Home How To Removal Guides How to Remove Svchost.exe Malware From Windows

How to Remove Svchost.exe Malware From Windows

Do you find your computer to be sluggish and low on storage? Odds are, your computer is loaded with infecting Malware. Since tons of lines of code keep on execution, when we run our PCs and so there can be many problems like high CPU usage, 0xc000021a error, timed out connection error, Cortana not working, google chrome has stopped working, dll issues etc. Malware or Malicious Software are programs designed by hackers to steal information or hinder the working of a device. This post would guide you to remove Remove Svchost.exe Malware.

One of the most troublesome of the malware is Svchost.exe which not only steals your information but also installs various other Malware programs in the background. It is not easy to detect and is a pain to remove.

In this guide, we have tried to ease that pain by providing a list of steps which will completely Remove Svchost.exe Malware from your PC.

Table of Contents

What is Svchost.exe And How to Remove Svchost.exe Malware?

Svchost.exe is the general host name for the files that run the processes of the dynamic-link libraries.

Much too technical? Here’s the layman version – In Windows, all the core files required to run the operating system are put in the dynamic-link libraries (or .dll files) instead of executable files (or .exe files). This helps in reduction of space required and improves performance.

But, to run these .dll files, Windows use a .exe file called Svchost.exe.

Isn’t Svchost.exe a necessary file? Why should we remove Svchost.exe Malware? Definitely, it is a necessary file, and we will not remove Svchost.exe (original) from your device.

Yeah, you read it right. What we will remove Remove Svchost.exe Malware which hides behind the original file.

Various forms of Malware disguise themselves as Svchost.exe like Adware, Ransomware, Trojan Agents, etc. Due to this, we collectively refer them as Svchost.exe Malware.

The only place Svchost.exe should be present is at – C:\Windows\System32

If you see any other instance of it, odds are this is a malicious program hiding as the host file, and you must Remove Svchost.exe Malware from that destination.

Symptoms that your PC is infected with Svchost.exe Malware

Multiple files named Svchost.exe at random places on your computer.
Your Anti-virus Software stops or blocks a file named Svchost.exe.
Files named SVCHOST.EXE.EXE present in your device.

A file with a random name (generally on the lines of ABChost.exe) which you are unable to delete (shows an error that it is in use and cannot be deleted).
Finding multiple processes named Svchost.exe in your Windows Task Manager.

I already have an Anti-Virus program. Do I still need to check for Svchost.exe? The short answer is – Yes!

Svchost.exe is an intelligent Malware which actively tries to hide from anti-malware software.
It employs various stealth modules to evade detection and generally only works in the background.

Therefore, many of the anti-virus programs are unable to detect or remove this malicious host file.

What is the harm in keeping a few Svchost.exe files on my computer? It is working just fine! The harm is not of the performance, but of information.

Svchost.exe Malware is a host for running multiple malicious files which may include:

Steal your computer configuration data.
Steal security data from your device.
Download and install multiple Malware files and hosts.
Steal usernames and passwords including bank and credit card details.
Upload the data to the author of this malicious program.

Therefore, it is important to remove Svchost.exe Malware from your Windows as soon as possible.

Step-by-Step Guide to Remove Svchost.exe Malware

We have split the process to remove Svchost.exe into two categories – Removal of tidbits (From Step 1-5) and Complete Wash (5-10).

Step 1: Cleanse Shortcuts of Web Browsers

Right-click on the shortcut of your web browsers. Check the “Target” section
If there is a file name like Svchost.exe or SVCHOST.EXE.EXE – remove Svchost.exe address keeping the original target address same.

Cleanse the shortcuts of your web browsers

Step 2: Removing Unknown Programs

Search through all the installed programs and delete all the unknown software installed.

Step 3: Disable your Anti Virus Program.

For the completion of the Complete Wash step and to completely remove Svchost.exe, a few programs will be used which might be hindered by the anti-virus software installed. Disable till the process is complete.

Step 4: Remove Unknown Extensions

Extensions can also cause to perform this kind of damage and hence look for removal of all the extensions which are unknown to you.

Remove all the unknown extensions from your web browsers

Step 5: Update your Java and Adobe services.

Check if you’re not having any outdated Java & Adobe services on your system. Either remove them or update the services.

Step 6: Download and run Rkill.exe

Rkill is the silver bullet to completely halt all the malicious processes running at the time on your computer. It is a simple open and close application which automatically kills all the malicious tasks running in the background.

Alternatively, you can open the Windows Task Manager and manually kill all the tasks named as Svchost.exe but the sheer number of processes and the possible presence of other malicious tasks makes it faster and more convenient to use Rkill.

Step 7: Download and run ESET Poweliks Cleaner

It is a powerful cleaner to remove the Trojan. ESET Poweliks that might be present in your device and hinders the removal of Svchost.exe.

Simply run the cleaner and it will begin searching for the virus. If detected, press “Y” on your keyboard and it will be removed.

Step 8: Install and run Malwarebytes on your computer

Malwarebytes is a powerful anti-malware solution which automatically detects and removes most of the malicious software that might have infected your device. Simply install the software and run the scanner.

The scanning might take a few minutes. After the process is complete, Malwarebytes will show a list of all the malicious applications on your device.

Click on “Quarantine Selected” to remove all the Malware detected by Malwarebytes.

Step 9: Download and run TDSSKiller.

TDSSKiller is a simple and fast program meant to remove the harmful Rootkit Malware from your device.

Simply run the exe. (executable) file, and it will scan and remove Rootkit as well as other possible Malware from your device.

Step 10: Enable your Anti-virus Program and restart your computer.

Since all the steps are now complete, don’t forget to enable your Anti-Virus Program again and restart your PC.

Conclusion

If you carefully follow all the steps from our guide, not only you’ll be able to Remove Svchost.exe Malware but also other malicious Malware or viruses as well. You can delete the applications installed during the steps, or you can keep them for added security – All up to you!

And we hope this helps!