If the version of MRT.exe in your system is older than 60 days, taking the current system date/time into account, MSRT suggests you download the latest version of the tool. Press WinKey + R to launch the Run dialog. And, with Windows Defender Offline integrated into Windows 10, the Operating System is fortified to a greater level.

MSRT adds a 3rd layer of this defense, but the automatic scans occur once a month when Microsoft pushes the latest version of MSRT via Windows Update. So, from Windows 10’s perspective, if you’re using a 3rd party antivirus solution in Windows 10, Limited Periodic Scanning (when turned on) provides an additional layer of defense. Microsoft releases an updated version of MSRT on the second Tuesday of each month. MSRT runs in Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 8, Windows Server 2012, Windows 7, Windows Vista, or Windows Server 2008 systems. Practically speaking, if your original antivirus software is always kept updated and its real-time protection is working fine, MSRT won’t find anything in the vast majority of cases. The effectiveness of MSRT as a secondary scanner made Microsoft include “ Windows Defender – Limited Periodic Scanning” feature into Windows 10. The MMPC blog announced that out of the 500 million devices scanned every month, the MSRT identified and removed malicious programs from 1 to 2 million machines, even on those devices running antivirus software.

It doesn’t detect spyware, nor does it replace your primary antivirus program’s real-time protection. MSRT, as a secondary scanner, is useful in finding and removing viruses, worms, and Trojans. Whereas the definitions used your antivirus product are vast - containing signatures for all or most of the malware ever released.

Also, it scans for a specific, prevalent malicious software, which amounts to a small subset of all the malicious software that exists today. But it doesn’t monitor your system real-time. MSRT is a tool to remove infections from the computer. What is MSRT and how does it differ from my AV program?

Msert windows 7