Microsoft rolled out a new version of the Malicious Software Removal Tool on Patch Tuesday, but no specifics have been provided on this fresh release. Until now, that is.
The company explained in a blog post that its malware removal software could now detect and remove Win32/Simda, a “multi-component malware family that includes trojan, backdoor, password-stealing, downloader and file-infector variations.”
“It is very rare for a single malware family to possess all of these characteristics; Alureon and Sirefef are among the few families also in this category,” Microsoft Anti-Virus researcher Rex Plantado said.
The application is available as part of the Windows Update cycle, but it can also be grabbed separately as a free download. It offers support for all Windows versions on the market, starting with Windows XP and ending with 8.1 RTM.