Windows 7: Review Running Processes

This section provides a tutorial example on how to review all processes that are currently running on a Windows 7 system.

You should also review all processes that are currently running on the Windows 7 system and investigate any processes that are strange to us.

1. Click the "Start" button and enter in "taskmgr" in the "Search programs and files" input field. You will see the "Windows Task Manager" screen showing up.

2. Click "Processes". You will see a list of all processes that are currently running on the Windows 7 system. If you see any process name that you are not familiar with, then it is a possible spyware, adware or some program that you never need it. Search Internet to confirm that program is not related Windows system or any hardware functions. If confirmed, you should investigate why this process is running and how to prevent it to run again.

For example, on my Windows 7 system, I see "soffice.bin" currently running. "soffice.bin" seems to be related to OpenOffice 3.2 tools based on the description displayed on Task Manager. But I am not running any OpenOffice at this moment. So I need to investigate to see if it is introduced from a startup program or from a background service.

3. Check the list of startup programs again using "System Configuration" tool described in the previous tutorial. I saw the following entry:

OpenOffice.org 3.2 | Unknown
   | "C:\Program Files\OpenOffice.org 3\program\quickstart.exe"

4. Searching Internet, I learned that this startup program quickstart.exe launches 2 processes, soffice.bin and soffice.exe, and displays a task bar icon helping you to start an OpenOffice tool quickly.

5. Remove OpenOffice quickstart.exe from the startup program list.

6. Continue to review other running processes.

The picture below shows you the list of processes that are currently running on a Windows 7 system:

Windows 7 Review Running Processes
Windows 7 Review Running Processes

Table of Contents

 About This Windows Security Book

 Windows 8: System Security Review

 Windows 8: System Security Protection

 Windows 8 System Recovery

 Windows 8 Defender for Real-Time Protection

Windows 7: System Security Review

 Windows 7: System Version-Information

 Windows 7: Create Restore Point

 Windows 7: Uninstall Unwanted Programs

 Windows 7: Disable System Services

 Windows 7: Disable Scheduled Tasks

 Windows 7: Remove Startup Programs

Windows 7: Review Running Processes

 Windows 7: Event Log Viewer

 Windows 7: Disk Folders and Files

 Windows 7: Review Personal Downloads Folders

 Windows 7: System Security Protection

 Windows 7 System Recovery

 Windows 7 Forefront Client Security

 Norton Power Eraser - Anti-Virus Scan Tool

 McAfee Virus and Malware Protection Tools

 Spybot - Spyware Blocker, Detection and Removal

 Keeping Firefox Secure

 Keeping IE (Internet Explorer) Secure

 Malware (Adware, Spyware, Trojan, Worm, and Virus)

 HijackThis - Browser Hijacker Diagnosis Tool

 IE Add-on Program Listing and Removal

 "Conduit Search" - Malware Detection and Removal

 "Tube Dimmer", "Scorpion Saver" or "Adpeak" Malware

 Malware Manual Removal Experience

 Vundo (VirtuMonde/VirtuMundo) - vtsts.dll Removal

 Trojan and Malware "Puper" Description and Removal

 VSToolbar (VSAdd-in.dll) - Description and Removal

 PWS (Password Stealer) Trojan Infection Removal

 MS08-001 Vulnerability on Windows Systems

 Antivirus System PRO

 References

 Full Version in PDF/ePUB