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Malwarebytes’ Student Protection Program gives eligible students, faculty and staff at participating U.S. universities free Premium Security for up to three devices for two years. The rollout began at select campuses, so a U.S. university email address alone does not guarantee eligibility: check Malwarebytes’ student page and verify your institutional email.
What the free Malwarebytes student program includes
Malwarebytes announced the Student Protection Program on January 27, 2026. Eligible users receive Premium Security for up to three devices, including computers, phones and tablets, at no cost for two years. The company says there is an option to extend, but it has not published the extension terms or a guaranteed end date. Malwarebytes’ announcement describes protection against malware, viruses, scams, trackers, phishing, adware, credit-card skimmers and other browser-based threats. It also includes Scam Guard, which Malwarebytes describes as providing AI-powered, real-time scam feedback.
Who can get it and which universities are included?
The offer is for students, faculty and staff at participating U.S. universities. Malwarebytes says the rollout started at select institutions and that more will be added over time. The announcement does not provide a complete list of participating universities, so do not assume that every U.S. campus is included. The current eligibility check at malwarebytes.com/student is the practical way to confirm whether your institution qualifies.
How to sign up
- Go to malwarebytes.com/student. Use the student program page rather than assuming a general download or trial is the same offer.
- Verify your institutional email. If the university is participating and your status qualifies, Malwarebytes will send download instructions after verification.
- Install and activate on up to three devices. The offer can cover computers, mobile phones and tablets; follow the instructions provided for your account and devices.
Malwarebytes’ paid student-plan page uses Proxi.ID to verify institutional credentials and says its discounted plans are available to full- and part-time students and educators. That is a separate route from the free Student Protection Program, whose sign-up instructions direct users to verify through the student page. See Malwarebytes’ student plans for the paid-plan verification details.
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How the free program differs from student discounts
The free program and the discounted student plans are distinct offers. The student page also lists Standard, which covers two devices, and Plus, which adds a VPN. Those plans are paid subscriptions with annual renewal, while the Student Protection Program is free for two years and covers up to three devices. Check the current page for prices and terms before choosing a paid plan; those details can change.
| Option | Devices | VPN | Cost and duration | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student Protection Program | Up to three | Not stated for this offer (Malwarebytes’ program announcement) | Free for two years; extension option, with terms not stated (Malwarebytes’ program announcement) | Students, faculty and staff at participating U.S. universities; verify institutional email at the student page |
| Discounted Standard student plan | Two | Not included, based on the Standard description on Malwarebytes’ student plans page | Paid; annual renewal (current price and exact terms are listed on the page) | Full- and part-time students and educators; institutional verification through Proxi.ID |
| Discounted Plus student plan | Not stated in the supplied plan description | Included | Paid; annual renewal (current price and exact terms are listed on the page) | Full- and part-time students and educators; institutional verification through Proxi.ID |
| Free Malwarebytes download | Not stated on the student page | Not stated | Free download with a 14-day Premium trial; trial terms apply | Available through the student page; not the same as the two-year program |
What happens after the two years?
Malwarebytes says users have an option to extend, but it has not announced the extension price, duration, eligibility rules or whether any extension is automatic. Review the account and offer terms before the free period ends. Do not treat the offer as a permanent free license or assume the discounted student plans are the automatic next step.
Why Malwarebytes says it is targeting students
Malwarebytes’ January 2026 release cites $540.1 million lost by Americans aged 20–29, attributing that figure to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. The release also reports Malwarebytes research saying a mobile scam or malware had affected 49% of Gen Z, 43% of Millennials, 35% of Gen X, and 22% of Boomers and older. These figures are reported by Malwarebytes; the release does not provide the underlying study methodology, so they should be understood as company-reported figures, not independently audited estimates. The company says the program is intended to reduce cost and knowledge barriers as students enter a digitally exposed period of life.
Mark Beare, Malwarebytes’ GM of Consumer, said: “We believe cybersecurity and data privacy are a right, not a privilege.” Oren Arar, VP of Business Development, said: “Too many people think about personal cybersecurity only after something has already gone wrong.”
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How this differs from campus-provided Malwarebytes access
Some universities arrange their own licenses independently of this national offer. Columbia University’s CUIT page, for example, says the university purchased Malwarebytes Endpoint Security Premium licenses that active students and employees can download for free. That campus-funded deployment is not necessarily the same product, eligibility process or license as the 2026 Student Protection Program. Columbia’s CUIT page describes its arrangement.
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