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What is MSKSrvr.exe?

The .exe extension on a filename indicates an executable file. Executable files may, in some cases, harm your computer. Therefore, please read below to decide for yourself whether the MSKSrvr.exe on your computer is a Trojan that you should remove, or whether it is a file belonging to the Windows operating system or to a trusted application.

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MSKSrvr.exe file information

The process known as McAfee SpamKiller Server belongs to software McAfee SpamKiller or McAfee Virtual Technician by McAfee (www.mcafee.com).

Description: MSKSrvr.exe is not essential for Windows and will often cause problems. MSKSrvr.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files"—common is C:\Program Files\McAfee\SpamKiller\. Known file sizes on Windows 10/8/7/XP are 963,072 bytes (85% of all occurrences) or 956,928 bytes. https://www.file.net/process/msksrvr.exe.html 
MSKSrvr.exe is not a Windows core file. The program is not visible. The program uses ports to connect to or from a LAN or the Internet. MSKSrvr.exe is able to connect to the Internet, record keyboard and mouse inputs and monitor applications. Therefore the technical security rating is 59% dangerous, however you should also read the user reviews.

Uninstalling this variant: If problems with McAfee Virtual Technician occur, you can uninstall the software using the Uninstall a Program function of Windows Control Panel (Windows: Start, Settings, Control Panel, Uninstall a Program).

Recommended: Identify MSKSrvr.exe related errors

External information from Paul Collins:

Important: Some malware camouflages itself as MSKSrvr.exe. Therefore, you should check the MSKSrvr.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

Slows the computer down tremendously
  Tom Vogt  
It belongs to the McAfee SpamKiller package but has been known to cause problems where the CPU usage ramps up to 100%
  Antnee C  
It's a Spam detector/deletion program by McAfee, works pretty good with my OutlookXP
  Paxton  
the program works well but it is a memory hog
   
it slows your com it takes 80 to 99% of your cpu in use
  bas stor  
Tends to be very CPU consuming, and stays in memory after shutting down McAfee Internet Security suite.
   
Really slows down your computer
  TJD  
Hogs CPU after being installed for a few months
  Andy Derr   (further information)
By golly it chews the CPU usage and slows the computer. At least i found the cure for insomnia, but Mcafee will take the credit for that...
  davbar68  
Every other time I open up Outlook, it freezes (MSKSRVR.EXE = 100% CPU) and I have to manually stop it and restart Outlook.
  Katrin  
Even with Spamkiller disabled at initialization, sucks up =100% CPU. Terminated using MS Task Manager.
  Hathaway Cornelius  
uses 98-100% cpu process...can't do nothing else
  hutchd  
mcafee spamblocker
  garyonthenet  
Had this for just over a year and suddenly started to hog 100% of CPU. McAfee site is terrible at resolving this.
  PeteL  
I am deleting SpamKiller. Great, I get reduced spam, but my desktop is about as useful as a brick.
  Grey Otter  
Slow down the computer with a percentage of 90% cpu usage! Remove from autoplay...
  Ma']['']['eo  
This is a CPU hog. has been running fine for about 3 months, now hogs 98%
  DLS  
Really slows down your computer it takes 80 to 99% of your cpu in use
   
it uses up at times 45-60 % of my p4's power and bogs the whols system
  Cannonsburg  
On startup it uses 98% of my CPU but then goes down to 0
   
