The genuine msseces.exe file is a software component of Microsoft Security Essentials by Microsoft. Microsoft Security Essentials is an antivirus program. Msseces.exe is the file used to run Microsoft Security Essentials. This should not be removed unless it is being replaced by a better antivirus solution.
First released in September 2009, Microsoft Security Essentials is an antivirus software product that protects computers against several different types of malicious software such as spyware, computer viruses, Trojan horses and rootkits. This antivirus utility replaces the Windows Live OneCare subscription based AV service and Windows Defender, and is included with Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7.
Established in 1975 by Paul Allen and Bill Gates, the Microsoft Corporation is a leading American technology giant that develops, sells and services computer software, personal computers and consumer electronics. The company is noted for the Windows range of operating systems, Xbox lineup of video game consoles and Surface tablets. Microsoft is currently regarded as one of the world's most valuable companies and among its many acquisitions are LinkedIn for $26.2 billion in 2016 and Skype Technologies for $8.5 billion in 2011.
MsSecEs stands for Microsoft Security Essentials
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 msseces.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.
Description: Msseces.exe is not essential for the Windows OS and causes relatively few problems. Msseces.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files (x86)"—for instance C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Security Client\.
Known file sizes on Windows 10/8/7/XP are 1,353,680 bytes (9% of all occurrences), 997,920 bytes and 29 more variants.
Msseces.exe is digitally signed. It is not a Windows system file. The program can be uninstalled in the Control Panel. The program is not visible.
Msseces.exe is able to monitor applications.
Therefore the technical security rating is 20% dangerous; but you should also compare this rating with the user reviews.
Uninstalling this variant:
You may want to safely remove the program using the uninstall program of Microsoft Security Client or Microsoft Security Essentials (Control Panel ⇒ Uninstall a Program) or look for help on the www.microsoft.com [1][2] website.
If msseces.exe is located in a subfolder of the user's profile folder, the security rating is 36% dangerous. The file size is 616,134 bytes.
The program has a visible window. It is not a Windows core file. There is no file information. The program is loaded during the Windows boot process (see Registry key: MACHINE\Run, RunOnce, DEFAULT\Runonce, Run, MACHINE\User Shell Folders, User Shell Folders).
msseces.exe appears to be a compressed file.
Important: Some malware camouflages itself as msseces.exe, particularly when located in the C:\Windows or C:\Windows\System32 folder. Therefore, you should check the msseces.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
Genuine Microsoft Anti-virus, anti-malware detection program. Paul Rosell (further information)
used with microsofts security essential - free antivirus software dwdoug
Antivirus
antivirus
Msseces.exe is the front-end GUI of MSE(Microsoft Security Essentials). Robert
MS Security Essentials (works well w/ Win 7, 64 bit) swizzle1
Part of Microsoft Security Essentials, a free real time virus scanner Odin Sonnah (further information)
Not Dangerous. MS Security Essentials is a top rated anti-virus. And it's FREE with daily updates. Leave it installed. Take out Norton or any other AV software that conflicts. Robert Morgan (further information)
It is a Windows Microsoft Security Essential gui but if it is located not on C:\Program Files\ Then its a virus
Downloaded MSSecurityEssentials Last Night, msseces appeared this morning RCFortuny
It's Microsoft Security Essentials safe free antivirus software Ralphy
if the .exe includes the switches -hide and -runkey, then Hijack This identifies it as MaCatte Antivirus 2009, rogue security software - not recommended
If it it is C:\Program Files\ and/or has -hide and -runkey in command at startup, then IT is a VIRUS! John
Does a poor job on both virus and malware/spyware. Use something else. Tim
This sat as "NonCritical_msseces.exe_f0afc3829daab2ad55ae454cdeede98423ad_17fb0b84" in C:\Users\MyUser\AppDat\Local\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ installed itself on the date of a major malware infestation -- a client was fooled by a fake Java update message that didn't even remotely look like a genuine Windows message. Id' guess some of the malware depended it, so I removed it after getting rid of the malware. Should there be a problem with Windows or any program I'll report it here.
Involved in Microsoft Security Essentials (your antivirus). Your computer should always have one antivirus at work, so don't get rid of this unless you have another antivirus to replace this one with. Clay (further information)
"Msseces.exe" is a Microsoft process located at "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Security Client\msseces.exe". In the free Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) antivirus program used for Windows XP, Vista, and 7, it presents the Graphic User Interface (GUI) that displays program status and settings and notifies the user if suspicious software is detected. It appears it is still used in the Windows Defender antivirus incorporated in the Windows 8/8.1/10 OS, which is different than the old Defender that existed before MSE and switched itself off if MSE was installed. In the enterprise antivirus called System Center Endpoint Protection, installed only on computers managed by network administrators via Group Policy, "msseces.exe" is described as the primary executable. Microsoft provides an uninstall program, invoked through the Control Panel's uninstallation applet by selecting "Microsoft Security Client" or "Microsoft Security Essentials." Alex
Summary: Average user rating of msseces.exe:
based on 30 votes with 19 user comments.
18 users think msseces.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application.
4 users think it's probably harmless.
3 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous.
One user suspects danger.
4 users think msseces.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it.
One user is not sure about it.
Best practices for resolving msseces issues
A clean and tidy computer is the key requirement for avoiding problems with msseces. 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 msseces.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.
Score
User Comments
Paul Rosell (further information)
dwdoug
Robert
swizzle1
no (further information)
Odin Sonnah (further information)
Robert Morgan (further information)
RCFortuny
Ralphy
John
Tim
Clay (further information)
Alex
(further information)
Summary: Average user rating of msseces.exe: based on 30 votes with 19 user comments. 18 users think msseces.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application. 4 users think it's probably harmless. 3 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous. One user suspects danger. 4 users think msseces.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it. One user is not sure about it.