However, an antivirus product can perform this task.įor more information about how to protect your computer, visit the following Microsoft Protect Your PC Web site: The tool cannot remove malicious software that is not running. Active malicious software is malicious software that is currently running on the computer. The tool focuses on the detection and removal of active malicious software.Specific prevalent malicious software is a small subset of all the malicious software that exists today. The tool removes only specific prevalent malicious software.It is significantly more desirable to block malicious software from running on a computer than to remove it after infection. Antivirus products block malicious software from running on a computer. The tool removes malicious software from an already-infected computer.The Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool differs from an antivirus product in three key ways: Therefore, we strongly recommend that you install and use an up-to-date antivirus product. It is strictly a post-infection removal tool. The Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool does not replace an antivirus product. How the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool differs from an antivirus product I would imagine each has there own specialities and are important in their own rights. I have no idea as they are two different types of scanners.

Microsoft malicious software removal