When you open the Task Manager, you could find the msiexec.exe process. What is msiexec.exe file and is it a virus? If you want to know the answers, then this post from MiniTool is what you need. What’s more, you can also know how to delete the msiexec.exe virus from your computer.
What Is Msiexec.exe?
First of all, what is msiexec.exe file? The genuine msiexec.exe file is a legitimate executable file located in the C:\Windows\System32 folder, and you can find it running in the Task Manager occasionally. It is a software component of Microsoft Windows, which stands for Microsoft Installer Executable.
Related post: Top 8 Ways: Fix Task Manager Not Responding Windows 7/8/10
Msiexec.exe is responsible for assisting the system when starting the MSI (Windows Installer Package) file during the installation or uninstallation of the program. If the msiexec.exe process is terminated while installing a new application, the process will fail completely. Therefore, the real msiexec.exe process should not be terminated, otherwise, it may cause serious system performance problems.
Is Miexec.exe Safe?
Since msiexec.exe is a common file in Windows XP, 7, 8, or 10, some malware may mask itself by using its name, such as Artemis!7535C01C6EA4 (detected by McAfee), and Trojan.GenericKDZ.26307 or Trojan.GenericKD.1955384 (detected by BitDefender).
So how to check if the msiexec.exe file is a virus? You can check its location. Here is how to do that:
Step 1: Right-click the Start button to choose Task Manager.
Step 2: Find msiexec.exe in the Details tab, right-click it to choose Open file location.
Step 3: The msiexec.exe file should be located in the C:\Windows\System32 folder. If it is, then it is the genuine file.
In addition, the Msiexec.exe virus will launch a UAC (User Account Control) window at startup, and the user must accept the window to run. The text is as follows:
User Account Control
Do you want to allow the following program from an unknown publisher to make changes to this computer?
Program name: msiexec.exe
Publisher: Unknown
File origin: Hard drive on this computer
The typical behavior of a malicious program using the msiexec.exe process is:
- The advertising slogan will be injected into the webpage you are visiting.
- Random web page text becomes a hyperlink.
- A browser pop-up window appears, and it is recommended to use fake updates or other software.
- Your browser homepage and default search may have changed.
- Your browser search query is being redirected or tracked.
How to Remove the Miexec.exe Virus?
If you have found the msiexec.exe virus on your computer, then you may want to know how to remove the msiexec.exe virus. In order to safely remove the Msiexec.exe virus, you should go to safe mode and use anti-malware software to perform a full system scan from there.
Safe mode is an environment in which only necessary drivers and services are used to start Windows. This environment temporarily prevents the malicious functions of the virus from running.
Related post: [SOLVED] Windows Safe Mode Not Working? How to Fix It Quickly?
Final Words
In conclusion, this post has given you a full introduction to the msiexec.exe file. Besides, you can know how to check whether the file is a virus or not, as well as how to remove the msiexec.exe virus.