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Windows Processes - Introduction | NextActmovie.exe |
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Introduction to Processes
To make it more versatile, Microsoft Windows is structured around services (processes) which run in the background. The list of processes currently running may be viewed by pressing CTRL+ALT+DEL simultaneously, then clicking on the Processes tab. The window then displays the list of processes being run and the system resources allocated to each one.
Many of these processes are system processes which are an integral part of Windows, while some are third-party applications. When the operating system seems to "hang," it may be helpful to determine which process is consuming the most resources.
What's more, the presence of worms, viruses, Trojan horses, spyware, and adware on the system is usually indicate by the presence of suspicious processes. This is why they often take the name of a true system process in order to go unnoticed (for example, system32.exe instead of system32.dll, or isass.exe instead of lsass.exe).
The goal of this folder is to help you recognise system processes, application processes, and several false processes.
Task Manager
The Task Manager is a tool that supervises system performance and monitors the status of Windows processes in real time. You may view the Task Manager by pressing the keys CTRL+ALT+DEL simultaneously, or by right-clicking on the taskbar and selecting "Task Manager", or by running it from Start Menu / Run with the command taskmgr.exe.
The Task Manager has 5 tabs:
- Applications: Shows which applications are running, and lets the user make changes to them by opening the context menu with the right mouse button. You can:
- Switch to the task
- End the task
- Minimise the window or task
- Maximise the window or task
- Bring the task to front
- Display the process which corresponds to the task
- Processes: Shows the list of processes running, and gives information about what they do. By default, the Task Manager displays the following information:
- Image Name (name of the executable file)
- User Name
- CPU
- Memory Usage
- Performance: Gives graphical representations of processor and page file (swap file) usage.
- Networking: Gives statistics for bandwidth usage on computer network interfaces
- Users: Displays information on which users can access the computer and their session status. Right-clicking on the user name brings up a context menu which can be used to disconnect the user or log him or her off.
Common processes
Below is a non-exhaustive list of common processes, grouped by category (the third column indicates the name of processes which may constitute a security risk).
| System processes | Applications | Risks |
|---|---|---|
|
|
acrord32.exe acrotray.exe acsd.exe actalert.exe agrsmmsg.exe aim.exe apoint.exe ati2evxx.exe atiptaxx.exe atrack.exe avgcc32.exe avgserv.exe avsynmgr.exe backweb-8876480.exe bcmsmmsg.exe btwdins.exe carpserv.exe ccapp.exe ccevtmgr.exe ccpxysvc.exe ccregvfy.exe cdac11ba.exe cdplayer.exe cmmpu.exe cpd.exe cthelper.exe ctsvccda.exe cvpnd.exe dadapp.exe damon.exe ddcman.exe defwatch.exe devldr32.exe directcd.exe dit.exe dlg.exe dsentry.exe dw.exe dxdllreg.exe em_exec.exe evntsvc.exe ezsp_px.exe findfast.exe firedaemon.exe gamechannel.exe hh.exe hkcmd.exe htpatch.exe iamapp.exe igfxtray.exe javaw.exe jusched.exe kazaa.exe kbd.exe lexbces.exe lexpps.exe livenote.exe loadqm.exe loadwc.exe lucomserver.exe lvcoms.exe mcshield.exe mgabg.exe mm_tray.exe mmtask.exe mobsync.exe mplayer2.exe msgsys.exe mshta.exe msimn.exe msmsgs.exe msnmsgr.exe mspaint.exe mspmspsv.exe mssvc.exe navapsvc.exe navapw32.exe nerocheck.exe netscape.exe netscp6.exe nisum.exe nopdb.exe notepad.exe nwiz.exe nvsvc32.exe osa.exe osd.exe pctspk.exe pds.exe pinger.exe point32.exe promon.exe prpcui.exe ps2.exe psfree.exe ptsnoop.exe qserver.exe qttask.exe ramsys.exe realplay.exe realsched.exe reboot.exe regedit.exe rnathchk.exe rndal.exe rtvscan.exe rulaunch.exe sagent2.exe sbhc.exe schwizex.exe sentry.exe setup.exe sgtray.exe smc.exe sndvol32.exe soffice.exe soundman.exe ssdpsrv.exe starteak.exe steam.exe stimon.exe stisvc.exe studio.exe tcpsvcs.exe tfswctrl.exe tgcmd.exe tkbell.exe unwise.exe updatestats.exe updreg.exe uptodate.exe urlmap.exe userinit.exe wanmpsvc.exe wcescomm.exe wcmdmgr.exe webscanx.exe winamp.exe winvnc.exe winword.exe winzip32.exe wjview.exe wkcalrem.exe wkufind.exe wmplayer.exe wordpad.exe vptray.exe wscript.exe vshwin32.exe vsmon.exe wuser32.exe wzqkpick.exe xfr.exe xl.exe ypager.exe zlclient.exe |
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Last update on Thursday October 16, 2008 02:43:19 PM.