What is svchost.exe?

[ostrich69]

What is svchost.exe? When I press ctrl + alt + del to bring up windows task manager I have 6 different processes all named svchost.exe.

Under the number processes, I have 32. Is that too much, or sounds normal? I have no idea which processes I should keep and which I could/should terminate.

CPU USAGE: fluctuates from 2 - 10%, and under Commit Charge: it says 273M / 3434M.

Is that ok?

 

[vacunita]

I Urge you to use the search facilty in this forum, there are many threads dealing with it and what it is.

For example there is this thread:

http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=1178646

----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

 

[electronicsfreak]

http://www.liutilities.com/products/wintaskspro/processlibrary/svchost/

 

[ostrich69]

I don't understand, in one paragraph it states that it is critical for the stable operation of my computer, but the next says it is a trojan, so which is it?

 

[linney]

It is probably the genuine article, you wont get very far without Svchost.

This is the latest version and it resides in the System32 folder, 5.1.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158) the size is 14.0 KB (14,336 bytes), finding it anywhere else on your machine would be suspicious.

A malware version would probably show up in a different location and have different properties.

Make sure you are fully updated from Windows Updates. Another clue for malware is that they play on the name and use "scvhost" sometimes.

Removing adware & spyware
faq608-4650

Microsoft (GIANT Antispyware) Beta available
Thread779-979113

Try the free version of "Ewido"

http://www.ewido.net/

HijackThis log file analysis

http://www.hijackthis.de/index.php

 

[electronicsfreak]

The page shows both, otherwords some trojans will make a svchost of there own. However most of the time its legit. Thats what the page meant.

 

[alidabiri]

i'm learning a lot from linney

 

[linney]

Most of what I learn (about computers) too comes from all the fellow posters on this forum which makes it a good source of shared technical information.

 

[electronicsfreak]

I agree with Linney on that, definitly ditto. Learned alot from this place.

 

[johnbullas]

The problem with a lot of virii/trojans is that play on the names of existing files on the system and ALSO a great number of hoaxes circulating the net quote filenames and locations for pre-existing files on systems that SHOULD be there....

If anyone is uncertain of what to delete and not delete a good quality & updated anti-virus and anti-spyware suite will take the decision making out of your hands ;0

Ditto x 100 on this forum, posted my first thread at thee weekend and have since learned so much and shared what I have learned... ( qualified geologist, engine ( not Java) building as a hobby thus not an IT professional on paper)

Let's hope we ALL get our desired "end point"....

John
worse thngs can happen:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnbullas/94438139/