Malwarebytes, considered one of CNET.com’s Finest Antivirus General Editors’ Selection award picks, is providing college students at US faculties and universities two free years of its Malwarebytes Premium Safety software program suite by its Scholar Safety Program. The provide contains protection for as much as three units.
Malwarebytes constructed its fame on malware elimination earlier than increasing right into a full antivirus suite with phishing and rip-off safety, ransomware protection and advert blocking. In our 2026 overview, CNET’s testing workforce praised Malwarebytes as “a wonderful alternative for anybody who needs dependable safety software program for 3 or fewer units,” awarding it our coveted Editors’ Selection badge and tying it with Bitdefender for the Finest Antivirus General.
A consultant for Malwarebytes didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
The Scholar Safety Program is open to college students 18 or older enrolled at faculties and universities within the US who can produce a .edu or .faculty e-mail handle. The tremendous print on Malwarebytes’ website says it’s limiting the provision to the US, however could finally broaden this system globally. College students can test whether or not their college is eligible by getting into their e-mail handle on the Malwarebytes web site. There’s an choice to request early entry for colleges not on the checklist or to fall again on a 50% scholar low cost as an alternative.
For college kids who qualify, this system unlocks the total Premium Safety Customary tier. That features real-time malware and ransomware safety, phishing and rip-off detection, and advert and tracker blocking. Whereas Malwarebytes recommends a setup of 1 laptop computer, one cellphone and one pill, college students can use the three system slots nonetheless they select. As soon as the two-year interval ends, college students can both maintain utilizing a restricted free model with out options reminiscent of real-time safety, computerized updates, and scheduled scans, or change to a Premium subscription, which at present prices $60 per yr.
The timing strains up properly with the back-to-school season. Transfer-in time at a brand new establishment means connecting unfamiliar units to unfamiliar networks, downloading course software program from hyperlinks despatched through e-mail, and juggling phishing makes an attempt disguised as monetary help notices or campus IT alerts. It may be a little bit of an data safety minefield, robust so as to add to the already overwhelming expertise of faculty. Free entry to trusted safety software program can no less than take one factor off a scholar’s already crowded plate.
