypassed Netflix’s blocks

When I tried to access Netflix US, I couldn’t get past the blocks. Even though I had the US server up and running, I could only access my country’s library homepage.

Screenshot showing Hulu blocking access using Malwarebytes Privacy's US serverIt told me I was connected to the US, but Hulu wasn’t fooled

Hulu immediately knew I wasn’t in the US, meaning that it either recognised the Malwarebytes server as being a VPN, or the server failed to assign me a new location.

Screenshot showing HBO Max blocking access using Malwarebytes Privacy VPNAfter multiple attempts I had to give up as HBO’s blocks were too tough

HBO Max’s geoblocks are tough to beat, and Malwarebytes’ US servers didn’t stand a chance from my location.

Screenshot showing DAZN blocked access screen using Malwarebytes Privacy VPNNone of the servers I tested managed to get past DAZN’s blocks

I tried a few server choices in the US, but none of them were able to access DAZN.

Screenshot showing 10Play blocking access to Malwarebytes Privacy VPNThere are few servers in and around Australia, so this wasn’t too much of a surprise

Its Australian server performed extremely badly in my tests, and couldn’t unblock any of the streaming platforms I tested, such as 10Play.

Because of these results, I can’t recommend Malwarebytes Privacy VPN for streaming. Its inability to unblock most of the top streaming platforms makes it a terrible choice if you want to it to access international TV. Instead, I recommend trying one of these great VPNs, which all performed fantastically in my streaming tests.

Speeds — Good on Local Servers

I got good results on servers closer to my location but my speed dropped by over 60% on faraway servers in Australia. My speed tests measured:

  • Download speed — measures the amount of data you can transfer per second. Faster download speeds mean you’ll have zero buffering or lag while you stream.
  • Upload speed — how much data you can send data through your connection in a specific timeframe.
  • Ping — how long it takes for your device’s data to reach its intended location. This shows you how responsive your connection is. The higher your ping, the more lag you’ll have.
Screenshot showing Malwarebytes Privacy UK, US and Australian server speed test resultsMy speed barely dropped at all using its UK server

In the UK and the Netherlands, the speeds only dropped around 5% from my base location which was a great result. My upload speeds throughout were pretty standard, giving me more than enough on most of the servers I tested.

Screenshot showing Malwarebytes Privacy Netherlands, Japan, Germany, and France server speed test resultsAlthough local servers performed quite well, I had mixed results further from my location

My download speed dropped below 25 Mbps on its US and French servers, which is more than enough to successfully stream, game, and download content. This gave me around 60% less than what I started with.

The worst result I had was with its Australian server, where I had the slowest speeds and the highest ping. You can see the full results of my tests in the table below.

Country Download Speed Upload Speed Ping
My location 50.78 Mbps 38.16 Mbps 4 ms
The US 24.77 Mbps (51% decrease) 43.70 Mbps (14% increase) 168 ms
The UK 48.26 Mbps(4% decrease) 45.40 Mbps (19% increase) 47 ms
The Netherlands 48.98 Mbps(3% decrease) 38.44 Mbps (0.7% increase) 44 ms
Japan 32.73 Mbps(35% decrease) 22.73 Mbps (40% decrease) 300 ms
Australia 17.91 Mbps(64% decrease) 10.31 Mbps (72% decrease) 312 ms
Germany 39.15 Mbps(22% decrease) 44.37 Mbps (16% increase) 41 ms
France 20.31 Mbps(60% decrease) 38.25 Mbps (0.2% increase) 56 ms

Since I had such great results on many of the servers I tested, I can conclude that Malwarebytes Privacy’s speeds are pretty good on local servers. However, a VPN shouldn’t slow you down by more than 20% on any of its locations. If you’re looking for a superfast service, take a look at these VPNs.

Are Malwarebytes Privacy’s Speeds Fast Enough for Gaming? Only on Local Servers

I could only manage to game on selected nearby servers. I had good ping results when I tested the servers that were near to my location. However, gaming on faraway locations like the US and Japan was impossible due to the high ping.

Screenshot showing Malwarebytes Privacy VPN's network test performances on gaming sitesIt was only when I tried to game using the farthest servers that I had problems

Ping is a measurement of the time it takes for a website to respond to your request to connect and anything over 150 ms is considered very high. While the local servers allowed me to play with my teammates in real-time, I was constantly lagging while connected to its US servers.

