The genuine wscript.exe file is a software component of Microsoft Windows by Microsoft. Windows is an operating system. Windows Script host is a service that provides scripting abilities for Windows operating systems. Wscript.exe is tasked with executing the VBScript files, and does not cause any harm to your PC.
Formerly named Windows Scripting Host, Windows Script Host is an automation technology for Windows operating systems that provides scripting abilities similar to batch files albeit with a wider range of supported features. It was first made available on Windows 95, and is able to interpret and run plain-text JScript (.JS and .JSE files) and VBScript (.VBS and .VBE files). Wscript.exe is a trustworthy file that executes the VBScript files on a Windows PC.
The Microsoft Corporation, founded in 1975 and headquartered in Redmond, Washington, is an American multinational technology conglomerate that develops, sells and supports consumer electronics, personal computers, computer software and services. The company was rated as the world's most valuable brands and largest software maker in terms of revenue in 2016 and acquired LinkedIn for $26.2 billion in 2016 and Skype Technologies for $8.5 billion in 2011.
WScript stands for Windows Script
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 wscript.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: Wscript.exe is an important part of Windows, but often causes problems. The wscript.exe file is located in the C:\Windows\System32 folder.
Known file sizes on Windows 10/11/7 are 147,456 bytes (39% of all occurrences), 141,824 bytes and 17 more variants.
It is a trustworthy file from Microsoft. The program has no visible window. It is a Windows core system file.
Therefore the technical security rating is 5% dangerous, however you should also read the user reviews.
If wscript.exe is located in a subfolder of C:\Windows, the security rating is 8% dangerous. The file size is 141,824 bytes (23% of all occurrences), 147,456 bytes and 4 more variants.
The program is not visible. The file is a Microsoft signed file. The wscript.exe file is a Windows core system file.
If wscript.exe is located in a subfolder of the user's profile folder, the security rating is 83% dangerous. The file size is 937,776 bytes (66% of all occurrences) or 481,280 bytes.
Wscript.exe is not a Windows system file. The program is not visible. The process is loaded during the Windows boot process (see Registry key: Run, MACHINE\Run, RunOnce, MACHINE\RunOnce, User Shell Folders, Userinit, DEFAULT\Runonce).
It is certified by a trustworthy company.
Wscript.exe is able to manipulate other programs, record keyboard and mouse inputs and monitor applications.
Uninstalling this variant:
If problems with AutoIt v3 Script or Connectix Virtual Game Station occur, you can go to the support area [1][2] of the Autoitscript website or uninstall the program using the Control Panel ⇒ Uninstall a Program.
If wscript.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files", the security rating is 36% dangerous. The file size is 1,554,432 bytes.
"Registry" definitely not required. Added by the VBSWG.AQ WORM!
Important: Some malware disguises itself as wscript.exe, particularly when not located in the C:\Windows\System32 folder. Therefore, you should check the wscript.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.
try Start Run type wscript.exe and enter... then you'll understand how this program can be a boulevard for viruses into your pc! Noypi
Gen.trojan Leen
Often used for Visual Basic scripting or VBscript to call other programs or dos commands Mike Schlecht (further information)
sometimes my computer won't shut down because he cannot shut down wscript.exe thomas
Windows program, do not delete: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/232211 JR (further information)
It is a service used by Windows to allow execution of VBScript. It is not necessarily dangerous, but if a dangerous script is downloaded it will appear as if wscript.exe is the culprit, when it is really a seperate script file (usually .vbs). You should not delete wscript.exe, many Windows services require it and our computer may not function properly if it cannot be found. nickwalnut
want to change file type associations. .scr - .vbs - .vbe - .wfs all to use note pad
whenever we start the m/c and boot after booting then wscript .exe error is coming and when we disconnected the floppy drive the error is not coming sushil pote (further information)
Nasty script vbs file that is virtually undetectable, shuts down your registry access and even after setting it right locks down the registry again. Smart PC usage can prevent further attacks DVR
Every time I eject a CD/DVD it pops up an annoying error. CodenameD
It is used to allow more scripting features - this in itself is not dangerous in any way, but it is sometimes used by virus'. You won't be able to remove it as it is a windows system file. Notanoob
It seems that it is disguised as a proper windows scripting host, however, looking at the code embedded in the file placed in my flash drive by the virus points toward wscript.exe in the system32 folder Const
seems to be a virus 4,300 +/- bytes C: & C/Windows Dave in Cowtown
it can be corrupted by trojan www.deepaksingh.biz.ly
that order to insert disk in drive ,when we start windown so display usually supriyono
go into the safe mode than delete it (caution : delete wscript not nwscript), your system will be fine again soon enough.... Gamez Lover
I got it last night while visiting (infowars) a website that is high up on the gov watch list. My firewall asked me if it could access my network I said no. Later on it was a running process on my computer .I have included a screenshot . Me (further information)
script window pops up at login- annoying. it is 152kb ahan at work
I want to know the functionality of wscript.exe. What it does and how it works? Arul
wscript.exe eats up over 50% of the CPU, can't be stopped, and disappears and reappears in the task manager every few seconds. Virus masquerading as the program. RoosterOrbus
This was shooting up my CPU's resources higher than anything on the list, I run an unlocked overclocked processor and to see this taking up 50% or more was bizarre, so I removed it. Seeing as this can be a horrible back-door vulnerability issue I see no need to keep it. Visual Basic is seldomly used in any everyday application even for casual users or heavy gamers such as myself, delete it just to be safe. Craig H.
