Microsoft Malicious Software Removel Tool

[gwpriester]

I run this utility from time to time if my computer is acting weird. I run a thorough scan with Malwarebytes and Webroot on boot.

[handrawn]

that will not do any harm, provided it is downloaded from MS, but there again it is unlikely to be worthwhile because as Acorn said, it is not a real time tool

in other words it will be no more uptodate than the copy windows installs on your computer via updates, which it does as soon as there is a new definition

here is my windows update log - you can see that the definition [v5-115] was installed on my computer automatically yesterday: 11 July 23 [11/07/2023 UK format]



so running this tool separately would be of no additional benefit to me - you can check your update log, in settings, to make sure

acorn covered this - you can always check it is running in the way that he suggested, having checked your log to make sure you are uptodate

I run a thorough scan with Malwarebytes and Webroot on boot

that is the right thing to do, agreed

[Boy]

Going back on topic, it's rather peculiar, if not counterproductive, that a downloadable security utility from MS does not bear the company's own 'Publisher Verified' tag.

[handrawn]

never left topic, just contextualised it

why not ask microsoft if you are that concerned, you never know, they may be unaware of it

[Rik]

I always use the MRT.exe version that's in this location: C:\Windows\System32

So, to be honest, I never looked at the part that says publisher unknown.

[Acorn]

I do not think there is any need whatsoever to run the MRT manually; you achieve very little.
If you allow Windows Update to install the latest then the MRT is run automatically.

If you want confirmation then look at C:\Windows\debug\mrt.log where you will see it will have run on all its invocations.

Acorn

[handrawn]

afaik the mrt is only run the once at every update

as previously mentioned MS make clear this is not an AV program that gives protection across the board

it is a specific tool for specific threats that MS provide as a backstop

the MS AV is Microsoft Defender Anitivirus and you can run that from windows settings should you feel the need

However a third party AV may well take over the task, as ESET does on my desktop:



as it does for the firewall in my case