How to remove an winlogon error

The free file information forum can help you determine if winlogon.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.

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Winlogon.exe file information

The process known as Windows NT Logon Application or Windows Logon Application or Windows NT-Anmeldung or Toepassing Windows NT-aanmelding or Microsoft Windows Logon Process Service or Aplicación de inicio de sesión de Windows NT or Application d'ouverture de session Windows NT or Applicazione Accesso a Windows NT

belongs to software Microsoft Windows Operating System or Betriebssystem Microsoft Windows or Besturingssysteem Microsoft Windows or Sistema operativo Microsoft Windows or Brontok.A or Project2 or NTLOAD or scvhost

by Microsoft (www.microsoft.com) or China or ADMINPC or Gareth Software or NVIDIA (www.nvidia.com) (version 42722636448, 53732746459) or s21y7P99e82G78Z79UEfn or jdvsO or N5SD5K6S.

Description: winlogon.exe is located in the folder C:\Windows\System32. Known file sizes on Windows 7/XP are 502,272 bytes (40% of all occurrences), 507,392 bytes and 129 more variants.
The program is not visible. The file is a trustworthy file from Microsoft. winlogon.exe is able to record inputs, monitor applications and manipulate other programs. Therefore the technical security rating is 16% dangerous, however also read the users reviews.

Recommended: Identify winlogon.exe related errors

Viruses with the same file name

Is winlogon.exe a virus? No, it is not. The true winlogon.exe file is a safe Microsoft Windows system process, called "Windows NT Logon Application". 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 e.g. Worm:Win32/Brontok.BH@mm or Trojan:Win32/Comronki!rts (detected by Microsoft), and Email-Worm.Win32.Brontok.q or IM-Worm.Win32.VB.di (detected by Kaspersky).
To ensure that no rogue winlogon.exe is running on your PC, click here to run a Free Malware Scan.

How to recognize suspicious variants? If winlogon.exe is located in the folder C:\Windows, the security rating is 81% dangerous. The file size is 159,744 bytes (25% of all occurrences), 155,648 bytes and 82 more variants. The file is not a Windows system file. There is no file information. The file is an unknown file in the Windows folder. The program has no visible window. The process starts when Windows starts (see Registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, C:\Windows\win.ini, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Shell, HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders, HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows\Run, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Userinit, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce). winlogon.exe is able to record inputs, connect to Internet, monitor applications and hide itself.

If winlogon.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Documents and Settings", the security rating is 68% dangerous. The file size is 36,864 bytes (11% of all occurrences), 33,280 bytes and 76 more variants. It is not a Windows system file. The program has no file description. The program is not visible. The process starts upon Windows startup (see Registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, C:\Windows\win.ini, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Shell, HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders, HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows\Run, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Userinit, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce). winlogon.exe is able to monitor applications and manipulate other programs.

If winlogon.exe is located in a subfolder of C:\Windows, the security rating is 87% dangerous. The file size is 15,872 bytes (40% of all occurrences), 11,776 bytes and 34 more variants.

If winlogon.exe is located in a subfolder of C:\Windows\System32, the security rating is 67% dangerous. The file size is 13,312 bytes (58% of all occurrences), 25,600 bytes and 29 more variants.

If winlogon.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files", the security rating is 54% dangerous. The file size is 1,928,192 bytes (16% of all occurrences), 53,248 bytes and 26 more variants.

If winlogon.exe is located in the folder "C:\Program Files", the security rating is 78% dangerous. The file size is 112,099 bytes (12% of all occurrences), 112,097 bytes and 6 more variants.

If winlogon.exe is located in a subfolder of C:\, the security rating is 62% dangerous. The file size is 24,635 bytes (28% of all occurrences), 98,369 bytes and 4 more variants.

If winlogon.exe is located in the folder C:\Windows\System32\drivers, the security rating is 88% dangerous. The file size is 41,984 bytes (25% of all occurrences), 77,824 bytes, 5,283 bytes or 974,848 bytes.