If you have any problem with wscript.exe dont be panic if it flash on your screen while you start your computer. One simple thing to do is just go control panel system and security restore file from backup recover system settings or your computer open system restore next finish wait till it restart the system. Note: it wouldnt delete your document or install software but bring to default settings. Reccomended for win7 only. Hope it work because i have try it. Manzz
wscript running make autorun.inf and a virus file in my pendrive, even if after formatting the autorun file and suspisious file appears. This phenomina was ended only after i manually ended wscript process from taskmanager manually. now my first process is to end wscript process from my taskmanager manually.
Made my computing experience a ni8mare by replicating a virus file and displaying system errors
It is a virus
If there is a virus download procexp.exe from sysinternals and kill wscript.exe (further information)
i would not recommend removing it from your computer it is required for many windows functions. however, it is also a portal for many "viruses" to enter your computer. if you see it running on your computer and odd things are happening such as high cpu then sweep your computer for malware/worms/trojans David
Don't delete, idiots. It's part of windows script language and needed by the system. It's NO virus guestv2
It wasn't in my laptop I checked multiple times until I downloaded something Mohammad
Randomly would get a pop-up saying that my MS Office needs to be repaired and then after a few minutes I would be prompted to restart. Upon doing this daily I have come to find it is coming from this .exe file. If I force close this repair pop-up it would close all my MS opened applications causing me to lose unsaved work. Deleted it to prevent future loss of work. I needed to mess with the permissions of this file as the owner was "TrustedInstaller" and as the system admin that was not enough. You need to switch the owner to yourself, delete the TrustedInstaller permissions, and then give yourself full control of this file before being able to finally delete this stinker! Konstantin
It is not a virus, it is a part of computer os. BUT some virus can modify wscript.exe THEN ONLY it damages your computer. Momi
The "Wscript.exe" is the Windows's pre-installed script runner application, is it absolutely harmless,it can run VBScript and JavaScript files
Like for me thats like part of Application of windows but look on this icon its like virus but when you click right mouse than they writ modificated 2014 and i dont have this computer in 2014 and my computer is made in 2014 so that's part of you computer cause its nothing happend with my computer so. Anonymous
Its Microsoft property its can't be a virus or harmful. Its very essential part of windows.
Not able to be deleted. Also, BitDefender is blocking it. Probably something wrong. Bradford
Summary: Average user rating of wscript.exe:
based on 56 votes with 44 user comments.
20 users think wscript.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application.
3 users think it's probably harmless.
3 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous.
13 users suspect danger.
17 users think wscript.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it.
10 users don't grade wscript.exe ("not sure about it").
Best practices for resolving wscript issues
A clean and tidy computer is the key requirement for avoiding problems with wscript. 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 wscript.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
CJ™ (further information)
sheena
Deggial
Jesse B. Taintor, Ph.D.
Benjamin Pung
Richard Slater (further information)
Noypi
Leen
Mike Schlecht (further information)
thomas
JR (further information)
nickwalnut
sushil pote (further information)
DVR
CodenameD
Notanoob
Const
Dave in Cowtown
www.deepaksingh.biz.ly
supriyono
Gamez Lover
Me (further information)
ahan at work
Arul
RoosterOrbus
Craig H.
Manzz
(further information)
David
guestv2
Mohammad
Konstantin
Momi
Anonymous
Bradford
Uriel E Pelaez Hdz (further information)
Summary: Average user rating of wscript.exe: based on 56 votes with 44 user comments. 20 users think wscript.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application. 3 users think it's probably harmless. 3 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous. 13 users suspect danger. 17 users think wscript.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it. 10 users don't grade wscript.exe ("not sure about it").