I can't see where those two things have much to do with each other, almost sounds like two problems. The noise with the brakes sounds like the need for new brake pads. The anti-theft light coming on is a recurring issue with the Malibu, with the car thinking it's being stolen when it's not. It'll occasionally disable the ignition. If this happens to you, turn the key to accessory for 10 minutes, wait 'til the light goes out, and try to start it again. Should work. Either cutting the wire or installing an after market remote starter system (which also bypasses the anti-theft system) would permanently fix it, although leave you with no theft protection, which shouldn't be a huge concern for an 8 year old Malibu.
