Malwarebytes crippled by macOS Ventura update

AppleInsider

The new macOS Ventura release has killed the real-time protection feature in Malwarebytes, but the company has a solution.

Malwarebytes

A bug in macOS Ventura is affecting security apps that rely on Full Disk Access, such as antivirus programs. The setting allows apps to access protected user data such as mail, messages, Safari files, and more, needed for software such as antivirus apps.

Malwarebytes recently released version 4.17 of its app in beta, along with a workaround. Users can download the installer here or update to the beta within the app.

However, Malwarebytes said that regardless of what version of the app users have - beta or otherwise - they will need to use the workaround if Malwarebytes had already been granted Full Disk Access before the macOS Ventura upgrade.

How to grant Full Disk Access to Malwarebytes

This procedure does not work for the main release, and the beta version is required for the fix.

The company says that its real-time protection feature may get turned off by macOS Ventura, even though it appears that Malwarebytes Protection does have Full Disk Access in settings.

1. Open System Settings.


2. Click on Privacy & Security, and scroll down to click on Full Disk Access.


3. Click once on Malwarebytes Protection to select it.


4. Click the minus button at the bottom of the list to remove the item.


5. Open Malwarebytes and attempt to turn on real-time protection.


6. Users will see a window that guides them through the process of granting Full Disk Access to the app.


7. Go back to System Settings and turn on Full Disk Access for Malwarebytes Protection, which macOS will have added back to the list.

After completing the steps, real-time protection should automatically turn back on if it had been on before. It can be re-enabled within the Malwarebytes app if it doesn't turn back on.

Granting Full Disk Access. Source: Malwarebytes

Minimum system requirements for Malwarebytes include macOS Sierra 10.12 or later and an active internet connection.

Read on AppleInsider

maltz

What does one gain from Malwarebytes, etc. over Apple's Gatekeeper?  Seems like the OS built-in malware protection in both Mac and Windows is pretty good these days.

TomPMRI

This bug may also be in the Monterrey 12.6.1 security update as well. The latest update to Cocktail, which ran fine in 12.6 and is supposed to run in Ventura, will not even start up in 12.6.1, giving an error saying (among other things) that It needs Monterey 12.0 installed to run. Cocktail requires full disk access to run, which is selected in Security & Privacy on my Mac.

MacPro

maltz said:

What does one gain from Malwarebytes, etc. over Apple's Gatekeeper?  Seems like the OS built-in malware protection in both Mac and Windows is pretty good these days.

100% Agree.

DAalseth

I got the same notice from Sophos. “If you upgrade to Ventura you will have to regrant Full Disk Access”. 

loopless

#1 Saying that MalwareBytes was crippled is a massive exaggeration - simply re-enabling the access fixes the problem
#2 This may not be a bug at all. Perhaps Apple did this intentionally to make sure that users are aware of what apps are being given full access by forcing them to re-enable it manually.

chasm

maltz said:

What does one gain from Malwarebytes, etc. over Apple's Gatekeeper?  Seems like the OS built-in malware protection in both Mac and Windows is pretty good these days.

Apple's Gatekeeper is indeed pretty good, but it is mostly looking for malicious code in downloaded apps -- it is not known to intercept scammy pop-ups or stop you from calling fake "Microsoft/Apple" support numbers. MalwareBytes does intercept these sorts of pop-ups, as well as checking existing files, preventing browser hijacks, and other stuff Gatekeeper isn't looking for.

You're correct that Gatekeeper and Windows Defender are excellent these days, but we've repeatedly seen Malwarebytes catch things (admittedly more "annoyware" or "scareware" than actual malicious stuff, but still irritating) that other Mac "anti-virus" programs (paid ones!) completely missed. But of course it is up to you to assess your risk of visiting maliciously-crafted websites, inadvertently downloading files bundled with malware, or responding to alarming pop-ups. It's possible you don't need MalwareBytes.

But I'll wager you know someone who might need that extra protection, maybe a friend or family member.