Microsoft’s Malicious Software Removal Tool page says “This tool checks your computer for infection by specific, prevalent malicious software (including Blaster, Sasser, and Mydoom) and helps to remove the infection if it is found.” Note the three types of malware still described here in 2014 - these were widespread worms that infected many Windows XP systems back in 20, ten years ago. Microsoft introduced this tool back in the days of Windows XP, when Windows was very insecure - the first release of Windows XP didn’t even have a firewall enabled by default. Telling you which malicious software was detected and removed after you If it finds a infection and fixes it, the tool will display a report IfĮverything is fine, Windows will run the tool silently in the background without bothering you.

This tool checks for specific, widespread types of malware and removes them if it finds them. If you install updates manually, you’ve probably been installing it as part of the manual update process - it’s consi_ĭered an important update, not just a recommended one.Īfter Windows downloads the newest version of the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal tool, it will automatically run it in the background. If you have your computer set to automatically install Windows Updates, it will be installed automatically. Month - in other words, on “Patch Tuesday.” It appears as just another patch in Windows Update. Microsoft releases a new version of this tool on the second Tuesday of every What is the Malicious Software Removal Tool? Itĭoesn’t run automatically in the background and only detects a few specific and widespread types of malware.

Particularly ones without antivirus programs installed.īear in mind that this tool is no substitute for a solid antivirus program. This tool removes some malware from Windows systems, Once a month, a new version of the Malicious Software Removal tool appears in Windows Update.

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