Malwarebytes, one of CNET.com’s Best Antivirus Overall Editors’ Choice award picks, is offering students at US colleges and universities two free years of its Malwarebytes Premium Security software suite through its Student Protection Program. The offer includes coverage for up to three devices.
Malwarebytes built its reputation on malware removal before expanding into a full antivirus suite with phishing and scam protection, ransomware defense and ad blocking. In our 2026 review, CNET’s testing team praised Malwarebytes as “an excellent choice for anyone who wants reliable security software for three or fewer devices,” awarding it our coveted Editors’ Choice badge and tying it with Bitdefender for the Best Antivirus Overall.
A representative for Malwarebytes didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Student Protection Program is open to students 18 or older enrolled at colleges and universities in the US who can produce a .edu or .college email address. The fine print on Malwarebytes’ site says it’s limiting the availability to the US, but may eventually expand the program globally. Students can check whether their school is eligible by entering their email address at the Malwarebytes website. There’s an option to request early access for schools not on the list or to fall back on a 50% student discount instead.
For students who qualify, the program unlocks the full Premium Security Standard tier. That includes real-time malware and ransomware protection, phishing and scam detection, and ad and tracker blocking. While Malwarebytes recommends a setup of one laptop, one phone and one tablet, students can use the three device slots however they choose. Once the two-year period ends, students can either keep using a limited free version without features such as real-time protection, automatic updates, and scheduled scans, or switch to a Premium subscription, which currently costs $60 per year.
The timing lines up nicely with the back-to-school season. Move-in time at a new institution means connecting unfamiliar devices to unfamiliar networks, downloading course software from links sent via email, and juggling phishing attempts disguised as financial aid notices or campus IT alerts. It can be a bit of an information security minefield, tough to add to the already overwhelming experience of school. Free access to trusted security software can at least take one thing off a student’s already crowded plate.
Antuan Goodwin
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