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
- New Windows XP Install
- Today’s Windows Update: Microsoft GDI+ Detection Tool
- Macs have more viruses
- Update for Windows XP KB898461
- Updates for Windows XP
- Critical Update from Microsoft
- Security Update for Windows XP
- Today’s Windows Update
- iPod Software Version History?
- Security Update 816093: Microsoft Virtual Machine
» New Windows XP Install
» Windows XP DEP Forced Reboot
» Critical Update from Microsoft
» Today’s Windows Update: Microsoft GDI+ Detection Tool
the views of everbody helped me decide against installing the software. thanks
I initially saved the msrt to my desktop. After hearing all sorts of bad things about it I tried to uninstall the msrt by right clicking on the icon and chosing delete. A message appeared stating that it could not be deleted because the tool was in use by another program. After trying several things I then figured out that the program that was using the msrt was ME! So I ‘ctl-alt-deleted’, found “Microsoft Malicious…” in the processes menu and stopped it. I then went back to the msrt icon on my desktop and successfully deleted the tool. I ctrl-alt-deleted again and “Microsoft Malicious…” does not appear in processes anymore.
Hi i have the sdame problem as Elgin, but im on windows XP. I have made any kind of scan, llike vunerability, antivirus etc from my personal program and also from internet site like symantec. my computer is clean.
the time i install malicious software removal tool from microsoft it crashed to a blue screen and then reboot.
everything goes well since a roll back into system restore.
still got to disable windows update and i want to remove the need to update it. i have this annoying red shield that ask me to install it. what can i do?
According to the event log:
Installation Ready: The following updates are downloaded and ready for installation. This computer is currently scheduled to install these updates on Sunday, December 17, 2006 at 10:14 AM: - Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool - December 2006 (KB890830)
When this happens, my computer automatically reboots. Arrggg!
I am not into abuse of the legal system, but this sounds like fodder for a class-action lawsuit. If one of us put an unwanted program on a Microsoft computer that had the same impact, we would be arrested!