HowTo: Manually Update Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

One software that I always install on my personal computer or recommend to family and friends is Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware – a free malware removal tool. It’s also one of the programs I use to fix/clean up client’s computers. Like I’ve mentioned before, I am the family desktop support person, so when family and friends need help, they go to me. The most common request I get from family, friends and clients is to clean up their computers which have been infected by viruses, spyware and malware.
When I get my hands on the “problem” computer, one of the first things I do is install Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. Before I perform a full system scan, I make sure that I update the program to it’s latest definition update. This is an easy task if there is an Internet connection. In some cases, the computers can’t connect to the Internet because of the virus, spyware and malware infection so this task becomes impossible. But I’ve found a workaround that allows me to manually update Malwarebytes Anti-Malware.
Today, I’ll share with you two ways on how to manually update Malwarebytes Anti-Malware so you can update the program even if your computer doesn’t have an Internet connection.
STEP 1
This step requires a separate computer that has access to the Internet and has Malwarebytes Anti-Malware installed on it.
1. Update the Malwarebytes Anti-Malware on that computer to make sure that you get the latest definition update.
2. Open the Malwarebytes Anti-Malware program folder and look for the file “rules.ref“.
Windows XP and Windows 2000
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Malwarebytes\Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware\rules.ref
Windows Vista and Windows 7
C:\ProgramData\Malwarebytes\Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware\rules.ref
3. Copy the “rules.ref” file.
4. Paste the “rules.ref” file into the Malwarebytes Anti-Malware program folder on the computer that doesn’t have Internet connection.
STEP 2
1. Download the defintion update from the Malwarebytes Anti-Malware website.
http://data.mbamupdates.com/tools/mbam-rules.exe
2. Run and Install.
NOTE: The definition update provided in this link may not always be the latest compared to the definition updates received via built-in program update feature.

Those are the two simple steps on how to manually update Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. Just follow any of the steps and that’s it! Your copy of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is now up-to-date. You can use this next time you need to update a copy of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware on a computer without Internet connection.