How to remove an cisvc error

The free file information forum can help you determine if cisvc.exe is a virus, trojan, spyware, or adware that you can remove, or a file belonging to a Windows system or an application you can trust.

Click to Run a Free Scan for cisvc.exe related errors

Cisvc.exe file information

The process known as Content Index service or Indexing Service belongs to software Microsoft Windows Operating System or CiSvc by Microsoft (www.microsoft.com).

Description: cisvc.exe is located in the folder C:\Windows\System32. Known file sizes on Windows 7/XP are 5,632 bytes (89% of all occurrences), 5,120 bytes and 4 more variants.
File cisvc.exe is a Windows system file. The program has no visible window. It is a trustworthy file from Microsoft. Therefore the technical security rating is 3% dangerous, however also read the users reviews.
If you have any problems with cisvc.exe, you may want to completely remove Security Update for Microsoft or Mylex Global Array Manager (Control Panel⇒Add/Remove programs).

Recommended: Identify cisvc.exe related errors

Viruses with the same file name

Is cisvc.exe a virus? No, it is not. The true cisvc.exe file is a safe Microsoft Windows system process, called "Content Index service". However, writers of malware programs, such as viruses, worms, and trojans deliberately give their processes the same file name to escape detection. Viruses with the same file name are such as TrojanDownloader:Win32/Horst.Q or Trojan:Win32/Rodecap.A (detected by Microsoft), and Downloader.Trojan (detected by Symantec).
To ensure that no rogue cisvc.exe is running on your PC, click here to run a Free Malware Scan.

How to recognize suspicious variants? If cisvc.exe is located in the folder C:\Windows\System32\drivers, the security rating is 76% dangerous. The file size is 61,440 bytes (40% of all occurrences), 57,344 bytes, 90,112 bytes or 81,920 bytes. Cisvc.exe is a file without information about the developer of this file. The program is not visible. The application starts when Windows starts (see Registry key: C:\Windows\win.ini, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run). File cisvc.exe is not a Windows system file. It is located in the Windows folder, but it is not a Windows core file.

If cisvc.exe is located in the folder C:\Windows, the security rating is 80% dangerous. The file size is 81,920 bytes. There is no description of the program. The program has no visible window. The file is not a Windows system file. File cisvc.exe is an unknown file in the Windows folder.

If cisvc.exe is located in a subfolder of C:\Windows, the security rating is 72% dangerous. The file size is 98,304 bytes (50% of all occurrences), 3,363,328 bytes or 61,440 bytes.

If cisvc.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files", the security rating is 80% dangerous. The file size is 81,920 bytes (66% of all occurrences) or 69,120 bytes.

If cisvc.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Documents and Settings", the security rating is 72% dangerous. The file size is 90,112 bytes (50% of all occurrences) or 81,920 bytes.

If cisvc.exe is located in a subfolder of C:\Windows\System32, the security rating is 100% dangerous. The file size is 70,144 bytes.

External information from Paul Collins:

"FamilyKeyLogger" can run at start up. "Family Keylogger - is your best choice, if you want to know what other users on your machine are typing". Note! - this is not the cisvc.exe service.

Important: Some malware camouflages itself as cisvc.exe, particularly when located in the c:\windows or c:\windows\system32 folder. Therefore, you should check the cisvc.exe process on your PC to see if it is a threat. We recommend Security Task Manager for verifying your computer's security. This was one of the Top Download Picks of The Washington Post and PC World.

Score

User Comments

I agree with John & MaryLou. I could have fried an egg on my laptop until I set indexing services to manual startup. I was afraid my paperwork by the exhaust port was going to catch on fire. And hearing the fan running constantly was annoying, along with the fear of possible hardware damage, and wasted electricity.
Gregory

I disabled Indexing Service and the process cisvc.exe, the file was deleted from system32 but any time when I start my pc something recover the file from somewhere and run it. The only solution I have so far is to remove this file and create a file with the same name on the same place (read only, like calc.exe). This will stop recreating the original cisvc.exe. Still looking for solution!
Assen

dangerous to XP system operation since it hogs system brutally which can heat up processor as indicated by another reporter. Had to turn off search indexing. Microsoft needs to fix this!!!
InTheValley

Couldn't find any reason to let cisvc.exe live. It's a constant pain, filling the security log of some of my Win XP boxes. My suggestion is to set it to "disabled" in services.msc.
CaptCarrot

Found this in Program Files (x86)\RapidBIT and NoVirusThanks.org flagged it as a Trojan Dropper. Even after completely denying access through Comodo Firewall I still couldn't delete it. A reboot into safemode was required to remove the file.
Tim

For me the cisvc.exe uses CPU (30-40% constantly) only when my laptop (Lenovo T60) is connected to the docking station. The strange thing is that, if I open the CD-drawer when it contains a CD/DVD (blank or non-blank) it stops consuming CPU. If the drawer is empty, I need to put a CD in the drawer, close it and open it. Then its ok.
Bodvar

this file is the microsoft indexing edition but can be trojan horse or keylogger...
Matan (further information)

Not dangerous, but better end that process.
Rob Windows Now!

More comments can be found here:
(further information)

Summary: Average user rating of cisvc.exe: based on 61 votes with 9 reviews.

17 users think cisvc.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application. 6 users think it's probably harmless. 19 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous. 11 users suspect danger. 8 users think cisvc.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it. 9 users doesn't grade cisvc.exe ("not sure about it").

Cisvc scanner

Security Task Manager shows all running Windows tasks including embedded hidden functions (e.g. keyboard or browser monitoring, autostart entry). A unique security risk rating indicates the likelihood of the process being potential spyware, malware, keylogger or a Trojan.

Spyware Doctor detects and removes sleeping spyware, adware, trojans, keyloggers, malware and tracking threats from your hard disk. Ideal supplement to Security Task Manager.

SpeedUpMyPC scans, cleans, repairs and optimizes your computer.

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