Microsoft releases free AV software that boots from CD or USB

Users that think their system may be infected can run Microsoft's Standalone System Sweeper tool. Microsoft has published a beta of its Standalone System Sweeper software, a bootable recovery tool that can be used to identify and remove rootkits, as well as other advanced malware. The bootable anti-virus solution uses the same AV engine as Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) and supports both 32- and 64-bit installations of Windows.

The Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper application (.exe) downloads approximately 200 MB of data, including the latest virus and spyware definitions, from Microsoft's servers and walks users through creating a LiveCD, LiveDVD or LiveUSB – a blank CD, DVD or USB flash drive with at least 250 MB of space is required.

The Standalone System Sweeper tool also gives users the option to create bootable USB flash drives. Alternatively, "advanced" users can opt to create an ISO image for later use, with, for example, a virtual machine. In tests by The H's associates at heise Security, the signatures on the LiveCD that was created were outdated, even though the files has just been downloaded from Microsoft. As such, users are advised to "Check for updates" before running the tool.

Microsoft's Standalone System Sweeper is available to download from connect.microsoft.com/systemsweeper. The Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper Beta supports Windows XP Service Pack 3, Vista and Windows 7 – a complete list of system requirements is provided.

Once running, users are advised to check for updated signatures.

See also:

• Anti-virus to go: Microsoft makes portable anti-virus tool available to download, a report from The H.
• Microsoft releases Security Essentials 2, a report from The H.

(crve)