Download SpyShelter
Discover our Resources →
Learn how to protect your Windows PC from malware and other threats.Application Control
Control your PC apps and their behaviors.What’s that .exe?
Is that executable safe, or a threat?SpyShelter PC Protection
Learn how to protect your PC from bad apps.Registry Protection
Protect your Windows Registry from harm.Executable Directory
Our ultimate directory of Windows PC executables.Perfhost.exe is a process associated with performance counter hosting in Microsoft Windows. It's a part of Microsoft's own System Monitor tool.
The Microsoft Windows "System Monitor" tool, also known as PerfMon (Performance Monitor), is a powerful utility created by Microsoft to help users and administrators monitor the performance of their Windows systems. This tool provides a detailed view of how the system's resources are being utilized, offering insights into various aspects such as CPU usage, memory utilization, disk activity, and network performance. Its main purpose is to aid in diagnosing system bottlenecks and optimizing performance by providing real-time and historical data.
System Monitor is versatile in its functionality, allowing users to track specific system operations through a customizable interface. Users can select which counters to monitor, with each counter representing a specific aspect of system performance. This flexibility makes it an essential tool for those looking to understand the inner workings of their system and how different processes and applications affect overall performance.
One of the strengths of System Monitor is its ability to log performance data over time. This enables users to analyze trends and identify patterns that may indicate potential issues or areas for improvement. The tool can also be used to set performance alerts, notifying the user when certain thresholds are reached, which can be crucial for preemptively addressing issues before they escalate.
Overall, the System Monitor tool stands out for its comprehensive approach to system diagnostics and optimization. Its integration into the Windows operating system means that users have a powerful tool at their disposal to ensure their systems are running efficiently, making it a valuable resource for both casual users looking to maintain their system's health and IT professionals managing complex networks and servers.
Below are 4 simple steps you can take to see if the perfhost.exe process is safe or malware.
Researched by Carl @ SpyShelter Labs
A Trojan is a harmful software that pretends to be a legitimate program or file to deceive users into downloading it. It can steal personal information, damage files, or give hackers control over the infected device.
Download SpyShelter to see detailed safety information about every .exe on your PC.
Check your PC for threatsWe’ve found Microsoft Windows should be the publisher of perfhost.exe.
How do we know? Our SpyShelter cybersecurity labs focuses on monitoring different types of Windows PC executables and their behaviors for our popular SpyShelter Antispyware software. Learn more about us, and how our cybersecurity team studies Windows PC executables/processes.
The publisher of an executable is the entity responsible for its distribution and authenticity. Most processes/executables on your PC should be signed. The signature on the executable should have been verified through a third party whose job it is to make sure the entity is who it says it is. Find an unsigned executable? You should consider scanning any completely unsigned .exe on your PC.
Our team at SpyShelter has been studying Windows PC executables for over 15 years, to help fight against spyware, malware, and other threats. SpyShelter has been featured in publications like The Register, PC Magazine, and many others. Now we’re working to share free, actionable, and easy to understand information about Windows executables (processes) with the world, to help as many people as possible keep their devices safe. Learn more about us on our "About SpyShelter” page.
Have any questions? Please join our free public SpyShelter PC Security Forum and talk cybersecurity with our USA-based team. We love talking about PC Security and we’d like to get to know you.
Join our PC security forum →