If you need a good VPN for gaming, give one of my favorite options a try. All of these performed well in my latency tests, making gaming online easy.

Server Network — Multiple European Locations

Malwarebytes Privacy VPN has 500 servers in 40 countries, which is a fairly average network. It’s better to look for a VPN that has a large server network because there’s a higher chance that there will be a server close to your actual location. When there are less servers slowdowns caused by overcrowding are likely.

If you’re looking for a server in Europe, this VPN could have you covered. But it has minimal locations in South America and Asia.

Europe Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Macedonia, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK
South America Brazil
North America Canada, The US
Asia Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore
Oceania Australia, New Zealand

Security — Generally Safe

Overall, its security is excellent, which I would expect from a company focused on anti-virus technology.

Encryption and Protocols

Malwarebytes Privacy VPN uses the WireGuard protocol, which is much faster than OpenVPN. It’s renowned for its security and reliable data protection, and is compatible with Windows, iOS, macOS, and Android.

It has military-grade 256-bit encryption, meaning that your data is completely secure. Even if a hacker did manage to access your data, they would never be able to decode the encryption key to work out what it says.

The website indicates that the more expensive plan that covers 5 devices also includes ransomware and malware prevention and removal. This means that Malwarebytes Privacy VPN incorporates some of its cyber-security measures into its more premium plans, blocking any attempts to infect your devices with malware. It also includes anti-virus software to clear away any existing bugs or trackers.

IP, DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 Leaks

All the servers I tested were fully secure. I ran it through a leak detector tool and no IP, WebRTC, or DNS leaks were detected on any of the servers I tried. A DNS leak is a breach of your security that allows your ISP to see your internet activity. In the event of an IP and WebRTC leak, your real IP address would be revealed to third parties, such as hackers and the websites you access.

Screenshot showing leak test results for Malwarebytes Privacy VPN's US serversAll of the servers I tried were fully secure

Malwarebytes Privacy VPN failed to disable IPv6, though. This means that my IP address could still get exposed if a website requested it. This is not a very big problem, as the default was set to IPv4. However, it’s still something the VPN can improve.

Kill Switch

The VPN has a kill switch to protect your devices and privacy. A kill switch kicks in immediately in the event of a VPN failure, disconnecting you from the internet completely. This tool stops malware attacks, IP address leaks, and your data from being released into the wrong hands.

I tried this feature by disconnecting the VPN while a web page was loading. My internet immediately shut down and only started working again when I reconnected the VPN. This let me know that my data was secure, and my IP address wasn’t in any danger of being leaked.

Auto Connect

This auto-start feature connects the VPN every time you go online. This is a reassuring feature if you’re always on the go and connected to public WiFis, as it will keep you safe no matter what. You can also turn off this setting using the menu if you’d rather keep control over when it kicks in.

If you were attracted to Malwarebytes Privacy because it’s an existing name in the cyber-security world, you won’t be disappointed by its security features. However, if you want top-notch security coupled with an all-around VPN service including great streaming ability and customer support, I’d recommend taking a look at these VPNs instead.

Privacy — No-Logs Policy but Based in the US

The privacy policy is pretty typical and did not raise any concerns for me.

Malwarebytes Privacy Doesn’t Keep Logs

Malwarebytes Privacy admits that it collects user data at the point of subscription, such as contact details. But since it doesn’t keep tabs on what you’re using your VPN to access it can be considered no logs. This is essential if you live in a country that has strict restrictions in place in terms of what its residents can view. If you accidentally click on a page that is forbidden, there will be no way for the government to find out.

Graphic showing Malwarebytes Privacy VPN's privacy policyThe privacy policy is transparent and informative

Location

The VPN is located in the US, which is a founding country of the 5 Eyes Alliance — the biggest intelligence-sharing agency in the world. This means that any data that the company gathers when you use the VPN may be shared with all the countries in the alliance. If you are conscious of your privacy, it may be better for you to use a VPN that is based in a country outside of the alliance.

Torrenting — Unclear Torrent Policy

Whether you can torrent using Malwarebytes Privacy is unknown. I couldn’t find any information telling me I could or couldn’t torrent using its VPN. This is important to me as some VPNs have very strict rules about P2P file sharing, and can ban you for using it for that purpose. While this usually relates to the downloading of copyrighted content, some VPN providers don’t like to take any risks and so forbid torrenting completely.

There was nothing in its FAQs about torrenting, so I contacted customer support to see if they could tell me. The reply I received was completely unhelpful, so I have no idea whether torrenting is tolerated by this VPN company.

