Dencandy Posted January 23, 2008 Report Share Posted January 23, 2008 I started using the monthly Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool as soon as it first started, about 2 years ago. In all that time it has never, ever reported finding anything. During that time I had a couple of trojans and browser hijackers which I was able to remove using other products (which the Tool & Windows Defender didn't detect). Three months ago I decided the Software Removal Tool is probably a waste of time and haven't used it since. Anyone else know anything about it, and has it ever found anything for you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wickedadmin Posted January 23, 2008 Report Share Posted January 23, 2008 You know, you bring up a good point. I'm not really sure how it works, but it hasn't notified me of anything either. I don't get much spyware or virus issues though. I know how to stay away from them. But I use Spybot and that does detect a few things now and then. But Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool? nothing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dencandy Posted January 24, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2008 2 Against & 0 For so far. Any other views? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coreper Posted January 24, 2008 Report Share Posted January 24, 2008 yepi had also used it for a while now, and it hasnt found anything yet [almost two years have past]in that time i had one or two virusses which were easily removed by AVG...i doubt that it will find anything...... ever.....i also noticed it was scanning a giant .rar file, but it didnt display that it [so probably it wasnt] was scanning the content of the .rar file. Anti-Virus scanners actually do scan the content of a .rar package. If Anti-Malware programs also do this, i dont know, but i think they do ;), atleast i hope...] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted January 24, 2008 Report Share Posted January 24, 2008 This is the same point that I have raised several times about Windows defender. I started a thread a few days ago. Two e mail worms were found by another program, and as a couple of people on the forum have said on many occasions that WD does not find tracking cookies, but will find other nasties, I decided to do a trial. I left the worms on the computer, downloaded WD and ran a scan, as expected it found NOTHING. I then ran another scan with the other program, and got rid of the e mail worms. That is two pieces of rubbish provided by Microsoft. I have of course uninstalled WD again. It's just clutter. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb Posted January 24, 2008 Report Share Posted January 24, 2008 The Malicious Software Removal Tool is not a general anti-malware tool, but one that detects and removes very specific high-risk malware. See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/890830 for full details.P.S. it also runs for just about one or two minutes once a month, so it is not really something heavy on anyone's system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dencandy Posted January 24, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2008 I assume the definitions of all those items of malware listed by Microsoft are already included in the database of any competent anti-virus or anti-malware utility. So does the MS Removal Tool do anything they don't already do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted January 24, 2008 Report Share Posted January 24, 2008 I assume the definitions of all those items of malware listed by Microsoft are already included in the database of any competent anti-virus or anti-malware utility. So does the MS Removal Tool do anything they don't already do?I doubt it. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dencandy Posted January 24, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2008 That's now 3 Against, 2 Neutral. Any more? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irene Posted January 24, 2008 Report Share Posted January 24, 2008 The Malicious Software Removal Tool is not a general anti-malware tool, but one that detects and removes very specific high-risk malware. See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/890830 for full details.P.S. it also runs for just about one or two minutes once a month, so it is not really something heavy on anyone's system.Pat, I thought I had seen this being updated in the automatic updates list. Am I correct?If so, am I required to run it? If so how do I do it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dencandy Posted January 24, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2008 Pat, I thought I had seen this being updated in the automatic updates list. Am I correct?If so, am I required to run it? If so how do I do it?Irene, does that mean you're For it or Neutral? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irene Posted January 24, 2008 Report Share Posted January 24, 2008 Pat, I thought I had seen this being updated in the automatic updates list. Am I correct? If so, am I required to run it? If so how do I do it? Irene, does that mean you're For it or Neutral? Well, it depends what the answer to my questions are.I have certainly never knowingly run it. If it runs without my involvement, I am not aware of any findings.So until I understand whether I have the tool by default or not, I don't feel able to offer an opinion of for or against. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dencandy Posted January 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2008 I think that makes you Undecided! Also, if you download it each month it runs automatically and slows your computer down for a few minutes (probably when you are doing something else important). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb Posted January 25, 2008 Report Share Posted January 25, 2008 Yes, it is included in the Automatic Updates, and it will download and run automatically.I assume the definitions of all those items of malware listed by Microsoft are already included in the database of any competent anti-virus or anti-malware utility. So does the MS Removal Tool do anything they don't already do?Most likely that is the case, and most of us here do not really need to run it.However (1), the one or two minutes it takes every month hardly makes it worth to explicitly exclude it every month. But that's up to each of us.However (2), I appreciate Microsoft's effort to reduce the widespread malware infection problem by including a free malware scanner/remover in the monthly updates. Do you know how many millions and millions of computers do not have any anti-malware apps installed at all? (But then, these are most likely run by people who also don't allow the monthly updates to be installed.)Anyway, I personally let it download and run every month, although I know that it will never find anything - because I never had, and never will, have any malware on my computer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted January 25, 2008 Report Share Posted January 25, 2008 I just download it with the other updates. It does avoid any chance of any reminder messages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dencandy Posted January 30, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2008 Any other views? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muhada Posted March 16, 2008 Report Share Posted March 16, 2008 I noticed that too. Of course most MickeySlop software is never complete.I always thought that it just check on the system for registration of the o/s and other ms software.It might be just spyware. lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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