We’d like to share with you an interesting registry hack that adds a Microsoft Security Essentials AutoPlay handler so that you can thoroughly scan a CD/DVD media or USB flash drive for viruses, via the AutoPlay dialog. See article Scan Your Thumb Drive for Viruses from the AutoPlay Dialog at the How-To Geek website.
Thanks to Lowell & Brian for publishing my tip/script idea at How-To Geek. Also, this was later featured at Lifehacker.
Microsoft Security Essentials Upgrade notification popped up when I switched on the computer today.
Clicked the Upgrade now button and allowed the process to elevate. (more…)
I was recently asked how to disable updating of virus/spyware definitions when running a command-line scan using Microsoft Security Essentials console tool MpCmdRun.exe. The option exists in the Microsoft Security Essentials user interface, but the setting is not obvious for some users. (more…)
The MSE console tool MpCmdRun.exe‘s command-line help displays the parameters and flags to be used to initiate a scan. Here is the line that I’m talking about.
-Scan [-ScanType] Scans for malicious software
And the ScanType can be 1 (Quick scan) or 2 (for Full scan) (more…)
Microsoft Security Essentials uses Microsoft Update to check for, and download definition updates every 24 hours. If you have a number of computers in your home or office without (or having limited) internet access, you may have to install the definition updates offline. To download the Microsoft Security Essentials virus and spyware definition update file, click the appropriate link below: (more…)
Just came across this interesting tool from the AddictiveTips Blog.
MSE Update Utility is a simple app that updates Microsoft Security Essentials when Windows Update is disabled. Windows Update service is responsible for frequently updating MSE. But once it is disabled via Group Policy Editor, MSE won’t update anymore.
You can download the MSE Update Utility from AddictiveTips.com.
[Related Tip] Updating Microsoft Security Essentials Using Command-Line
Microsoft Security Essentials includes a command-line utility which can be used to update the virus/malware definitions, initiate a scan, undo a recent definition update and perform other tasks. To know how to use the command-line utility, open a Command Prompt window (CMD.EXE) and execute the following command:
| Command | Description |
| -? / -h | Displays all available options for this tool. |
| -Trace [-Grouping #] [-Level #] | Starts diagnostic tracing |
| -RemoveDefinitions [-All] | Restores the installed signature definitions to a previous backup copy or to the original default set of signatures |
| -RestoreDefaults | Resets the registry values for Microsoft Antimalware Service settings to known good defaults |
| -SignatureUpdate [-UNC] | Checks for new definition updates |
| -Scan [-ScanType] | Scans for malicious software |
| -Restore -Name <name> [-All] | Restore the most recently or all quarantined item(s) based on name |
| -GetFiles | Collects support information |
In addition to the above information, detailed information for each command-line parameter is shown when you run the above command.
To update the MSE virus/malware definitions, use this command:
The command-line tool can be useful if you want to update MSE using Batch file, Script or using Task Scheduler.