MSKsrvr.exe eats too much CPU during too long time. Why ?
  Minetaka. I  
It is a POS - It lock up pthe CPU and tags it to 90-100%
  Cristy  
slows computer to almost a stop, uses all memory
  boxcar  
McAfee Spamkiller (filtert unerwünschte Mails)
  Masta  
Hogs the processor, above 80%!
  Chris, UK  
hogs cpu time...not worth it
  joel  
Took 100% of my cpu and slowed the PC down to a standstill
  Clive  
Takes up 100% CPU usage.......sucks basically
  Barto  
Completely slows down system, This really is annoying!
  USAF 73  
Starts consuming CPU resources until you cannot do anything. Deinstalled Spamkillerl.
  segrub  
Hogs 100% CPU usage - almost can't use the computer at times. I'm uninstalling McAfee SpamKiller
  Mike Butler  
It tremendously slows down internet speed. Too bad it cannot be disabled.
  Nathan  
uses 98-100% cpu process...can't do nothing else
  Sergioaden  
Slows the pc down dreadfully and on start up will not allow access to server to retreive email. I'm going to go with a different Spam killer. This 'new enhancemant' is so much worse than its predecessor...I end up doing all the work!
  johnW4  
MSKSrvr.exe is a space hog (occupies 469.9 megabytes of RAM on a Fujitsu S2010). As soon as my subscription runs out, I'm switching to something smaller.
  Mark B   (further information)
i had problems with lagging my gaming, but it runs fine now
  Yahowshuwa  
Bad for computer uses too much of mem %.
  adin usa  
Uses almost 100% of my cpu processing time. Difficult to do anything else.
  Craig  
It feeds my cpu up to 80-95 %, so slows down all processes
  Elbert v Bemmel  
McAfee.com privacy service is part of McAfee internet suite, configerd propaly dose not Slow PC down
  Shalianahe  
If you are having problems with the MSKSrvr.exe file taking up CPU usage, you may go to the task manager window, click on processes, highlight the MSKS file and end the process. The CPU usage will decrease immediately.
  Will  
Slowed my computer to a crawl. Stopped it from running using MS Task Manager.
  Blake H  
It definitely is a memory hog. I'm wondering if it is causing runtime errors that I've been getting also.
  Steve Cohen  
i agree with everybody - it stops your cpu!
  tomas  
this and mcshield.exe has convinced me that McAfee sucks and will no longer get my business
  tmonk  
Massive cpu hog. My pc almost doesn't run after being installed 6 months ago
  Dan Spurling  
Consumes nearly all resources - Still get 500 SPAMs/day
  rhr  
High nuisance value
  Roger K  
As soon as I stopped it in Task Manager my CPU Usage dropped to 2% from 100%
  Clell J  
This file sucks the performance out of your CPU. What's worse, the spyware or McAfee??
  cpaatplay  
mcafee spamkiller debilitating cycle sucker
  Rudy  
MCAfee spam killer, results in DOS by workstation. So it is rather dangerous. 85-95 of 3.2GHz with 1Gb of RAM is too much!
  Peebukas  
It stalls my PC by using all the CPU
  Martin666  
MSKSrvr.exe is McAfee Spamkiller. It eats up most of the cpu and lots of memory when running.
  Gregg  
locks up the system at shutdown
  zach  
Huge resource hog. Freezes up everything with 100% CPU usage which never ends. Im tempted to get rid of Mcafee all together.
  NikL  
I gave this program 10 minutes and finally gave up and shut this program down in Windows Task Manager. It was sucking up 88 to 99 percent of my 2.5 MHz processor!
   
Takes up 22 M of physical memory. Disabled it since I am not using outlook.
  Rodi  
I am runing it with Windows XP. It caused my computer to run flat out. Ishut it down and emtied out the folders with .eml files in them. But why do these folders exist? They do nothing except cause this provlem. McAfee should delete them from the program - or else make the program empty them when they have say 50 files in them.
  D King Melbourne Australia  
Can cause your computer to crash if memory usage is peak and other programs are running
  Kevin  
McAfee Spam Killer. Slow down you PC & Brings CPU usage to 100%.
  Chavez   (further information)
I've been using McAfee for a year with no problem. All of a sudden, MSKSrvr.exe is using all my CPU memory. Runs at 98-100% most of the time. McAfee has NOTHING on their website. I'm going to uninstall the program. I don't get any spam anyway.
  Susan D.  
Killed my Outlook performance... Got rid of Spamkiller...Much happier now!
  Da Bitch  
McAfee sucks, No tech support no fix in site they dont care
  Joe Hunter  
REALLY slows down everything. CPU usea stuck at 100% - This program stinks
  deven10  
it slows the cpu WAY DOWN... not worth having spamkiller
  Ranger551  
Run McAfee Spam killer or Turn your computer off. They both offer the same protection at the same speed.
  DFA  
McAfee Spamkiller Server (msksrvr.exe) just hijacked 100% of my cpu and won't let go. Resource Hog? No, WHALE
  e-Robert  
If you delete the program it doesnt affect your comp, though McAfee will download and install it again automatically, and you have the same problem again.
  SM  
Practically stopped my system
  Ashley  
By the time it took me to google the file and find this site and read how it sucks up resources, it was done (I also have just moved and hadnt booted up my pc in 3 days)
  DrumloveJohn  
Spam Killer
  Tomo  
This file starts taking all the memory on the machine and nothing else runs. Cancel the process and delete spamkiller from install to clean up
  Larry Z  
MSKSrvr.exe would with no pattern suddenly hog up my cpu to 99% I removed McAfee Spamkiller and now the file is gone and my PC operates normally now.
  CandaceLH  
It works no better than the built in junk email filter in Outlook. What a damn waste of CPU resources. POS.
  MattP  
McAfee SpamKiller - also a pretty good PC killer & CPU hog
   
