Updated on: July 19, 2024
Short on time? Here’s how to remove the CSRSS.exe virus:
- 1. Check If CSRSS.exe Is Malicious. The genuine CSRSS.exe application should be located in your System32 folder. If it’s not there, then it’s malicious.
- 2. Scan Your PC. Using a high-quality antivirus like Norton, complete a full disk scan of your computer.
- 3. Remove the CSRSS.exe Virus. Once the scan is done, allow your antivirus to remove every instance of malware from your PC.
- 4. Keep Your PC Protected. Stay safe from further infections by choosing a quality internet security suite to protect you online. Norton is my favorite, thanks to its advanced malware scanning, perfect detection rates, and great extra features like an unlimited VPN, password manager, dark web monitoring, and much more. All Norton plans come with a 60-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free.
The Client Service Runtime Process (CSRSS.exe) is an essential Windows process. It controls many critical functions on your operating system, including the Windows console and the PC shutdown procedure. If you remove CSRSS.exe, Windows will not be able to function.
Many users think CSRSS.exe is malware because they see multiple instances of CSRSS.exe running in their Task Manager, but that’s totally normal — Windows runs multiple versions of processes like CSRSS.exe simultaneously for separate tasks.
However, malware files sometimes name themselves CSRSS.exe to avoid detection on your system. If you suspect this is the case, you can perform several checks to ensure your version of CSRSS.exe is genuine. After you’ve completed these checks, you should scan your PC using a secure antivirus program to confirm there’s no malware on your PC.
Norton is the best tool for getting rid of the CSRSS.exe virus and any other malware that might be lurking on your PC. Its plans start at a very affordable $54.99 / year*, and all purchases come with a generous 60-day money-back guarantee.
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Preliminary Step — Check if CSRSS.exe Is Malicious
The most reliable way to confirm whether CSRSS.exe is malicious or not is to check its file location. The genuine CSRSS.exe application will be located in your System32 folder (C:WindowsSystem32). If the file is found anywhere else, it’s a malicious version of the application, and it needs to be removed with your antivirus.
You can easily see where the version of CSRSS.exe running on your machine is located by bringing up your Task Manager (CTRL+Shift+ESC), right-clicking on the CSRSS.exe process (it’s under the name Client Server Runtime Process), and clicking Open file location.
If CSRSS.exe is legitimate, Windows will open your System32 folder.
Note: It’s normal to see multiple instances of CSRSS.exe running in your Task Manager. Since the application has multiple functions, Windows opens one instance of the .exe for each job CSRSS.exe needs to perform.
If you’re taken to a location that’s not your System32 folder, you need to delete the disguised CSRSS.exe file by following our steps below. It’s important you don’t delete the file manually as you don’t know what it’s doing to your PC. Manually deleting the file could damage your system.
Step 1. Identify CSRSS.exe With Your Antivirus
Important: Unplug any non-critical devices (especially removable storage devices) from your USB slots before proceeding with this step. Some malware can replicate itself, and it may use these devices to reinfect you or spread to other computers.
Run a full disk scan on your Windows machine using a secure antivirus program (I recommend Norton).
Note: Run the full disk scan when you’re not planning to use your computer, as it can take quite a while to complete. Most antivirus programs allow you to schedule scans, which is a good idea if you’re busy — but you need to remove the infection as soon as possible.
The full antivirus scan will go through every file and process on your PC and quarantine any harmful files. You must let the scan run through to completion. Don’t cancel it if you see CSRSS.exe (or any other files) appear on the infected file list, as it may not be the only instance of the virus. Wait for the scan to complete before moving on to step 2.
Step 2. Remove the CSRSS.exe Infection and Delete Any Other Infected Files
When the virus scan is complete, your antivirus will display a list of all infected files in a quarantine folder. Carefully go through this list and remove any virus threats. You can contact your antivirus customer support team if you’re not sure whether a quarantined file is actually malicious, but generally it’s best to just remove the files your antivirus has identified as malware.
After you’ve gone through every quarantined file and removed any malware from your disk, restart your computer. Then, run a second full disk scan to ensure any infections stored in Windows memory are no longer active. The second full disk scan won’t take as long as the first. Many antiviruses (including Norton) recognize recently scanned files. It’s a good idea to run this scan as soon as your PC has restarted. If you’re still seeing threats appear in the infected file list after the second scan, you need to repeat steps 1 and 2 until you can scan your computer without seeing any threats.
