Virus Comes Back Again and Again Malware 2018

Summary

The Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT) helps remove malicious software from computers that are running any of the following operating systems:

Windows 10
Windows Server 2019
Windows Server 2016
Windows 8.1
Windows Server 2012 R2
Windows Server 2012
Windows Server 2008 R2
Windows 7
Windows Server 2008

Microsoft releases the MSRT on a monthly cadence as part of Windows Update or as a standalone tool. Use this tool to find and remove specific prevalent threats and reverse the changes they have made (see covered malware families). For comprehensive malware detection and removal, consider using Windows Defender Offline or Microsoft Safety Scanner.

This article contains information about how the tool differs from an antivirus or antimalware product, how you can download and run the tool, what happens when the tool finds malware, and tool release information. It also includes information for the administrators and advanced users, including information about supported command-line switches.

More information

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.

The easiest way to download and run the MSRT is to turn on Automatic Updates. Turning on Automatic Updates guarantees that you receive the tool automatically. If you have Automatic Updates turned on, you have already been receiving new versions of this tool. The tool runs in Quiet mode unless it finds an infection. If you have not been notified of an infection, no malicious software has been found that requires your attention.

Enabling automatic updates

To turn on Automatic Updates yourself, follow the steps in the following table for the operating system that your computer is running.

If your computer is running:	Follow these steps:
Windows 10	Select the Start button, then selectSettings > Update & security > Windows Update . If you want to check for updates manually, selectCheck for updates. Select Advanced options, and then underChoose how updates are installed, selectAutomatic (recommended). Note Windows 10 is a service. This means that automatic updates are turned on by default and your PC always has the latest and best features.
Windows 8.1	Open Windows Update by swiping in from the right edge of the screen (or, if you're using a mouse, pointing to the lower-right corner of the screen and moving the mouse pointer up), selectSettings > Change PC settings> Update and recovery> Windows Update. If you want to check for updates manually, selectCheck now. SelectChoose how updates get installed, and then underImportant updates, selectInstall updates automatically (recommended). UnderRecommended updates, select theGive me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates check box. UnderMicrosoft Update, select theGive me updates for other Microsoft products when I update Windows check box, and then selectApply.
Windows 7	Click Start , point to All Programs, and then click Windows Update. In the left pane, click Change settings. Click to select Install updates automatically (recommended). Under Recommended updates, click to select the Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates check box, and then click OK. If you are prompted for an administrative password or for confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation. Go to step 3.

If your computer is running:

Follow these steps:

Windows 10

Select the Start button, then selectSettings > Update & security > Windows Update . If you want to check for updates manually, selectCheck for updates.
Select Advanced options, and then underChoose how updates are installed, selectAutomatic (recommended).

Note Windows 10 is a service. This means that automatic updates are turned on by default and your PC always has the latest and best features.

Windows 8.1

Open Windows Update by swiping in from the right edge of the screen (or, if you're using a mouse, pointing to the lower-right corner of the screen and moving the mouse pointer up), selectSettings > Change PC settings> Update and recovery> Windows Update. If you want to check for updates manually, selectCheck now.
SelectChoose how updates get installed, and then underImportant updates, selectInstall updates automatically (recommended).
UnderRecommended updates, select theGive me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates check box.
UnderMicrosoft Update, select theGive me updates for other Microsoft products when I update Windows check box, and then selectApply.

Windows 7

Click Start , point to All Programs, and then click Windows Update.
In the left pane, click Change settings.
Click to select Install updates automatically (recommended).
Under Recommended updates, click to select the Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates check box, and then click OK. If you are prompted for an administrative password or for confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation. Go to step 3.

Download the MSRT. You must accept the Microsoft Software License Terms. The license terms are only displayed for the first time that you access Automatic Updates.

Note After you accept the one-time license terms, you can receive future versions of the MSRT without being logged on to the computer as an administrator.

The MSRT runs in Quiet mode. If it detects malicious software on your computer, the next time that you log on to your computer as a computer administrator, a balloon appears in the notification area to make you aware of the detection.

Performing a full scan

If the tool finds malicious software, you may be prompted to perform a full scan. We recommend that you perform this scan. A full scan performs a quick scan and then a full scan of the computer, regardless of whether malicious software is found during the quick scan. This scan can take several hours to complete because it will scan all fixed and removable drives. However, mapped network drives are not scanned.

Removing malicious files

If malicious software has modified (infected) files on your computer, the tool prompts you to remove the malicious software from those files. If the malicious software modified your browser settings, your homepage may be changed automatically to a page that gives you directions on how to restore these settings.

