Automatic Updates - Malware Removal Tool

[Mark Griffiths]

Hi All,
During the last couple of Auto Updates at a customer site, I noticed one of
the Downloaded update programs was (something like) Microsoft Malware
Removal Tool - Anybody know where this goes and what it does?
Are you supposed to run it, or is it part of the Microsoft Beta AntiSpyWare?

any help appreciated
TIA
Mark

 

[Doug Sherman [MVP]]

This tool addresses a couple dozen specific trojan/worms and is updated
periodically. It is not the same as the antispyware beta. You can get more
info here:

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/viruses/malware.mspx

Doug Sherman
MCSE, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP

 

[Galen]

In Mark Griffiths <[email protected]> had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

Hi All,
During the last couple of Auto Updates at a customer site, I noticed
one of the Downloaded update programs was (something like) Microsoft
Malware Removal Tool - Anybody know where this goes and what it does?
Are you supposed to run it, or is it part of the Microsoft Beta
AntiSpyWare?
any help appreciated
TIA
Mark

It checks for and removes a few types of malware. It checks quickly, then it
kills itself never to be seen again until it's updated and downloaded the
next Patch Tuesday.

Malicious Software Removal Tool:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx&e=9797

Galen
--

"But there are always some lunatics about. It would be a dull world
without them."

Sherlock Holmes

 

[S.Sengupta]

Malicious Software Removal Tool
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx

The Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool helps remove
specific, prevalent malicious software from computers that are running
Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, or Windows 2000

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=890830

regards,
ssg MS-MVP

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Mark,

It's Not a part of MS Anti-spyware beta. More information about MRT is
available here:

The Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool helps remove specific,
prevalent malicious software from computers that are running Windows Server
2003, Windows XP, or Windows 2000:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=890830

Malicious Software Removal Tool:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx

 

[Malke]

Hi All,
During the last couple of Auto Updates at a customer site, I noticed
one of the Downloaded update programs was (something like) Microsoft
Malware Removal Tool - Anybody know where this goes and what it does?
Are you supposed to run it, or is it part of the Microsoft Beta
AntiSpyWare?

any help appreciated
TIA
Mark

This is a tool that only looks for very specific malware. When using
Windows Updates or Automatic Updates, it will automatically run and you
will not get any feedback whatsoever, it runs in quiet mode and then it
just deletes itself. After it is finished, it writes the result to a
log file.

To see the log file, run the following command from Start/Run:

notepad %windir%\Debug\Mrt.log

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/viruses/malware.mspx

Malke

 

[frodo]

Interestingly, this last update tuesday (7/12) the Mal SW Tool was NOT
offered; this was w/ win update V6. Hummmm.....

Was I the only one????

 

[Mark Griffiths]

Thanks everyone for your feed back - at least I know now whats going on!

Cheers
Mark

 

[Joan Archer]

I got it here on 2 XP boxes, I have it set to notify but not download when
updates come in.
No problems with download and install of all 3 offered.
Joan

 

[frodo]

I got it here on 2 XP boxes, I have it set to notify but not download when
updates come in.
No problems with download and install of all 3 offered.
Joan

I checked again and it showed up today, 24 hours after the others.
V6 maturation issues I suspect.

 

[Joan Archer]

My notice usually comes in Wednesday mornings after switching the PC's on,
probably because the updates go out on Tuesdays but that's in America I'm
in the UK <g>
Joan