Malwarebytes Privacy VPN Review 2024: Before You Buy, Is It Worth It?

Fast and Consistent on All Servers

After conducting several tests, I found that Malwarebytes Privacy performed about average, causing around 26% speed loss compared to my base speed. This is sufficient for most common uses such as web browsing, streaming, and torrenting. However, those who require more bandwidth for activities such as gaming may still be able to achieve satisfactory performance by sticking to domestic connections. It’s important to keep in mind that your personal experience may vary depending on factors such as your location, ISP, and hardware.

Speed Test Results

Malwarebytes Privacy is an excellent VPN that offers fast speeds and reliable connections in the majority of its available locations. I put the service to the test on a laptop connected to a 100 Mbps broadband connection using the default WireGuard protocol. Ookla Speed Test reported a 45 Mbps average download speed over my broadband line without the VPN.

When I connected to local servers within the United States, Malwarebytes Privacy’s speeds only slightly decreased. In fact, the drop in speed was only 22%, which was not noticeable when streaming or torrenting. Likewise, switching to a server in the UK only slightly slowed down performance by 27%.

Malwarebytes Privacy maintained its high level of performance even when connected to servers located in far-flung locations. The average download speed of 33.44 Mbps from a connection to an Australian server is very commendable. This speed is very close to the impressive 36.91 Mbps I achieved on the French server during this test. While the ping time did increase slightly when connecting to the Australian server, there was no difference in my HBO Max video quality.

Is Malwarebytes Privacy VPN Fast Enough for Gaming? Yes!

My test showed that Malwarebytes Privacy VPN works well, as long as you don’t connect to a server in a very remote location. A lightweight protocol like WireGuard won’t be able to save your gaming session if your ping is too high.

Thus, I recommend Malwarebytes Privacy VPN if you don’t plan to connect to a global server. If you’re able to connect to servers in your region, you’ll enjoy a higher level of safety and have a more enjoyable gaming experience overall.

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Server Network — Fewer Servers Than Many Rivals

Malwarebytes Privacy offers a limited selection of server locations, with only 36 options available in countries primarily located in Europe and North America. In contrast, Cyberghost offers 100 server locations across the globe. This lack of variety may be a disadvantage for some users, particularly those in Africa and South America where only one server location is available in Brazil.

Another possible drawback to Malwarebytes Privacy is that it does not provide latency and ping details for each server on the list. Additionally, you won’t be able to see your download and upload activity statistics. This lack of information may make using the service feel like an uphill battle at times. Though there aren’t many server locations to choose from, Malwarebytes Privacy prioritizes connection quality over quantity, so that might not be such a bad thing.

Editors' Note: CyberGhost VPN and this site are in the same ownership group.

Security — Supports WireGuard Protocol

Despite its limited feature set, Malwarebytes Privacy meets our minimum requirements for a VPN. It disguises your online identity, making it impossible for others to discover your real IP address, location, or any other sensitive information.

Malwarebytes Privacy VPN provides the following security features:

• Solid protocol – Malwarebytes Privacy employs the cutting-edge WireGuard VPN protocol, which is gradually replacing OpenVPN as the industry standard for many services.
• Military-grade encryption – It uses the standard, trusted 256-bit encryption, which is considered to be of military-grade security. The algorithms prevent data from being intercepted or accessed by unauthorized parties over the VPN connection.
• Kill switch – In the event of a VPN disconnection, the kill switch will automatically shut down all internet traffic on the device until the VPN connection is restored. This ensures that the user’s IP address and other sensitive information are not exposed.
• Connection mode – This function, which is analogous to a double VPN, is exclusive to the Windows app. This feature tunnels your connection through two servers instead of just one, providing an added layer of security and privacy.
• Connection rules – This feature is similar to split tunneling and gives you more control over your VPN connection by letting you fine-tune your online security and privacy. Through this function, you can decide which apps and websites to protect with the VPN and which to leave uncovered. This is also something that’s exclusive to the Windows client.
• DNS leak prevention – Having all DNS queries routed through the VPN’s secure connection is a great way to maintain your anonymity and privacy while browsing the web. This means that your true IP address and location won’t be exposed.

After subjecting Malwarebytes Privacy to a series of data leak tests while connected to its various servers, I can say with confidence that it is exceptionally safe to use. I did not detect any leaks while using the VPN.