Screenshot of Malwarebytes Privacy VPN's unhelpful Virtual AgentThe Chat Bot couldn’t answer any of my straightforward questions

If you are hoping to find a good VPN to torrent, always remember to be cautious of the files you download. Certain countries have very specific laws about torrenting, so be sure to check before you begin. You can find out more about the best VPNs for torrenting here.

Does Malwarebytres Privacy Work in China? Probably Not

Since the majority of VPNs struggle to get past the so-called Great Wall of China, I wanted to find out whether Malwarebytes was one of the exceptions. I couldn’t find the information in the FAQs page, so I contacted customer support to find out. The email I received told me nothing about whether it works in China, but I’d guess that it is unlikely.

Instead, if you want to get a reliable VPN that can bypass China’s blocks for a similar price, I suggest checking out these top-class VPNs instead.

Simultaneous Device Connections — Up to 5

The number of devices you can connect varies depending on the plan you sign up for. You can choose 1, 3, or 5 devices under one subscription. Before you sign up based on the amount of devices you can connect, you should know that you can only use it on Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.

Unlike many other VPNs, it doesn't have the ability to connect to your router for use with TVs or gaming consoles. As a result, there might not be a requirement for connections across multiple devices.

Malwarebytes does promote sharing your account with family members, which is nice to see. However, this may be a shrewd marketing ploy to make up for the fact that its connection options are limited.

Device Compatibility — Limited

It’s only compatible with Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. If you are happy to just use the VPN on your phone and laptop, this might be all that you need.

I prefer having my VPN active on devices like my smart TV, gaming consoles, and Firestick, and I appreciate the extra protection on my router. However, during my evaluations, it was a significant letdown to discover that Malwarebytes doesn't support any of these devices.

Installation & Apps

5.3

Set-Up & Installation — Extremely simple

The VPN is super easy to install, and I had it up and running in just a few minutes. Its interface is straightforward, even for those who are new to VPNs, and everything can be found in its easy-access menu.

Pricing

1.3
1 Device
$ 3.33 / month per month
3 Devices
$ 4.17 / month per month
5 Devices
$ 5 / month per month

Malwarebytes Privacy VPN accepts payments through PayPal, credit card, AmEx, and Discover and the payment gateway is straightforward. You can choose between 3 payment plans - the more expensive plan covers 5 devices and states that it comes with malware and ransomware protection. The cheapest plan covers 3 devices. I was a little disappointed to find that it only has yearly plans, as this is quite a large up-front fee if you find you don’t like it.

I was reassured to find that it has a 60-day money-back guarantee, which is more than most other VPNs on the market.

This is a pretty expensive VPN considering it was unable to unblock most streaming sites and its customer support is severely lacking. There are plenty of other VPNs available that perform well in all areas and are similar prices, if not cheaper.

Reliability & Support

3.3

I was shocked to discover the Malwarebytes’ support team is non-existent. Usually, a VPN has a dedicated staff working to troubleshoot customer problems and help out whenever you hit a technical issue.

First, I found that Malwarebytes has no accessible email address to ask for help. Instead, I clicked on the ‘Help’ icon which brought up a chat bot. I typed in a couple of straightforward questions, but the bot was unable to find the answer to any of them. It then said it would create a ticket and asked for my email address.

Screenshot showing Malwarebyte's Virtual Agent chat bot responsesThe chatbot was unable to understand any of my questions

I received an email a short time later, referring me back to its unhelpful FAQ pages that didn’t have any of the answers I needed. After I responded to this email repeating the questions that I needed help with, I received a standard reply telling me that the email address was non-reply and that it had closed my ticket. This was one of the most appalling examples of customer service I have ever seen in all of my VPN tests.

Screenshot showing emails to and from Malwarebytes VPN's awful customer serviceIt was clear that there was no human customer support representative available

Solely due to this factor, my recommendation would be to steer clear of Malwarebytes Privacy VPN entirely. In the event that you encounter a significant technical problem and require urgent assistance, there is simply no avenue for obtaining any solutions from this particular provider.

Compare Malwarebytes Privacy With The Top Alternative VPNs
Our Score: 9.9
Our Score: 9.7
Our Score: 9.5
Our Score: 9.4

The Bottom Line

Final Verdict

After completing all of my tests, I cannot recommend Malwarebytes Privacy VPN. Although it gave me great results in my speed and security tests, I need a quality VPN that unblocks my favorite streaming sites, and values its customers enough to provide them with help when they need it. Its premium prices simply don’t reflect what Malwarebytes Privacy VPN has to offer.