Part of McAfee SecuritySuite. After several months takes up 98% of CPU usage, grinding computer to Commodore 64 speed. LOL. Set up SecuritySuite and disable the Spamkiller option. Automatically releases the 98%CPU usage
  JesseJames  
This is not normal. Even on a dual processor I cannot access my mail after downloading. Blocks the spam but need it require so much processor after the action is complete? I suspect a memory leak or run away process.
  Bucko Peidmont  
Makes outlook take about 5 minutes to open and slows every down until it's almost unusable.
  Phyk  
Hogs Process time Remove Spamkiller = Remove Problem. I have a 2004 version of Internet security. I do hope this is not McAfee's way of trying to get me to purchase a later level.
  Aitken Brotherston  
It's a cpu pig!
  bcc  
MSKSrvr.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files" - common is C:\Program Files\McAfee\SpamKiller\. The process McAfee SpamKiller Server belongs to the software McAfee SpamKiller by Networks Associates Technology, Inc (vil.nai.com) or McAfee, Inc.
   
Uses way too much of my CPU, going to find out how to fix it or switch companies right now
   
I disabled SpamKiller and restarted - now CPU usage dropped from 100% to 4%! Everything works well again - thank you McAffee...
  micki  
Contacted McAfee Tech Support are this issue, they seemed unaware of the problem and had no solution. Am installing Norton Antivirus as I write this and will uninstall McAfee ASAP. BTW - Norton down load it taking FOREVER due to CPU issue.
  CS  
It's a part of McAfee Spamkiller and takes a long time before it goes from 100% to 0% CPU Time.
  Wim  
Yes it has been an expensive POS for me too. Got rid of it after consuming 100% of 1GB RAM. Using Internet provider antispam now and flying.
  Kim Lenke  
The file is for McAfee. If it hog up the CPU, I solved the problem with a virus scan. MSKSrvr and MCshield were my problem.
  Macen  
Even after an additional gig of RAM I added, still uses 90-99% CPU memory. Slows my comp to a crawl. Have to disable it in task manager then my comp runs perfect.
  JeffM  
McAfee Spam killer program, poorly done so hogs up lots of CPU time.
  G R  
Running fine for months, all of a sudden taking up 100% CPU
   
had mcafee for 8 months, not impressed now this MSKSRVR.EXE has utterly screwed the comp, running my 2g or ram down to 2-10mb. Not only that but there is no way to uninstall the suite this sucks big time, have to end it in task manager
  Ohsoangry  
One way to disable MCAfee spam killers oops i mean CPU killer rather fast is making in setting the priority tab to low in the task manager
  Carlosmcsev  
McAfee's solution to spam: make the machine useless so that the user doesn't care about spam.
  dmb  
Under Firefox 2.0 CPU May Go to 100%. (Firefox does not support ActiveX), Solution is to install McAfee Clinic Activator Plug In. Follow the link.
  gutiea   (further information)
~23MB process, would keep unless it causes serious issues
  Atlasraven  
MSKSrvr.exe is McAfee Spamkiller server. Is known to cause problems where using 100% of the CPU. Check link!
  Vir   (further information)
I set the spam filter to check my hotmail account, it ran at 90-100% cpu usage, i removed the account, it reduced to 0% cpu, TIP: Dont check a large e-mail account ;-)
  Mike  
I have been running this program perfectly satisfactorily for months. It suddenly started using 99% of CPU time just last week. I have disabled it. (It never found any spam anyway)
  David Robinson  
I thought I had serious virus or Trojan, almost halted my computor
  SM  
100% CPU usage, causes IDE timeouts and nothing else will run
  Bunky  
This file is not a security risk. I would bet the recent spike in CPU usage for thousands of users would trace back to an UPDATE. Yes, your mcaffe suite updates itself, and communicates with mcafee servers constantly. One of the more recent updates most likely causes problems with certain system/harware/os/software combinations. The only cure is to flood mcafee with complaints, since we are all playing for this service/software.
  Damien Laurenzano  
Eats up CPU and freezes Outlook, PC
  Jack R  
Runs a little ragged
   