I evaluated the effectiveness of Malwarebytes Privacy VPN in securing my personal information using IPleak.net and DNSLeakTest. These tools helped me verify that my online activities were being routed through the VPN securely. In addition to hiding my IP address, the VPN was also able to prevent WebRTC and IPv6 traffic leaks in my tests.

Privacy — Keeps Data Logs

Malwarebytes Privacy advertises itself as a no-log service, but its privacy statement contradicts this. The policy is clear and concise, outlining the types of data the company collects as well as their intended uses. The company gathers both personally identifiable and non-identifiable data, as stated in the policy.

This personal information includes email, phone number, user name, address, and other contact information. Although giving this information may not be ideal, it is required for the service to run. The business also gathers non-personal data like IP address, ISP, browser type, and operating system. The data collected can be used to form a more complete picture of who you are.

Malwarebytes also generates a device-specific identifier during setup and activation for license validation purposes. On top of that, it gathers information about the version of Malwarebytes Privacy that you are using as well as some GeoIP data.

The only redeeming quality of Malwarebytes Privacy is that you can use a license key instead of an email address and password to log in to the app on your device. Nonetheless, if you want to sign up for Malwarebytes online, you’ll need to provide your email address and pick a password.

Since Malwarebytes operates from its home base in the United States, it may be subject to local privacy laws and regulations. This country is notorious for its invasive surveillance programs, and VPNs may be forced to disclose user data upon request. Moreover, since the United States is a part of the 5/9/14 Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance, data collected by Malwarebytes may be shared with other member nations, further compromising privacy.

If you care about privacy as much as I do, I recommend trying ExpressVPN. This company operates out of the British Virgin Islands, a region known for its stringent privacy regulations, and adheres strictly to a no-logs policy. Moreover, PwC has verified the company’s no-logs policy independently, which should give you even more peace of mind.

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Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.

Torrenting — Unsafe for Torrenting

Malwarebytes Privacy VPN does not block file-sharing connections as long as they are used for legitimate purposes. The company takes a strict stance against copyright infringement, so it is important to be aware of its policies if you plan to use the VPN for torrenting.

During my testing, I found that Malwarebytes Privacy VPN’s download and upload speeds were sufficient for torrenting. The VPN also offers a kill switch, which can help protect your IP address and other sensitive information. In addition, it has a feature called “Connection rules” which allows you to encrypt only your torrenting traffic, improving the VPN’s speed and performance. This is similar to the split tunneling feature offered by other VPNs.

Unfortunately, due to the VPN’s location in the United States and its data logging policies, it may not be the best option for torrenting. ExpressVPN is a better choice for torrenting because it is based in the British Virgin Islands and has undergone an independent audit to confirm its no-logs policy.

Overall, it is important to remember that Malwarebytes Privacy disapproves of illegal activities like torrenting copyrighted files. Additionally, my team and I strongly encourage you to respect local laws and avoid engaging in illegal activities while using a VPN.

Does Malwarebytes Privacy VPN Work in China? No!

It is uncertain whether Malwarebytes Privacy would work in China due to the lack of stealth technology and the absence of servers within the country. To find out more, I contacted Malwarebytes’ support service to inquire about the VPN’s ability to bypass China’s censorship. However, after waiting two days, I have yet to receive a response.

As the Great Firewall of China is known to effectively block VPNs, including those from reputable providers, Malwarebytes Privacy may face challenges in China. Additionally, the VPN logs sensitive data, which could make it difficult to maintain anonymity.

One potential VPN option for use in China is ExpressVPN, which offers obfuscation servers to facilitate connection. While non-government-approved VPNs are illegal in China, there have been no reported cases of tourists being penalized for using them. Instead, the Chinese government primarily relies on technology to block VPNs.

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Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.

Malwarebytes’ customer service options are somewhat limited compared to VPN-only providers. You can get in touch with the company via phone, email, or a chatbot that serves as a search engine for the company’s knowledge base. While the bot may be able to help with simple questions, it is unlikely to be able to troubleshoot major problems or provide extensive guidance on more advanced matters.

For the purpose of evaluating the quality of the email support service, I sent a number of messages concerning problems with streaming, torrenting, and compatibility with China; however, I did not receive a response even after waiting for two days. However, the provider provided an immediate response when I initiated a subscription refund and persuaded me to stay but still didn’t reply to my inquiries.

While the knowledge base for Malwarebytes is impressive, offering everything a new user could hope for, such as a comprehensive FAQ, numerous useful guides, a forum, and an informative blog, its customer service does not measure up. By improving the quality of customer service, Malwarebytes could position itself as a strong competitor in the industry.

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