MS Malicious Software Removal Tool

Discussion in 'polls' started by emmjay, Aug 20, 2016.

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Have you ever used MSRT

  1. I update it every time it is sent through WU

    25 vote(s)
    55.6%
  2. I hide or ignore the update

    8 vote(s)
    17.8%
  3. I have never used MSRT

    9 vote(s)
    20.0%
  4. I have used MSRT

    4 vote(s)
    8.9%
  5. I think MSRT is a valuable tool

    4 vote(s)
    8.9%
  6. I do not think MSRT is valuable

    11 vote(s)
    24.4%
Multiple votes are allowed.
  1. emmjay

    emmjay Registered Member

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    MSRT - Microsoft's Malicious software removal Tool.
    It gets updated every patch Tuesday. Is it of any value to you?
     
  2. Minimalist

    Minimalist Registered Member

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    I hide it, it isn't of much value to me.
     
  3. daman1

    daman1 Registered Member

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    Never use it, don't need it, hide it.
     
  4. roger_m

    roger_m Registered Member

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    I let it run as I never hide any updates - I let every update install. I see no harm in letting it run.
     
  5. TheWindBringeth

    TheWindBringeth Registered Member

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  6. Hadron

    Hadron Registered Member

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    Have you ever run it manually?
     
  7. Krusty

    Krusty Registered Member

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    I let it run each month.
    Yeah but since it only gets updated once a month it is pointless. If you want to run a M$ scanner you better of with Microsoft Safety Scanner, or with Win10 now, WD Limited Periodic Scanning.
     
  8. blacknight

    blacknight Registered Member

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    I hide or ignore the update - I do not think MSRT is valuable. :D
     
  9. ArchiveX

    ArchiveX Registered Member

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    I update it every time it is sent through WU.
     
  10. ProTruckDriver

    ProTruckDriver Registered Member

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    I don't believe it's a value but I do run it every time it is sent through Windows Update.
     
  11. emmjay

    emmjay Registered Member

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    I assume it does not remove ransomware. Just a ho hum tool.
     
  12. TairikuOkami

    TairikuOkami Registered Member

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    I block it. It is mainly focused on people, who do not use WD and just to gather statistics about PCs.

    reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MRT" /v DontOfferThroughWUAU /t REG_DWORD /d "1" /f
     
  13. Minimalist

    Minimalist Registered Member

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    Thnx for registry key trick. Might try it on my system.
     
  14. Nebulus

    Nebulus Registered Member

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    Useless for me.
     
  15. xxJackxx

    xxJackxx Registered Member

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    I let it run every patch Tuesday, but I do not find it of any value. At least not for me.
     
  16. bo elam

    bo elam Registered Member

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    You might not have noticed but if you Hide MSRT from August and you run Windows update again, it ll display the one from July and on and on. Thats how that works in W7. You gain nothing hiding it. :)

    I haven't run MSRT in many years but I think its OK for people that get infected.

    Bo
     
  17. JRViejo

    JRViejo Super Moderator

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    FYI. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/890830 (emphasis mine)
     
  18. Minimalist

    Minimalist Registered Member

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    Yes each month there is separate update and you have to hide them all, one by one. I will try a registry trick and see if it hides all future MSRT updates.
     
  19. stapp

    stapp Global Moderator

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    Just for info, MSRT is no longer compatible on XP and the tool cannot be downloaded from Microsoft downloads.
     
  20. emmjay

    emmjay Registered Member

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    A new twist ... Telemetry gathering in MSRT

    http://www.ghacks.net/2016/10/20/di...us-software-removal-tool-heartbeat-telemetry/

    I was not aware that MSRT scans after you install windows updates. News to me. On Windows 8.1 it runs automatically during maintenance, while on Windows 7 it runs only when it is “installed” or manually started. I wondered why it had its own EULA too. I opened the log on my W7 system and it did call home. Hmmm.
     
  21. Minimalist

    Minimalist Registered Member

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    After setting that registry key MSRT was not offered to be installed again. :thumb:
     
  22. emmjay

    emmjay Registered Member

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    Good decision. I have been blindly installing MSRT every time it was offered. In that ghacks article I just linked to, posters say that MSRT arbitrarily deletes whatever it considers malicious without involving the user. AVs and AMs always identify what has been quarantined on a scan and gives the user the opportunity to restore or delete. MSRT just zaps it - not good.
     
  23. Minimalist

    Minimalist Registered Member

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    Yes it's tool for masses where user doesn't have to decide about anything. It only identifies specific malware or malware families, so I don't see much benefit using it. I prefer to run other on-demand scanners that cover much more malware and give you an option to decide what to do with detected files.
     
  24. Peter2150

    Peter2150 Global Moderator

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    I routinely hide it. Been doing that for a long time.
     
  25. daman1

    daman1 Registered Member

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    Is there a way to permanently stop it on Windows 7? I hide it but then the very next month it's back up for download.
     
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