smss.exe | What Is It? Is It Dangerous? Solutions to Problems

If you open the Task Manager de Windows You will see a huge amount of programs running, which is normal. The problem comes when you find smss.exe on that list. Chances are you don't know what it is or if it's something that could be dangerous to your system.

Generally, these processes are not harmful in any way and should not slow down your PC's speed. This is why if you notice that your computer's speed has significantly reduced and you find smss.exe in the task manager, you have found the probable cause.

What is smss.exe?

The genuine smss .exe file is a software component of Microsoft Session Manager Subsystem from Microsoft. This is a file that manages the startup of all user sessions in Windows. The main thread of the operating system activates the file.

Start processes like Win32 y WinLogin. It also sets system variables, followed by shutting down the system once those 2 files are terminated. If for some reason, those 2 files are not terminated; “smss.exe” causes the system to crash.

The problem we can see with this executable file is that many cybercriminals use valid file names to be able to stay in the system for longer without the user noticing their presence.

This means that you may have an instance of this file that is not exactly what it should be. This is when you should start to suspect that a dangerous virus may have entered your system.

Virus

The virulent instance of smss.exe is a process that is registered as TrojanThis Trojan allows attackers to access your computer from remote locations, stealing passwords, internet banking and personal data. This process is a security risk and should be removed from our system.

Non-system processes such as illegal version of smss.exe They originate from software that you have installed on your system. Most applications store data on our hard drive as well as in the system registry. This is why your PC has probably become fragmented and accumulated invalid entries that could end up affecting the PC's performance.

The smss.exe is an executable file that can be found on your computer's hard drive that contains machine code. If the software Trojan.W32.Sufiage is started on your PC, the command contained in smss.exe will be executed. For this purpose, the file is loaded into the main memory (RAM) and there it is executed as a trojan.w32.Sufiage process (also called a task).

Is smss.exe harmful?

The valid executable of this file It is not harmful at all, in fact it is a necessary process for many instances of Windows to be able to run properly. However, when it is a file that is not in the right place or that behaves differently, it may be a masked virus.

It is important to note that when referring to smss.exe as a virus, it is considered a dangerous process and should be removed. Running problems with this process may increase the risk of infection. malware if there are errors.

Does smss.exe overload the CPU?

This process not considered CPU intensiveBut when too many processes are running on our system, it can affect the overall performance of our PC. To reduce system overload, you can use Microsoft System Configuration Utility (MSConfig) or Windows Task Manager to manually find and disable processes that start at startup.

Use Windows Resource Monitor to find out which processes and applications are writing/reading the most to the hard drive, sending the most data to the Internet, or using the most memory. To access Resource Monitor, press the Windows key + R key combination and then enter 'resmon'.

Why is smss.exe producing errors?

Most of the problems related to smss are usually related to issues encountered by the trojan.w32.Sufiage malware that runs it. The safest way to stop these errors is to uninstall the application or remove it with antivirus software.

Why do I have multiple instances of smss.exe?

Multiple copies of a process in your task manager may indicate the presence of a virus or a Trojan. Make sure to always use up-to-date antivirus software and run a full scan to identify such cases.

How to check the location and digital signature of smss.exe

To find out if the file of this name that is on your system is valid or a virus, the best thing you can do is check its location. This is because the original file must be in a specific location. To do this you must follow the steps below:

• Launch File Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and go to the Details tab. Right-click on smss.exe and select Properties. Alternatively, go to the Processes tab, right-click on Windows Session Manager and select Properties.
• On the General tab, check the file location and make sure it says C:\Windows\System32 or C:\Windows or C:\Windows\System32\Event Agent\Bin.
• Go to the Digital Signature tab, check the Signature list and make sure it reads Microsoft Windows Publisher.
• Like many other system processes built into Windows 10, the smss.exe executable file is located in the C:\Windows\System32. For PC with OS older or outdated (Win 7 / Win 8 / Win 8.1), you can find smss.exe located in C:\Windows or C:\Windows\System32\Event Agent\Bin.

NOTE: If the Session Manager Subsystem executable file is located in a folder other than those mentioned above, it is definitely a virus. Run it through a security tool or remove it from your computer immediately. You should do the same if the file is not digitally signed by Microsoft Windows Publisher.

How to repair and replace smss.exe

As mentioned above, your computer may malfunction, throw some random errors, and crash during use if the Session Manager Subsystem file is missing or corrupted. If the smss.exe file gets infected with malware, deleted by accident, or your antivirus removes it from your computer, you can repair (or replace) it using the tools and techniques below.

1. Repair smss.exe with System File Checker

Windows System File Checker is a resourceful tool for repairing corrupted files. It scans your computer and replaces damaged system files. For effective results, Microsoft recommends running the Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool before running System File Checker, especially if your PC is running Windows 10, Windows 8, or Windows 8.1.

For older operating systems, you can run Windows System File Checker directly (see step 3 below).

• Right click on the Start button and select Symbol of the system (Administrator) in the quick access menu.
• Paste the following command into the console and press Enter.
  • DISM.exe / Online / Cleanup-image / RestoreHealth

• This command will prompt the DISM tool to provide the necessary files to repair and replace corrupt filesThis process may take several minutes, so wait until you receive a success message before running the next command.
• Paste the following command into the console and press Enter.
  • SFC / scannow

• Windows will scan your system files and replace any corrupt files it finds. This process also takes several minutes; do not close the Command Prompt window until the scan is 100% complete.

2. Run the Check Disk utility

System files can get corrupted if there is a bad sector on your hard drive. The Check Disk tool will scan your hard drive for these bad sectors and fix them automatically. You should run this tool if the above process does not find any corrupted system files and smss.exe continues to consume excessive CPU resources.

• Start Command Prompt as administrator, paste the following command into the console and press Enter.
  • chkdsk C: /f /r

3. Reinstall Windows

If none of the above methods resolve the issue, you may need to perform a clean reinstallation of Windows as a last resort.

Final words

As we have already shown you, smss.exe It is a legitimate system process that is necessary for the system to function properly. The first thing you should do is verify that the file you have on the system is valid using the method we have shown you. If it presents errors, you can use the steps given to solve them.

However, if the file with that name is not where it should be, there is a possibility that it is a virus that has masked itself under that name. In that case, you should use a antimalware to perform a complete scan and clean of your system.