You can clean specific files or all the infected files that the tool finds. Be aware that some data loss is possible during this process. Also, be aware that the tool may be unable to restore some files to the original, pre-infection state.

The removal tool may request that you restart your computer to complete the removal of some malicious software, or it may prompt you to perform manual steps to complete the removal of the malicious software. To complete the removal, you should use an up-to-date antivirus product.

Reporting infection information to Microsoft The MSRT sends basic information to Microsoft if the tool detects malicious software or finds an error. This information will be used for tracking virus prevalence. No identifiable personal information that is related to you or to the computer is sent together with this report.

The MSRT does not use an installer. Typically, when you run the MSRT, it creates a randomly named temporary directory on the root drive of the computer. This directory contains several files, and it includes the Mrtstub.exe file. Most of the time, this folder is automatically deleted after the tool finishes running or after the next time that you start the computer. However, this folder may not always be automatically deleted. In these cases, you can manually delete this folder, and this has no adverse effect on the computer.

How to receive support

Help protect your computer that is running Windows from viruses and malware: Virus Solution and Security Center

Help installing updates: Support for Microsoft Update

Local support according to your country: International Support.

Microsoft Download Center

You can manually download the MSRT from the Microsoft Download Center. The following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

For 32-bit x86-based systems:

Download icon Download the x86 MSRT package now.

For 64-bit x64-based systems:

Download icon Download the x64 MSRT package now.

Release Date: May 10, 2022.

For more information about how to download Microsoft support files, see How to obtain Microsoft support files from online services.

Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

Deploying the MSRT in an enterprise environment

If you are an IT administrator who wants more information about how to deploy the tool in an enterprise environment, see Deploy Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool in an enterprise environment.

This article includes information about Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS), Microsoft Software Update Services (MSUS), and Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA).

Except where noted, the information in this section applies to all the ways that you can download and run the MSRT:

Microsoft Update
Windows Update
Automatic Updates
The Microsoft Download Center
The MSRT website on Microsoft.com

To run the MSRT, the following conditions are required:

The computer must be running a supported version of Windows.
You must log on to the computer by using an account that is a member of the Administrators group. If your logon account does not have the required permissions, the tool exits. If the tool is not being run in quiet mode, it displays a dialog box that describes the failure.
If the tool is more than 215 days (7 months) out of date, the tool displays a dialog box that recommends that you download the latest version of the tool.

Support for command-line switches

The MSRT supports the following command line switches.

Switch	Purpose
/Q or /quiet	Uses quiet mode. This option suppresses the user interface of the tool.
/?	Displays a dialog box that lists the command-line switches.
/N	Runs in detect-only mode. In this mode, malicious software will be reported to the user, but it will not be removed.
/F	Forces an extended scan of the computer.
/F:Y	Forces an extended scan of the computer and automatically cleans any infections that are found.

Usage and release information

When you download the tool from Microsoft Update or from Automatic Updates, and no malicious software is detected on the computer, the tool will run in quiet mode next time. If malicious software is detected on the computer, the next time that an administrator logs on to the computer, a balloon will appear in the notification area to notify you of the detection. For more information about the detection, click the balloon.

When you download the tool from the Microsoft Download Center, the tool displays a user interface when it runs. However, if you supply the /Q command-line switch, it runs in quiet mode.

Release information

The MSRT is released on the second Tuesday of each month. Each release of the tool helps detect and remove current, prevalent malicious software. This malicious software includes viruses, worms, and Trojan horses. Microsoft uses several metrics to determine the prevalence of a malicious software family and the damage that can be associated with it.

This Microsoft Knowledge Base article will be updated with information for each release so that the number of the relevant article remains the same. The name of the file will be changed to reflect the tool version. For example, the file name of the February 2020 version is Windows-KB890830-V5.80.exe, and the file name of the May 2020 version is Windows-KB890830-V5.82-ENU.exe.

The following table lists the malicious software that the tool can remove. The tool can also remove any known variants at the time of release. The table also lists the version of the tool that first included detection and removal for the malicious software family.

Reporting component

The MSRT sends information to Microsoft if it detects malicious software or finds an error. The specific information that is sent to Microsoft consists of the following items:

The name of the malicious software that is detected
The result of malicious software removal
The operating system version
The operating system locale
The processor architecture
The version number of the tool
An indicator that notes whether the tool is being run by Microsoft Update, Windows Update, Automatic Updates, the Download Center, or from the website
An anonymous GUID
A cryptographic one-way hash (MD5) of the path and file name of each malicious software file that is removed from the computer

If apparently malicious software is found on the computer, the tool prompts you to send information to Microsoft beyond what is listed here. You are prompted in each of these instances, and this information is sent only with your consent. The additional information includes the following:

The files that are suspected to be malicious software. The tool will identify the files for you.
A cryptographic one-way hash (MD5) of any suspicious files that are detected.

