What is ProcessHacker.exe?

ProcessHacker.exe is an executable file that is part of the Process Hacker software. This software is developed by wj32 and is typically installed in the C:\Program Files\Process Hacker 2 directory. Process Hacker is a free and open-source process viewer and memory editor with unique features such as powerful process termination and a Regex memory searcher.

Process Hacker is a powerful tool for managing and understanding system processes. It provides a comprehensive view of system activity by highlighting the processes in different colors. It can be used to debug software and system problems, view and close network connections, and manipulate processes and services. It also allows users to bypass process protections, and can be used to find hidden processes.

Whether Process Hacker is needed or should be removed depends on the user's needs. For system administrators, developers, and power users, Process Hacker can be a valuable tool for diagnosing problems and understanding how applications work. Because of its powerful capabilities, it can also be used maliciously. If you did not install Process Hacker yourself, or if it is being used without your knowledge, it could be a sign of a security issue, and you should consider removing it. Always remember to download software from trusted sources to avoid malware or other security threats.

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ProcessHacker.exe file information

Windows Task Manager with ProcessHacker — ProcessHacker.exe process in Windows Task Manager

The process known as Process Hacker (version 2) belongs to software Process Hacker by wj32 or Process Hacker.

Description: ProcessHacker.exe is not essential for Windows and will often cause problems. ProcessHacker.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files" or sometimes in a subfolder of C:\ or in a subfolder of Windows folder for temporary files or in a subfolder of C:\Windows or in a subfolder of the user's "Documents" folder (in most cases C:\Program Files\Process Hacker 2\). Known file sizes on Windows 10/11/7 are 1,719,840 bytes (59% of all occurrences), 1,464,352 bytes and 13 more variants.
The program has a visible window. It is not a Windows core file. The file is certified by a trustworthy company. You can uninstall this program in the Control Panel. ProcessHacker.exe is able to monitor applications, record keyboard and mouse inputs and manipulate other programs. Therefore the technical security rating is 10% dangerous; but you should also compare this rating with the user reviews.

Uninstalling this variant: If you have any problems with ProcessHacker.exe, you may also want to do the following:

go to the support area of the Sourceforge website
update the program
completely remove Process Hacker (Control Panel ⇒ Uninstall a Program)

If ProcessHacker.exe is located in a subfolder of the user's profile folder, the security rating is 46% dangerous. The file size is 1,719,840 bytes (75% of all occurrences), 1,464,352 bytes or 2,171,392 bytes. The ProcessHacker.exe file is not a Windows core file. The ProcessHacker.exe file is certified by a trustworthy company. ProcessHacker.exe is able to record keyboard and mouse inputs, monitor applications and manipulate other programs.
If ProcessHacker.exe is located in the Windows folder for temporary files, the security rating is 50% dangerous. The file size is 526,680 bytes. The program is not visible. ProcessHacker.exe is not a Windows core file. ProcessHacker.exe appears to be a compressed file.

Important: Some malware camouflages itself as ProcessHacker.exe, particularly when located in the C:\Windows or C:\Windows\System32 folder, for example PUA.Win32.ProcHack.C (detected by TrendMicro), and not-a-virus:HEUR:RiskTool.Win32.ProcHack.gen (detected by Kaspersky). Therefore, you should check the ProcessHacker.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

This is not a virus its looks like a process hacker but it can be used for hacking on games because it have dll injection inside of process
rati

Process Hacker contains a virus! Scan Started Wed May 20 04:38:00 2020 (ClamWin antivirus+ClamSentinel active shield -look for them in sourceforge.net-) C:\...\ProcessHacker.exe (installed PH2): Win.Virus.Expiro-7614864-0 FOUND C:\...\Process_Hacker_2.26_En_Portable.rar (setup pack): Win.Virus.Expiro-7614864-0 FOUND There's no doubts that is a real virus, because it attacks me 4 time after an upgraded ClamWin got it. So, I can say that this virus remains inactive for a long time (about a month. If Internet is no using, it remains inactive forever), then an algorithm or hacker active it. It attack System restore points (inside System Volume Information directory) and all executable he can reach. If manually opening System32 directory, he spread like a bomb but system still run and for sure a low-level user cannot understand nothing. Virus also go to Internet for bad proposals, but I can not verify that because I quick notice virus and stop connection, and *very sadly* have to formatting again and again. Anyway there is a relative probability that PH's network scanner can spy directly for a long time, just before the virus attacks: sometime I notice PH doing a speedy connection, while his plugin for automatic update is off.
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associated with bitcoin miner

Summary: Average user rating of ProcessHacker.exe: based on 3 votes with 3 user comments. 2 users think ProcessHacker.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application. One user thinks ProcessHacker.exe is dangerous and recommends removing it. One user is not sure about it.

Best practices for resolving ProcessHacker issues

A clean and tidy computer is the key requirement for avoiding problems with ProcessHacker. 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 executing the 7DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth command. This allows you to repair the operating system without losing data.

To get your computer running as fast as it did on day one, you can 8reset your PC. Your personal files will remain intact, but any programs you installed will need to be reinstalled.

To help you analyze the ProcessHacker.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. A good Bantivirus software detects and removes sleeping spyware, adware, Trojans, keyloggers, malware and trackers from your hard drive.

Other processes

pastisvc.exe sm56hlpr.exe brccuxsys.exe ProcessHacker.exe batindicator.exe rpsystray.exe sh4service.exe bhdrvx64.sys uihost.exe openvpnas.exe nw.exe [all]

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