Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool is a free utility that checks for specific infections in your computer and cleans them for you automatically. The tool is not meant as a replacement to antivirus but it is recommended that you run it frequently.
Installation & Requirements
There is no installation required for the application. Just download and run the executable file and you are good to go. The software supports Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8x and Windows Server 2003.
Interface
If you have ever used a portable malware removal program before then the interface should look very familiar. If you have not, it really is quite simple. Portable malware removal applications look a lot like installers. You choose your options, click on Next, the application scans your computer, disinfects it and you are done.
The only real choice that users have when dealing with these kinds of applications, including Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool, is what type of scan you want to run. There are three types of scans, namely quick, full and custom and their names reveal exactly what they do. Regardless of the scan that you run, the software will automatically remove the malware from your computer and might prompt you to restart your computer depending on the type of infection.
What separates Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool from similar applications is that it looks for very specific, prevalent malware that commonly infect PCs. In fact, the company regularly updates the application in order to include the latest prevalent malware so it stays relevant no matter what. After the scan and cleaning process is over, a full report is given so that you can see exactly which malware was infecting your PC and learn more information about it.
As Microsoft notes, this is not a replacement for an anti-virus application at all for many important reasons. First and foremost, it does not protect you in real-time so the malware can damage your PC before you even run Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool. In addition to that, this utility only looks for a defined list of malware while the web is littered with millions of different types of infections that can plague your computer if you are not protecting it adequately.
Pros
-A choice of three different scans
-Fast, easy cleaning
Cons
-Only removes specific infections
Conclusion
If you think that your PC might be infected with malware, go ahead and download Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool immediately. Although your infection might not be included in the program’s list, it never hurts to try just another disinfection utility.
