Microsoft resources and guidance for removal of malware and viruses

This article contains lists of tools and resources that Microsoft makes available to help you understand how to avoid or remove malware and viruses from your Windows-based computer.

Microsoft Windows Update

Run Windows Update to obtain the latest updates for Microsoft software, and this includes security updates that are released on the second Tuesday of each month. For more information, visit the Microsoft Update website:

Microsoft Security Essentials

Microsoft Security Essentials is free and can help protect your home or your small business system from viruses, spyware, and other malware. For more information, visit the following Microsoft webpage:

Microsoft Safety Scanner

If you think your computer is infected, we recommend that you run the Microsoft Safety Scanner. The scan is free and will detect and remove many of the issues that customers frequently contact us about. To run the Microsoft Safety Scanner, visit the following Microsoft webpage:

Microsoft Windows Defender Offline Beta

The Windows Defender Offline Beta can detect and remove malicious and potentially unwanted software, including rootkits. For more information, visit the following Microsoft webpage:

Microsoft Windows Security Center

Run the Windows Security Center to check the status of several security essentials on your computer. To do this, click Start, type Check security status, and then click Check security status. For more information about the Windows Security Center, visit the following Microsoft webpage:

Windows firewall

The Windows firewall is included in most supported versions of Microsoft Windows. The Windows firewall can help protect your computer from malicious users. For more information, visit the following Microsoft webpages:

Microsoft Consumer Security Support Center

The Microsoft Consumer Security Support Center provides information about security products, fraud, issues with security Updates, and scanning, detecting, and removing threats:

Microsoft Malware Protection Center

The Malware Protection Center (MMPC) provides information about protection against viruses, spyware, and other potentially unwanted software. The MMPC also supplies the core anti-malware technology (This includes the scanning engine and the malware definition updates) for the following:

• Forefront Server Security
• Forefront Client Security
• Microsoft Security Essentials
• Windows Safety Scanner
• Microsoft DaRTWindows Defender
• Malicious Software Removal Tool.

For more information, visit the following Microsoft webpage:

Microsoft Malware Protection Center Encyclopedia

To learn more about the current top threats, visit the following Microsoft webpage:

Microsoft Virus and Security Solution Center

The Microsoft Virus and Security Solution Center provides free tools that can help detect and remove viruses. These tools can also strengthen defenses to help secure your computer against viruses and other security threats.

Microsoft Safety & Security Center

The Microsoft Safety & Security Center has information about Security scanners, tools, and safety guidelines for your computer, laptop, or mobile device. For more information, visit the following Microsoft webpage:

Security Troubleshooting and Support

The Security Troubleshooting and Support page has information about free tools that can help detect and remove viruses. The support page also contains information about how to strengthen defenses to help secure your computer against viruses and against other security threats. For more information, visit the following Microsoft webpage: