Malwarebytes Inc.

What does Malwarebytes own?

Malwarebytes owns the Malwarebytes brand and product line plus acquired assets including VPN technology and small-business security tools. It does not own separate consumer brands.

Is Malwarebytes publicly traded?

No. Malwarebytes is privately held and not listed on any stock exchange. Vector Capital's $100 million 2022 investment is a minority stake in a private company.

Who founded Malwarebytes?

Marcin Kleczynski founded Malwarebytes in 2008 in Chicago. He built the first version as a teenager to remove malware from his family's computer and has remained CEO throughout.

Where is Malwarebytes headquartered?

Malwarebytes is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, in Silicon Valley. It was founded in Chicago and relocated its headquarters to California.

Who owns Malwarebytes?

Malwarebytes is owned by founder Marcin Kleczynski and private investors including Vector Capital, which completed a $100 million minority investment in 2022, plus earlier backers such as Highland Capital Partners.

Is Malwarebytes free?

Malwarebytes offers a free scanner for malware detection and removal, but its real-time protection, VPN and full security features require a paid Premium subscription or business license.

Marcin Kleczynski created the first Malwarebytes tool as a teenager around 2004 after his family's computer contracted a persistent infection. He shared the tool on online forums, built a small team of remote helpers, and incorporated the company in Chicago in 2008 while attending the University of Illinois.

The company's growth was unusual for cybersecurity: it scaled largely through word of mouth and the free scanner's reputation among IT professionals rather than traditional enterprise sales. It relocated its headquarters to Silicon Valley, settling in Santa Clara, and expanded into paid consumer subscriptions and business products through the 2010s.

Private equity entered in 2014 when Highland Capital Partners and others invested, and Vector Capital completed a $100 million minority investment in 2022 that valued the company in the billions and positioned it for a potential future public offering or sale. Acquisitions expanded the portfolio: it bought Duo Security's consumer VPN assets, privacy tool maker AzireVPN technology, and small-business security providers to round out its business offering.

The company has navigated the consumer antivirus market's shift toward bundled suites and free built-in protection by pushing into business endpoint security, threat research, and managed detection services while maintaining the free scanner that defines its brand.