What’s handle.exe (Handle viewer)? Is it safe or a virus?

Handle.exe is a command-line utility developed by Microsoft Corporation that is used to display information about the open handles and DLLs in a system.

Handles are identifiers used by operating systems to manage resources such as files, folders, and devices. The handle.exe tool provides users with the ability to identify processes and programs that may be preventing the closure or deletion of specific files or resources. It can also be used to forcibly close handles or search for specific handles and DLLs. This can be particularly useful for troubleshooting and resolving issues related to file or resource access and management on a Windows-based system.

On the official Microsoft website it says "Ever wondered which program has a particular file or directory open? Now you can find out. Handle is a utility that displays information about open handles for any process in the system. You can use it to see the programs that have a file open, or to see the object types and names of all the handles of a program."

Researched by Carl @ SpyShelter Labs