When the infected file list is empty, you can move on to step 3.
Step 3. Keep Your Device From Getting Re-Infected
It’s really easy for your system to get infected with malware. Cybercriminals are constantly coming up with new ways to compromise your device in 2024, so you must have the proper protections in place. Here’s what you can do to prevent yourself from getting re-infected.
- Keep Your Software, OS, and Drivers Up-To-Date: When cybercriminals find ways to exploit software, operating systems, and computer drivers, developers issue patches to close these exploits. Downloading software updates offers the best protection against exploit attacks. Many applications come with an auto-update feature, which is the easiest way to keep your programs up-to-date. Using a vulnerability scanner is another good way to keep everything on your computer up to date — TotalAV includes a powerful vulnerability scanner that can detect any outdated software and download necessary patches for you. You can also look in your Windows Update settings to see if there are any optional or essential OS updates available. We recommend you download and install these, as they contain critical security fixes.
- Don’t Download Suspicious Files: If you have malware on your computer, it most likely infected you after you downloaded a suspicious file. Cybercriminals bundle malware with downloads from untrustworthy websites (usually freeware or pirated content sites). In addition to having an antivirus with real-time protection active, you should avoid downloading files from websites you don’t trust. You should also be careful when opening emails — email is the most common way to spread malware in 2024. Don’t open attachments from senders you don’t know, and if a trustworthy business or person sends you an attachment, ask them if they meant to send it before opening it. Many cybercriminals disguise themselves as businesses or people you trust to trick you into downloading malware (or sharing your personal information). As said, the best way to stay protected is to have real-time protection running. Norton has excellent real-time protection that actively scans files you attempt to download. It will intercept any malware it finds before it can damage your PC.
- Secure Your Wireless Network and IoT Devices: Your wireless network and internet of things (IoT) devices are an often-overlooked way that hackers can spread malware. You need to ensure they’re protected. Look at the wireless network list on your Windows taskbar to see if your wireless network is secure. On Windows 11, there will be a padlock symbol over a secured Wi-Fi connection. Older versions of Windows won’t show a padlock but will instead display “Secured” underneath a secured network. An unsecured wireless network will show a warning. If your home network is unsecured, you need to log in to your router to secure it. You can do this by typing your router’s IP address into the search box of your web browser. The default IP address is 192.168.0.1, but you should check your router’s manual or call their customer support team for specific instructions. Once you’re in, you can enter a password. I recommend using 1Password to create a super-secure password. Next, you need to secure your IoT devices. IoT devices include things like doorbell cams, home CCTV, and smart door locks. If you don’t need a password to access these, hackers won’t either, and they’ll be able to take control of your home systems easily. To find out how to secure your IoT device, read the manual or look up the device’s model number online. Once again, I recommend using a secure password manager to generate a password that’s tough for hackers to crack.
- Download a Secure Antivirus Program: The best way to protect your computer is to get a secure antivirus program. My go-to is Norton because it uses advanced heuristics and AI to keep your PC safe. Norton also comes with a real-time scanner to prevent any malicious files from causing damage, a VPN to disguise your location, parental controls, ID Protection (US only), and cloud backup so you can save and protect your essential files.
3 Best Antiviruses for Removing the CSRSS.exe Virus
Quick summary of the best antiviruses for removing the CSRSS.exe virus:
- 🥇 1. Norton — Best overall antivirus for removing the CSRSS.exe virus and other malware.
- 🥈 2. Bitdefender — Great lightweight scanner for detecting and removing the CSRSS.exe virus.
- 🥉 3. TotalAV — Easy-to-use with an excellent malware scanner, good for beginners.
How Does the CSRSS.exe Trojan Work?
The CSRSS.exe trojan is malicious software that’s disguised as the legitimate Windows process csrss.exe. Once executed, it can perform a variety of harmful actions.
It might allow attackers to gain remote access to your system, steal your sensitive info, or install additional malware. It can also enable keystroke logging, which can capture your passwords and other private data. The CSRSS.exe trojan often manipulates system processes and registry settings, leading to a significant drop in system performance.
While that sounds vague, it’s worth noting that CSRSS is a legitimate program, and there’s not one specific CSRSS virus. This means that two people could contract a malware infection disguised as CSRSS.exe and both experience different strains of malware.
