The genuine SDWinSec.exe file is a software component of Spybot - Search & Destroy by Safer-Networking. SDWinSec.exe is an executable file that belongs to Spybot - Search & Destroy, a program that scans and removes spyware and adware from computers running Windows. This is not a critical Windows component and should be removed if known to cause problems. Removing this file may cause problems while running Spybot - Search & Destroy. Spybot - Search & Destroy is a freeware, full fledged security program that removes malicious programs and protects systems from online threats while providing live protection from viruses, trojans, malware, etc. The program also features a Boot CD creator, a registry repair tool, startup tools, command line parameters, etc. Spybot - Search & Destroy was created by Patrick Michael Kolla in 2000 while he was still a software engineering student. Safer-Networking Limited is an Irish company that was founded by Patrick Michael Kolla in 2000 to develop and distribute his program, Spybot - Search & Destroy. The company is currently headquartered in Wicklow, Ireland. The company is financially supported by donations from people are over the world.
SDWinSec stands for Spybot Search & Destroy Windows Security Center integration
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 SDWinSec.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: SDWinSec.exe is not essential for the Windows OS and causes relatively few problems. The SDWinSec.exe file is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files (x86)" or sometimes in a subfolder of C:\ (generally C:\Program Files (x86)\Spybot - Search & Destroy\).
Known file sizes on Windows 10/11/7 are 1,153,368 bytes (98% of all occurrences) or 810,320 bytes.
The process is the service "SBSDWSCService".
The program is not visible. The SDWinSec.exe file is not a Windows system file. SDWinSec.exe is certified by a trustworthy company. It is a Verisign signed file. It can change the behavior of other programs or manipulate other programs.
SDWinSec.exe is able to record keyboard and mouse inputs and monitor applications.
Therefore the technical security rating is 42% dangerous, but you should also take into account the user reviews.
Important: Some malware camouflages itself as SDWinSec.exe, particularly when located in the C:\Windows or C:\Windows\System32 folder. Therefore, you should check the SDWinSec.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
Part of the Spybot Install
Summary: Average user rating of SDWinSec.exe:
based on 5 votes with 1 user comment.
5 users think SDWinSec.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application.
Best practices for resolving SDWinSec issues
A clean and tidy computer is the key requirement for avoiding problems with SDWinSec. 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 SDWinSec.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.
Score
User Comments
Summary: Average user rating of SDWinSec.exe: based on 5 votes with 1 user comment. 5 users think SDWinSec.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application.