50% processor utilisation on 3.4ghz dual core (1 gig ram) - just awful, removed it right away
  snotter  
m'fee i-net suite had to uninstall fwall and spamkiller, connection to internet via dialup was devastating after installing it...atleast 30 open ports before uninstall, 10 after.
  Jonathan  
MSKSrvr.exe is part of McAfee’s SpamKiller and started using up to 99% of my CPU, slowing my computer down enormously. The only solution I found was to uninstall it and rely on my internet e-mail’s spam protector instead. Everything now works fine!
  Robert Alabaster  
As soon as I removed the spamkiller from mcafee is 2006 my computer was fine again.
  chris digrazio  
There is an update availbale for Mcaffee security centre - maybe this is a bug fix for these problems?
  Gordon, UK  
uses between 80% - 100% of CPU usage. My computer now is eithor very slow, or locks up completely. AND it uses between 70 and 74 MB of Ram.
  L Edwards  
This is a disaster. I was sure I had a virus or spyware- slowed to a halt. spent endless hours cleaning up,de-frag , bought system mechanic -CPU still running close to 100%. Finally (doh) looked in task manager and found it !
  Michael O  
It kills your PC by using loads of memory and VM. I think I'd rather have Spam than use this.
  Perivale Elvis  
Made my CPU heat up like crazy! 75ºC normally it's 44
  Actino  
Though it is not a security threat, it sure is a problem for Outlook and Mcafee users. Just disable the Spam killer from your McAfee security center to speed up the computer.
  Norman   (further information)
i bought a new dual core amd gateway and this process hogs 80% of it! bye bye mcafee
  david  
It tends to hog the pc's resources...
  Steven  
from what i know it runs fine for me untill my mcafee is expired then make cpu useg at 99% or so and slows it down horribly but thats just me lol
   
This problem has been going on for years with McAfee. MSKSrvr.exe issues have been problems since 2004 at least. McAfee should get their heads out of their ass a fix the damn thing.
  PC ready to turn into MAC  
My god all the McAfee Process chew alot of resorcess. I got a 3.46Ghz with 4GB of DDR-2 and its running like a Comador-64. I don't know what the heck McAfee was thinking when they desided to make this but I got like 6 Proccess in taskmanaer in XP Pro just dedicated to McAfee. I am starting to get fustrated and very anoyed because I am a programer and I hate it when proccess hog my CPU power. ALl the Proccess of McAfee use HUGE resorcess and alot of Mem.... While norton uses like 2 or so but the Pulse updates are sickly anoying as well so again what do we use to protect our PC's....
  John N.  

Summary: Average user rating of MSKSrvr.exe: based on 123 votes with 119 user comments. 32 users think MSKSrvr.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application. One user thinks it's probably harmless. 40 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous. 27 users suspect danger. 23 users think MSKSrvr.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it. 9 users don't grade MSKSrvr.exe ("not sure about it").


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Best practices for resolving MSKSrvr issues

A clean and tidy computer is the key requirement for avoiding problems with MSKSrvr. This means running a scan for malware, cleaning your hard drive using 1cleanmgr and 2sfc /scannow, 3uninstalling programs that you no longer need, checking for Autostart programs (using 4msconfig) and enabling Windows' 5Automatic Update. Always remember to perform periodic backups, or at least to set restore points.

Should you experience an actual problem, try to recall the last thing you did, or the last thing you installed before the problem appeared for the first time. Use the 6resmon command to identify the processes that are causing your problem. Even for serious problems, rather than reinstalling Windows, you are better off repairing of your installation or, for Windows 8 and later versions, executing the 7DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth command. This allows you to repair the operating system without losing data.

To help you analyze the MSKSrvr.exe process on your computer, the following programs have proven to be helpful: ASecurity Task Manager displays all running Windows tasks, including embedded hidden processes, such as keyboard and browser monitoring or Autostart entries. A unique security risk rating indicates the likelihood of the process being potential spyware, malware or a Trojan. BMalwarebytes Anti-Malware detects and removes sleeping spyware, adware, Trojans, keyloggers, malware and trackers from your hard drive.



Other processes

MSKSrvr.exe [all]