Each time Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is launched, the first page visible to the user is the Dashboard. It is designed to provide Malwarebytes status, and to act as a launch pad for all program operations.
A screenshot of the user interface — featuring the Dashboard — is shown below for reference.
Status Banner
Within the Main Window, the first item displayed is the Status Banner. This banner displays a status message along with a face icon, whose color is based on program status. The color is meant to alert the user to conditions which may require intervention. Colors used are similar to traffic stop signals — green simply indicates a good status; orange indicates a warning of a condition which may become more severe over time; red indicates that your immediate attention is needed. Following is a full list of status messages. If a recommended method of correcting the problem is immediately available, it will appear as a functional button on the banner itself.
License
If you have purchased a license for your copy of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, it is shown here. If you have a subscription for the Premium version, there is a View Details link available which allows you to access two options related to your license. If you have not purchased a license, the license will be listed as Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Trial. There will also be a Buy Premium link, which you may click if you wish to purchase a subscription to the Premium features.
Database Version
This item shows the version of the Malwarebytes Rules database which is currently installed. Referring to the screenshot (above), the database version is shown as v2015.09.18.01. The version number indicates that the database was created on September 18, 2015, and was the first update released on that day. Dates incorporated into the version number are referenced to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). This means that versions could appear to be in the future depending on the difference between GMT and your time zone. That could change on an hour-by-hour basis. That said, your biggest concern here is a version number that is clearly in the past. The green dot to the left of the version number indicates that this screenshot was created while the database was considered current.
Clicking the Update Now link causes Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to attempt a non-scheduled database update. If an update is available, you will see a progress bar which shows status of the update until the update has completed. The Database Version will then show a new version number. If no updates are available, the progress bar will indicate the update attempt, to be replaced by the text "No updates available" for several seconds. The database version number will again be displayed.
Please note that database updates occur automatically whan a scan is initiated (all users), and according to programmed schedules (Trial or Premium users only). All updates are dependent upon a live Internet connection.
Scan Progress
This item shows when the next scan is scheduled to occur. Clicking the Scan Now button will cause a scan to occur immediately, and change to the Scan screen at the same time. Clicking the Dashboard button at that time will allow you to see scan progress reflected on the Dashboard, though the Scan screen provides much more detailed information. Please note that scheduled scans are available only if you are using Malwarebytes Anti-Malware on a Free Trial, or if you are a licensed (Premium) user. This feature is not available if you are using the Free version.
Real-Time Protection
This item shows whether Real-Time Protection is enabled or disabled. If you are in Free Trial mode, it is enabled unless you click the End Free Trial button. Please note that real-time protection is enabled only if you are using Malwarebytes Anti-Malware on a Free Trial, or if you are a licensed (Premium) user. This feature is not available if you are using the Free version.