Microsoft Malicious Software
Removal ToolI recently asked some of the people at Temerc
about this new tool from Microsoft. If you have any PC malware questions or
problems you would like answered here, you can email the
question to me or sign up at
Temerc.
Clif: Has anyone here tried this or have
you heard any news about it?
Blinn: If your machine is clean, it will
scan and then "disappear" if nothing is found. I have downloaded it but
never saw any visible signs it was scanning so it appears to be very
unobtrusive.
From the list of targets, it looks like this covers many of the big
name viruses and worms out there. I wonder how well it removes the Hacker
Defender infections, that could be very nice.
I would use full virus scans including online ones like Housecall and
Activescan before resorting to a smaller tool like this or Stinger. Reason
being that if you have a targeted virus, you might also have something not
on the short definitions list. Nevertheless I would say just get this tool
with your Windows Updates every month and run it then. This is not
something you need to be using regularly otherwise.
Temerc (Tom): I can see this tool more as something to carry with you if you're working on someone's box, but then again, as Blinn mentioned Stinger, its actually a more powerful tool, covering more nasties.
Clif: Thanks guys. That helps me decide if I ever want to use it when I'm helping someone clean their PC.
Temerc (Tom): I can see this tool more as something to carry with you if you're working on someone's box, but then again, as Blinn mentioned Stinger, its actually a more powerful tool, covering more nasties.
Clif: Thanks guys. That helps me decide if I ever want to use it when I'm helping someone clean their PC.
Quote from Microsoft - The Microsoft Windows Malicious
Software Removal Tool checks computers running Windows XP, Windows 2000,
and Windows Server 2003 for infections by specific, prevalent malicious
software—including Blaster, Sasser, and Mydoom—and helps remove any
infection found. When the detection and removal process is complete, the
tool displays a report describing the outcome, including which, if any,
malicious software was detected and
removed.