Microsoft has released a Windows “Update” that is designed to remove software from your computer:
After the download, this tool runs once to check your computer for infection by specific, prevalent malicious software (including Blaster, Sasser, and Mydoom) and helps to remove any infection found. If an infection is found, the tool will display a status report the next time you start your computer. A new version of the tool will be offered every month. If you want to manually run the tool on your computer, you can download a copy from the Microsoft Download Center or run an online version from microsoft.com. This tool is not a replacement for an anti-virus product. To help protect your computer, you should use an anti-virus product.
I see their intent behind this, but I still find it disturbing. Although some users don’t know how to determine what software is on their computer, I have no need for this tool. And yet it was still downloaded automatically and is considered a Critical “Update.”
Sept 16, 2005 Update Looks like Microsoft has created a new version of this tool.
Size: 400 KB
After the download, this tool runs once to check your computer for infection by specific, prevalent malicious software (including Blaster, Sasser, and Mydoom) and helps to remove any infection found. If an infection is found, the tool will display a status report the next time you start your computer. A new version of the tool will be offered every month. If you want to manually run the tool on your computer, you can download a copy from the Microsoft Download Center or run an online version from microsoft.com. This tool is not a replacement for an anti-virus product. To help protect your computer, you should use an anti-virus product.
More information for this update can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/malwareremove
This was installed on my PC, ran without my permission, and decided that all our internal corporate programs were known viruses and removed them!
When I complained to Microsoft they said it’s because we ran Windows Update without disabling our corporate firewall. I told them if we disabled our corporate firewall, all our Windows machines would be hacked. What morons!
I did a few windows updates among this one and now my computer is almost completely locked. It takes ages to open even the smallest thing or even a folder if it works at all ….
I Don’t know what to do *sobs*
Watch out! There’s a new, March 2006, version automatically downloaded as a Windows Update. It interfered with my ebay usage AND far, far worse stripped out my Norton Internet Security!!!
As Microsoft keeps on creating this type of stupid softwares, my thumbs are up for all those anti-microsoft hackers. Wait till Microsoft Vista comes for less than $1.
MRT diabled about 2/3 of all my programs - including all the MS Office files! Don’t use it - if you have good anti-virus, IMHO you don’t need it.