If winlogon.exe is located in the Windows Temp folder, the security rating is 58% dangerous. The file size is 60,004 bytes (33% of all occurrences), 36,864 bytes or 50,004 bytes.

If winlogon.exe is located in the folder "C:\Program Files\Common Files", the security rating is 60% dangerous. The file size is 112,008 bytes.

If winlogon.exe is located in C:\, the security rating is 46% dangerous. The file size is 94,208 bytes.

External information from Paul Collins:
There are different files with the same name:

"FriendlyTypeName" definitely not required. Added by the NEVEG.A WORM! Note - this is not the legitimate winlogon.exe process, which should not appear in Msconfig/Startup!
"ICQ Net" definitely not required. Added by variants of the NETSKY WORMS! Note - this is not the legitimate winlogon.exe process which should NOT appear in Msconfig/Startup!
"Microsoft Visual SourceSafe" definitely not required. Added by the NEVEG.A WORM! Note - this is not the legitimate winlogon.exe process, which should not appear in Msconfig/Startup or the Microsoft Visual SourceSafe program
"System Update2" definitely not required. Added by the AUTOTROJ-C TROJAN!
"WinAuth" definitely not required. Added by an unidentified VIRUS, WORM or TROJAN! Note - this is not the valid winlogon.exe process
"winlogon" must run at start up. Windows Logon Process - handles user logons described here
"winlogon" definitely not required. Hijacker or adult content dialler - file is located in C:\Windows or C:\Winnt, and not in it's System or System32 subdirectory, as is the case with the legitimate Windows Logon (winlogon.exe) process
"winlogon" definitely not required. Added by the TRODAL TROJAN! Note - this is not the legitimate winlogon.exe process, which should not appear in Msconfig/Startup! File is located in C:\Windows or C:\Winnt, and not in it's System or System32 subdirectory
"xp_system" definitely not required.

Important: Some malware camouflages itself as winlogon.exe, particularly when located in the c:\windows or c:\windows\system32 folder. Therefore, you should check the winlogon.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

can be very dangerous, but is system file. If not in system32, delete it! Use Unlocker to delete it if you cant!
Buzzy

its windows xp process that must be enabled, or u might get screen of death
aleksandar

It is sometimes fake and can be a virus
Dr S.J Keeley phD F.R.S

This file manages Logging off and Logging on set by the user. It's an essential windows process, and will cause no harm. However, Malware can disguise itself as Winlogon.exe, so it's best to have your Antivirus software up to date.
Anonymous Helper

If you have TWO winlogons one is fake and actually trying to destory the other! i had this on my laptop and after awhile my screen went blank and i lost my os beacuse the winglogon had destoryed the other.
Nick

Without this file you could not log on. important file!
Kevin Ombecq (further information)

I have 1 winlogon.exe in C:\Windows\System32, and a couple winlogon.exe and winlogon.exe.mui in C:\Windows\winsxs\amd64_microsoft-windows-winlogon... .
Ward

winlogon.exe is not harmful since its needed for your computer to start because winlogon means Windows Logon, it will load your system files (such as svchost.exe, System etc...) and the location of winlogon.exe is in C:\WINDOWS\System32\winlogon.exe but if you see 2 winlogon.exe in the task manager choose 1 and right click then open file location, if it is located in C:\Documents and Settings\User\Application Data\winlogon.exe its a virus, so kill that task and delete that winlogon.exe before its too late... because if that virus locates your original winlogon.exe it will delete it and that infected winlogon.exe will be the main winlogon and when you start your computer that infected process will open 150 infected svchost.exe processes, i know because that happen to me once but good thing i had a backup os (Windows 7 Ultimate) so i managed to delete the infected svchost and winlogon and restored the original one from the Win XP CD
Troll Face

More comments can be found here:
(further information)

Summary: Average user rating of winlogon.exe: based on 302 votes with 9 reviews.

105 users think winlogon.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application. 12 users think it's probably harmless. 52 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous. 32 users suspect danger. 101 users think winlogon.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it. 46 users doesn't grade winlogon.exe ("not sure about it").

Winlogon scanner

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