Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool

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Subject Author Date
Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool Stephen Howe 07-12-2006
Posted by Stephen Howe on July 12, 2006, 7:50 am
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Each month after the 2nd Tuesday security updates, usally there is bundled
an updated Malicious Software Removal Tool.

A few questions on this:

1. Are we supposed to run this or does it run automatically?
I never see anything indicating it has run or any information that we are
supposed to run it or what.

2. If you see here
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=890830

I see a fair amount on the tool _EXCEPT_ the actual name of the executable.
How are we suppose to run it if we dont know what it is called?

3. Is it usually installed on the menus somewhere (Windows 2000
Professional)?
What should I be looking for in terms of "name" and where on the menus?

4. Is it the same thing as Windows Defender?

5. Seems to me that there is an awful lot of unintentional mystery
surrounding Microsoft security tools and far too many of them. So far I know
of :

Microsoft Base Line Security Analyser
Windows Defender (new Beta version & old Beta version)
Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool
OneCare

Are any of the above the same thing as each other just with a rebadged name?

Thanks

Stephen Howe



Posted by Tom Willett on July 12, 2006, 7:57 am
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It automatically runs by itself, then goes away. If there are malicious
software problems, it will tell you.

"Stephen Howe" <stephenPOINThoweATtns-globalPOINTcom> wrote in message
> Each month after the 2nd Tuesday security updates, usally there is bundled
> an updated Malicious Software Removal Tool.
>
> A few questions on this:
>
> 1. Are we supposed to run this or does it run automatically?
> I never see anything indicating it has run or any information that we are
> supposed to run it or what.
>
> 2. If you see here
> http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=890830
>
> I see a fair amount on the tool _EXCEPT_ the actual name of the
> executable.
> How are we suppose to run it if we dont know what it is called?
>
> 3. Is it usually installed on the menus somewhere (Windows 2000
> Professional)?
> What should I be looking for in terms of "name" and where on the menus?
>
> 4. Is it the same thing as Windows Defender?
>
> 5. Seems to me that there is an awful lot of unintentional mystery
> surrounding Microsoft security tools and far too many of them. So far I
> know
> of :
>
> Microsoft Base Line Security Analyser
> Windows Defender (new Beta version & old Beta version)
> Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool
> OneCare
>
> Are any of the above the same thing as each other just with a rebadged
> name?
>
> Thanks
>
> Stephen Howe
>
>



Posted by karl levinson, mvp on July 12, 2006, 8:19 am
If you were  Registered and logged in, you could reply and use other advanced thread options

"Stephen Howe" <stephenPOINThoweATtns-globalPOINTcom> wrote in message

> 4. Is it the same thing as Windows Defender?

No. The MSRT resembles McAfee Stinger in that it scans only for a few dozen
of the most common viruses and malware that month. Like Stinger, it offers
no protection against re-infection, just detection and removal. Using that
analogy, Windows Defender more closely resembles the full McAfee antivirus
scanner.

> 5. Seems to me that there is an awful lot of unintentional mystery
> surrounding Microsoft security tools and far too many of them. So far I
> know
> of :
>
> Microsoft Base Line Security Analyser
> Windows Defender (new Beta version & old Beta version)
> Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool
> OneCare
>
> Are any of the above the same thing as each other just with a rebadged
> name?

They're all different, and there is information out there on them, for
example in Google. People are using them. Microsoft is actively developing
these products [some of which are brand new or in beta] at the same time, so
they're not slapping new labels on old products.

MBSA scans your system for missing Microsoft patches and some of the most
common security misconfigurations. It's free.
www.microsoft.com/mbsa

My understanding is OneCare is a managed service aimed at home users where
not just antivirus but firewall rules, database backups and performance
tuning. Since Microsoft is selling this, they're actively trying to inform
people about it, not keep it secret.
www.windowsonecare.com

Google and www.microsoft.com have more information.



Posted by Roger Abell [MVP] on July 13, 2006, 11:22 am
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Also, if you go to microsoft.com/downloads and search on
malicious software removal tool
you will find a download link for the exe, allowing you to see
the name of that months executable.
Download and run manually and you will see the options.
I think that when downloaded from WSUS or Microsoft Update
it is running in silent mode doing a quick scan.
Download the related KB and you will find further info on MRT


"Stephen Howe" <stephenPOINThoweATtns-globalPOINTcom> wrote in message
> Each month after the 2nd Tuesday security updates, usally there is bundled
> an updated Malicious Software Removal Tool.
>
> A few questions on this:
>
> 1. Are we supposed to run this or does it run automatically?
> I never see anything indicating it has run or any information that we are
> supposed to run it or what.
>
> 2. If you see here
> http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=890830
>
> I see a fair amount on the tool _EXCEPT_ the actual name of the
> executable.
> How are we suppose to run it if we dont know what it is called?
>
> 3. Is it usually installed on the menus somewhere (Windows 2000
> Professional)?
> What should I be looking for in terms of "name" and where on the menus?
>
> 4. Is it the same thing as Windows Defender?
>
> 5. Seems to me that there is an awful lot of unintentional mystery
> surrounding Microsoft security tools and far too many of them. So far I
> know
> of :
>
> Microsoft Base Line Security Analyser
> Windows Defender (new Beta version & old Beta version)
> Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool
> OneCare
>
> Are any of the above the same thing as each other just with a rebadged
> name?
>
> Thanks
>
> Stephen Howe
>
>



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