Microsoft recently updated the Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT) for Windows 10 by releasing the KB890830 update. The company has also made it clear that now onwards the Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT) updates will be released on a quarterly cadence.
Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT) details:
The MSRT does not replace an antivirus product. It is strictly a post-infection removal tool. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you install and use an up-to-date antivirus product.The MSRT differs from an antivirus product in three important ways:
- The tool removes malicious software from an already-infected computer. Antivirus products block malicious software from running on a computer. It is significantly more desirable to block malicious software from running on a computer than to remove it after infection.
- The tool removes only specific prevalent malicious software. Specific prevalent malicious software is a small subset of all the malicious software that exists today.
- The tool focuses on the detection and removal of active malicious software. Active malicious software is malicious software that is currently running on the computer. The tool cannot remove malicious software that is not running. However, an antivirus product can perform this task.
For more information about how to protect your computer, go to the Microsoft Safety & Security Center website.
Note The MSRT focuses on the detection and removal of malicious software such as viruses, worms, and Trojan horses only. It does not remove spyware.
You do not have to disable or remove your antivirus program when you install the MSRT. However, if prevalent, malicious software has infected your computer, the antivirus program may detect this malicious software and may prevent the removal tool from removing it when the removal tool runs. In this case, you can use your antivirus program to remove the malicious software.
Because the MSRT does not contain a virus or a worm, the removal tool alone should not trigger your antivirus program. However, if malicious software infected the computer before you installed an up-to-date antivirus program, your antivirus program may not detect this malicious software until the tool tries to remove it.