You can disable the reporting feature. For information about how to disable the reporting component and how to prevent this tool from sending information to Microsoft, see Deploy Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool in an enterprise environment.

Possible scanning results

After the tool runs, there are four main results that the removal tool can report to the user:

No infection was found.
At least one infection was found and was removed.
An infection was found but was not removed.

Note This result is displayed if suspicious files were found on the computer. To help remove these files, you should use an up-to-date antivirus product.
An infection was found and was partially removed.

Note To complete this removal, you should use an up-to-date antivirus product.

Frequently asked questions about the MSRT

A3: Yes. Per the terms of this tool's license terms, the tool can be redistributed. However, make sure that you are redistributing the latest version of the tool.

A4: If you are a Windows 7 user, use Microsoft Update or the Microsoft Update Automatic Updates functionality to test whether you are using the latest version of the tool. If you have chosen not to use Microsoft Update, and you are a Windows 7 user, use Windows Update. Or, use the Windows Update Automatic Updates functionality to test whether you are using the latest version of the tool. Additionally, you can visit the Microsoft Download Center. Also, if the tool is more than 60 days out of date, the tool reminds you to look for a new version of the tool.

A5: No. The Microsoft Knowledge Base article number for the tool will remain as 890830 for future versions of the tool. The file name of the tool when it is downloaded from the Microsoft Download Center will change with each release to reflect the month and the year when that version of the tool was released.

A6: Currently, no. Malicious software that is targeted in the tool is based on metrics that track the prevalence and damage of malicious software.

A8: Several scenarios may prevent you from seeing the tool on Microsoft Update, Windows Update, or Automatic Updates:

If you have already run the current version of the tool from Windows Update, Microsoft Update, Automatic Updates, or from either of the other two release mechanisms, it will not be reoffered on Windows Update or Automatic Updates.
For Automatic Updates, the first time that you run the tool, you must be logged on as a member of the Administrators group to accept the license terms.

A9: The tool is offered to all supported Windows and Windows Server versions that are listed in the "Summary" section if the following conditions are true:

The users are running the latest version of Windows Update or Windows Update Automatic Updates.
The users have not already run the current version of the tool.

A11: Yes. Even if there are no new security bulletins for a particular month, the Malicious Software Removal Tool will be rereleased with detection and removal support for the latest prevalent malicious software.

A12: When you are first offered the Malicious Software Removal Tool from Microsoft Update, Windows Update, or Automatic Updates, you can decline downloading and running the tool by declining the license terms. This action can apply to only the current version of the tool or to both the current version of the tool and any future versions, depending on the options that you choose. If you have already accepted the license terms and prefer not to install the tool through Windows Update, clear the checkbox that corresponds to the tool in the Windows Update UI.

A13: If it is downloaded from Microsoft Update or from Windows Update, the tool runs only one time each month. To manually run the tool multiple times a month, download the tool from the Download Center or by visiting the Microsoft Safety & Security Center website.

For an online scan of your system by using the Windows Live OneCare safety scanner, go to the Microsoft Safety Scanner website.

A14: Currently, the Malicious Software Removal Tool is not supported on a Windows Embedded computer.

A15: No. Unlike most previous cleaner tools that were produced by Microsoft, the MSRT has no security update prerequisites. However, we strongly recommend that you install all critical updates before you use the tool, to help prevent reinfection by malicious software that takes advantage of security vulnerabilities.

A18: Yes. You can use the microsoft.public.security.virus newsgroup.

A19: In some cases, when specific viruses are found on a system, the cleaner tool tries to repair infected Windows system files. Although this action removes the malicious software from these files, it may also trigger the Windows File Protection feature. If you see the Windows File Protection window, we strongly recommend that you follow the directions and insert your Microsoft Windows CD. This will restore the cleaned files to their original, pre-infection state.

A20: Yes, the tool is available in 24 languages.

A21: The tool does use a file that is named Mrtstub.exe for certain operations. If you verify that the file is signed by Microsoft, the file is a legitimate component of the tool.

A22: Yes. If you have run the MSRT before you start the computer to Safe mode, you can access MSRT at %windir%\system32\mrt.exe. Double-click the Mrt.exe file to run the MSRT, and then follow the on-screen instructions.

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Source: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/remove-specific-prevalent-malware-with-windows-malicious-software-removal-tool-kb890830-ba51b71f-39cd-cdec-73eb-61979b0661e0