When is the Malicious Software Remove Tool running?

This software comes as an important update each and every month.
However, it has no GUI or no shortcut in the start menu. Thus, I guess
most users, including me, have never manually run this tool before. I
have read the product page of it on the Microsoft web site, and it
said:

Note The version of the tool delivered by Microsoft Update and
Windows Update runs in the background and then reports if an infection
is found.

So when exactly is this tool running? Right after a new version of it
is downloaded? If so, it just sits on the hard disk for one month
doing nothing after that?

"RealCat" <> wrote in message
news:8aad002e-8db2-4c53-9141-...
> This software comes as an important update each and every month.
> However, it has no GUI or no shortcut in the start menu. Thus, I guess
> most users, including me, have never manually run this tool before. I
> have read the product page of it on the Microsoft web site, and it
> said:
>
> Note The version of the tool delivered by Microsoft Update and
> Windows Update runs in the background and then reports if an infection
> is found.
>
> So when exactly is this tool running? Right after a new version of it
> is downloaded? If so, it just sits on the hard disk for one month
> doing nothing after that?

It runs once after download and then apparently removes itself.

On Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:52:19 -0700 (PDT), RealCat wrote:

> This software comes as an important update each and every month.
> However, it has no GUI or no shortcut in the start menu. Thus, I guess
> most users, including me, have never manually run this tool before. I
> have read the product page of it on the Microsoft web site, and it
> said:
>
> Note The version of the tool delivered by Microsoft Update and
> Windows Update runs in the background and then reports if an infection
> is found.
>
> So when exactly is this tool running? Right after a new version of it
> is downloaded...

and rebooting the PC.

> If so, it just sits on the hard disk for one month doing nothing after that?

Yes. But you can manually scan as many times you wish.
Start, Run, type: MRT - then OK, follow the prompts.

"Kayman" <> wrote in message
news:upmh2Ta$...
>> Yes. But you can manually scan as many times you wish.
> Start, Run, type: MRT - then OK, follow the prompts.

So it does.

So I wonder why windows update says :-
"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 you can run an online version from
microsoft.com. "

I mean who writes these details???

(

On Aug 14, 9:30*am, Kayman <kaymanDeleteT...@operamail.com> wrote:
> On Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:52:19 -0700 (PDT), RealCat wrote:
> > This software comes as an important update each and every month.
> > However, it has no GUI or no shortcut in the start menu. Thus, I guess
> > most users, including me, have never manually run this tool before. I
> > have read the product page of it on the Microsoft web site, and it
> > said:
>
> > Note *The version of the tool delivered by Microsoft Update and
> > Windows Update runs in the background and then reports if an infection
> > is found.
>
> > So when exactly is this tool running? Right after a new version of it
> > is downloaded...
>
> and rebooting the PC.
>
> > If so, it just sits on the hard disk for one month doing nothing after that?
>
> Yes. But you can manually scan as many times you wish.
> Start, Run, type: MRT - then OK, follow the prompts.

Ah, it does have a GUI. Then why didn't Microsoft provide a shortcut
in the start menu? That way, users can access this tool more easily.
Plus, I don't know the relationship between it and Windows Defender.
Both came from Microsoft, says that it detects mal-wares. Why does
Windows Vista need them both? (Apparently I cannot remove Windows
Defender from Windows Vista.)

On Thu, 14 Aug 2008 01:40:35 +0100, "Spikey" <.> wrote:

>So I wonder why windows update says :-
>"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 you can run an online version from
>microsoft.com. "

Because the newer version detects more malicious items than the
previous version.

DUH.

I just did an update, and there's no sign of the MRT running, before or
after the reboot.

Executing it manually, and selecting Quickscan, it takes several minutes to
run. Not sure at all how long a complete scan would take - hmm, maybe as
long as Win Defender does?

So, inquiring minds want to know, has this "Critical Download" ever really
done anything for us?


"Spikey" <.> wrote in message news:ulfhYLa$...

"RealCat" <> wrote in message
news:8aad002e-8db2-4c53-9141-...
> This software comes as an important update each and every month.
> However, it has no GUI or no shortcut in the start menu. Thus, I guess
> most users, including me, have never manually run this tool before. I
> have read the product page of it on the Microsoft web site, and it
> said:
>
> Note The version of the tool delivered by Microsoft Update and
> Windows Update runs in the background and then reports if an infection
> is found.
>
> So when exactly is this tool running? Right after a new version of it
> is downloaded? If so, it just sits on the hard disk for one month
> doing nothing after that?

It runs once after download and then apparently removes itself.

On Wed, 13 Aug 2008 21:49:36 -0600, "Val" <>
wrote:

>So, inquiring minds want to know, has this "Critical Download" ever really
>done anything for us?

It makes sure that no malware is running that will interfere with the
update process.

Look at it as insurance.

"Paul Montgomery" <> wrote in message
news:...
On Wed, 13 Aug 2008 21:49:36 -0600, "Val" <>
wrote:

>So, inquiring minds want to know, has this "Critical Download" ever really
>done anything for us?

It makes sure that no malware is running that will interfere with the
update process.

Look at it as insurance.
~~~~~~~~~~~

Read my full post - after it downloads, it does not appear to actually run.
Unless it sneakily launches at some random time afterwards.

On Wed, 13 Aug 2008 18:06:48 -0700 (PDT), RealCat wrote:

> On Aug 14, 9:30*am, Kayman <kaymanDeleteT...@operamail.com> wrote:
>> On Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:52:19 -0700 (PDT), RealCat wrote:
>>> This software comes as an important update each and every month.
>>> However, it has no GUI or no shortcut in the start menu. Thus, I guess
>>> most users, including me, have never manually run this tool before. I
>>> have read the product page of it on the Microsoft web site, and it
>>> said:
>>
>>> Note *The version of the tool delivered by Microsoft Update and
>>> Windows Update runs in the background and then reports if an infection
>>> is found.
>>
>>> So when exactly is this tool running? Right after a new version of it
>>> is downloaded...
>>
>> and rebooting the PC.
>>
>>> If so, it just sits on the hard disk for one month doing nothing after that?
>>
>> Yes. But you can manually scan as many times you wish.
>> Start, Run, type: MRT - then OK, follow the prompts.
>
> Ah, it does have a GUI. Then why didn't Microsoft provide a shortcut
> in the start menu?

Maybe scanning once a month is considered sufficient for the average
homeuser. Virus definitions evolve daily and the MSRT does not update daily
it loses its effectiveness as time progresses.

> That way, users can access this tool more easily.
> Plus, I don't know the relationship between it and Windows Defender.
> Both came from Microsoft, says that it detects mal-wares. Why does
> Windows Vista need them both? (Apparently I cannot remove Windows
> Defender from Windows Vista.)

WindowsDefender is an Anti-Spy application, the MSRT is a (limited)
Anti-Virus Application.
A clarification on the terminology: the word "malware" is short for
"malicious software." Most Anti-Virus applications detect many types of
malware such as viruses, worms, trojans, etc.
What AV applications usually don't detect is "non-viral" malware, and the
term "non-viral malware" is normally used to refer to things like spyware
and adware.