  • Unblocks BBC iPlayer and YouTube TV
  • 256-bit encryption and WireGuard protocol
  • Connect up to 5 or 3 devices at the same time depending on your plan
  • Compatible with Windows, Android, iOS, and macOS
  • Doesn’t keep logs

FAQs on Malwarebytes Privacy VPN

Is Malwarebytes Privacy VPN safe?

Overall, Malwarebytes Privacy VPN seems to be very safe. It uses military-grade 256-bit encryption, so your data is completely secure. It also offers DNS leak protection and has an automatic kill switch, which means that there shouldn’t be any data leaks while you’re online.

Can Malwarebytes Privacy VPN unblock Netflix?

No, Malwarebytes Privacy VPN can not unblock Netflix. I tested its servers and was blocked every time I attempted to access Netflix, along with most of my other favorite streaming services. For a high-cost VPN, this was surprising and very disappointing.

Will Malwarebytes Privacy VPN slow my speeds down?

That depends on the server location. In my test results, I found that it’s speeds on local servers stayed consistently high, but that the farthest server locations such as Japan and the US did not perform well.

Is Malwarebytes Privacy VPN free?

No, Malwarebytes Privacy VPN is not free. It has 2 different subscription plans, none of which are particularly cheap - let alone free. You also have to pay for the full year up-front as it does not offer monthly payment plans. Compare its plans and prices here.

Can I use Malwarebytes Privacy VPN on my Firestick?

No, Malwarebytes Privacy VPN will not work with Firestick. It’s only compatible with Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, meaning that you can’t hook it up through your router or use it on any games console or streaming device.

Money Back Guarantee (Days): 60
Mobile app:
Number of devices per license: 5
We review vendors based on rigorous testing and research but also take into account your feedback and our affiliate commission with providers. Some providers are owned by our parent company.
Learn more
vpnMentor was established in 2014 as an independent site reviewing VPN services and covering privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize the independent, professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.
Malwarebytes Privacy User Reviews (User reviews are not verified)
6.0
Based on 10 reviews in 2 languages

Write a Review on Malwarebytes Privacy

Please rate VPN.

All Speed Streaming Security Сustomer service
JF
JF
4/10
Tend to agree with the review.

Fails to work on many popular sites as per the review here and for some reason I have found that it stops my network adapter from working properly. This has now happened on multiple laptop devices using Windows 11. Seems to be work better on mobile (iPhone). I stopped using Express VPN and started to use this service but am regretting that decision 100%. Basically, not worth it at all.

A.C. Taylor
A.C. Taylor
10/10
Works Fine For Me.

I've had Malwarebytes VPN for over a year now. Being that I've used their anti-virus suite for years now, I added it on because it was offered as an addon for only $1.98 CAD / month, for all of my devices. I've primarily used it when I was on public or open networks. About 3 months ago, I wanted to see something on Netflix that was only available in the U.S. I switched from a Canadian server to an American one and... It wouldn't unlock. So I closed my browser and then switched to another U.S. server and then opened my browser and voila! I had full access to the U.S. Netflix and have continued to use it for Netflix. That is the extent of my use and experience with a VPN. Aside from the initial hiccup, it has done what I wanted it to do thus far.

Sabrina
Sabrina
10/10
Excellent service

I have had no problem at all with Malwarebytes Premium bundle. (anti-virus and VPN). I have used it on 3 devices simultaneously since the VPN was introduced. I have tried other VPNs but this one is the absolute best. I have no idea why the person that wrote this article gave it a 5.4, other than they couldn't get on Netflix or Hulu. I don't watch movies on my devices. I watch them on my tv. Also, the article said customer service was non-existent. That's not true. I have actually talked ON THE PHONE several times to customer service. They helped me set up their service when I got confused. They even CALLED ME ON MY PHONE TO HELP ME. You have to know where to look to ask for their help. Malwarebytes is one of the top antiviruses, so I trust them with all their products. Go look for other reviews besides this one. Definitely don't take just this article into your decision-making. You will see what I mean if you look at other reviews. I give them a 10.

    About the Author

    MJ Marsden is a former Editor at vpnMentor. Her understanding of cybersecurity issues and keen eye for accurate information means her work consistently focuses on readers’ online safety.

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