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What’s WmiPrvSE.exe (WMI Provider Host)? Is it safe or a virus?

At SpyShelter, located in Austin, Texas, our team specializing in cybersecurity has identified a common Microsoft executable on all our physical and virtual computers.

Having carefully studied numerous Windows executables, we now know this particular .exe to be harmless. But, what does this process do on your Windows PC? Also, isn't it strange how Microsoft decides to capitalize some letters and keep others lower case in their system executable names? Who's the MS engineer that does this? Yeah, I'm talking to you guy (or gal)!

WmiPrvSE.exe, or Windows Management Instrumentation Provider Service, is a process developed by Microsoft Windows. It is responsible for providing management information and control over the Windows operating system and its components. Specifically, WmiPrvSE.exe facilitates the communication between various applications and the Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) infrastructure, allowing for the monitoring and control of system resources, devices, and applications.

Researched by Jon @ SpyShelter Labs

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More about WmiPrvSE.exe on WINDOWS

Who makes WmiPrvSE.exe (WMI Provider Host)?

We’ve found Microsoft Windows should be the publisher of WmiPrvSE.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.

What does it mean if someone is the publisher of a PC .exe (executable or process)?

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.

Last updated: February 3, 2024

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Why should you trust us?

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.

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