Powerful Free Microsoft Security Tool EMET has Been Updated

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Last updated by v.laurie on 25. November 2020 - 12:04

A previous tip described the very useful security software from Microsoft called "Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit" (EMET). Microsoft just released a new version 4.1. EMET is designed to help prevent hackers from gaining access to your system. It hardens your system against various exploit techniques by making programs run in a restricted mode. Because EMET uses general security methods, it does not have to be updated with signatures for known viruses or for the characteristics of specific programs. EMET works with Windows XP SP3 and up, including Windows 8. It requires .NET Framework 4.0. The updated version can be installed over existing previous versions.

A description and download link is at this Microsoft link.There is also a download link for a PDF User’s Guide. Windows 8 systems will need the compatibility update given at this link.

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This tips section is maintained by Vic Laurie. Vic runs several websites with Windows how-to's, guides, and tutorials, including a site for learning about Windows and the Internet and another with Windows 7 tips.

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Comments

Vic, thanks for the post.

I am wondering how much overlap there is between EMET and the free Beta Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit - they both seem to aim at the same problem...

http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/antiexploit/

I'm a bit of an MBAM fan so I installed this today to give it a try-out ... there's not much info on the website and the program interface isn't very informative.

It appears to work with Portable Firefox but other than that it's kinda hard to see if it's actually doing anything or not.

Doesn't installing .Net Framework introduce a security vulnerabilities or does EMET eliminate those?

I guess you'll have to balance the possibility that .NET might have security problems unknown to Microsoft against the protection that EMET provides. There are, of course, a variety of approaches to security. For example, many alternatives are discussed at http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/how-stay-safe-while-online.htm-0

One comment and one question...

I have been using EMET for a long time...

Downloaded and installed 4.1, and it just slowed my system to a crawl, never happened before.

I uninstalled and reinstalled twice this morning and nothing changed.

I have now uninstalled it.

Question: is there an alternative to EMET?

I run FF25 sandboxed (Sandboxie), MSE and Winpatrol in real time, run a number of on-demand scanners weekly; as I said, used to run EMET.

What might I try in lieu of EMET?

If you are using Sandboxie, there could be a conflict. Try posting in the forum where one of our members who is a Sandboxie expert can help you.

Hello W.C.,

Had a similar experience with one rig running Win XP Pro SP3; after first removing EMET 4.0 (utilizing the Revo Uninstaller), then installing v4.1, the situation was resolved. (Be sure to first close all applications that EMET may be monitoring...)

Cheers,

AJN

P.S. A restart after removing v4.0 may help increase the likelihood of success...

Will do - thanks...

Vic,

I do have a question about updates.

I am a long time user of EMET and unless I have missed something all this time, is there an automatic update feature of EMET buried somewhere?

Thanks.

Not that I know of.