This is why the only way to really avoid this type of malware is to get an antivirus with high malware detection ratings. My top pick, Norton, scored a 100% malware detection rating against all forms of malware. Its scanner combines a massive malware database with heuristic analysis that recognizes emerging threat patterns in real time.
Common Signs You Have the CSRSS.exe Trojan on Your System
The CSRSS.exe trojan comes in many different forms, meaning each victim will experience unique symptoms. With that in mind, these are the most common signs that you have a trojan masquerading as CSRSS.exe:
- Opening the CSRSS file location doesn’t take you to System32. The #1 indicator that you have a CSRSS.exe trojan is not being taken to System32 when you right-click the CSRSS program in your Task Manager. The legitimate CSRSS process will only ever take you to the System32 folder since it’s a vital part of what keeps Windows running.
- System slowdown or crashes. Trojans are known for causing frequent crashes and for slowing down your system’s speed immensely. If your computer’s performance suddenly took a nose dive in quality and you’re not sure why, it’s time to open up your antivirus and run a full scan of your system.
- Multiple CSRSS processes running at once. It’s perfectly normal to see a few instances of CSRSS running, so don’t be alarmed if you see two or three instances. That said, if it simply seems suspicious how many there are, or if like I mentioned above, one doesn’t take you to System32, it’s definitely a threat that needs to be removed with an antivirus.
- High CPU usage. If you notice that your CPU usage is abnormally high, then something is hogging your system resources. Open your Task Manager and scroll through your list of applications to see your current CPU usage and where the CPU usage is coming from. If it isn’t a regular application like a resource-heavy video game causing the damage, it’s most likely malware.
- Modified programs. If you notice programs you’ve installed are missing or new applications are sitting on your desktop, chances are you just forgot that you did that. Jokes aside, it’s possible some type of malware is messing with your applications. Use an antivirus like Norton to run a full scan of your device, just to make sure it’s not just the digital wind playing tricks on you.
- Disabled security settings. One tricky thing malware does is disable your computer’s security settings to allow it to spread across your device and introduce new malware to your system. Whenever you check up on your computer’s security settings (which you have remembered to keep up with lately… right?), make sure everything is exactly as you left it. If it isn’t, immediately run an antivirus scan and re-enable your features.
How Does the CSRSS.exe Trojan Get Onto Your System?
The CSRSS.exe trojan can infiltrate your system through a variety of means, including:
- Malicious email attachments. Hackers hide malware inside of email attachments and try convincing you to download it by pretending it’s a prize, a job offering, a sweepstake, etc. This type of scam is called a social engineering scam.
- Visits to compromised or malicious websites. You know those extremely dangerous or shady-looking websites you find on random ads? Turns out they are actually dangerous (who knew?). Entering a malicious website gives malware a chance to install itself on your system, especially if you click any links on the site. Good web protection software like Norton SafeWeb blocks you from entering these sites and scans incoming file downloads for malware.
- Dodgy ads. Speaking of random ads, don’t click ads that you don’t completely trust on the internet. Ads are the easiest way to lure people into fraudulent websites riddled with malware. If you do click on an ad, make sure you properly vet the website and verify it’s the legitimate company site first.
- Bundled software installations. Sometimes the malware is packaged with legitimate-looking software and installs silently during the setup of another program. Be especially wary of free versions of premium products/apps.
To prevent infections like these and avoid future attacks, make sure you’re always practicing healthy online browsing habits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CSRSS.exe a virus?
CSRSS.exe isn’t a virus. It’s a critical process used by Windows to control various elements of your operating system.
Sometimes hackers may disguise malware as CSRSS.exe, but you can quickly check if your version is genuine. If you’re not running a genuine version of CSRSS.exe, you need to follow our steps to remove CSRSS.exe using a secure antivirus program like Norton.
Can I end CSRSS.exe process?
No, you can’t end the CSRSS.exe process. If you try to end CSRSS.exe in the Windows Task Manager, Windows will display a message asking you if you want to shut down your PC. This is because Windows can’t run without CSRSS.exe. However, if you think CSRSS.exe is a virus, you can check whether it’s genuine or not from the Task Manager.
Why is CSRSS.exe running twice?
CSRSS.exe controls several features on your Windows PC, so it runs a separate instance for every job it’s doing on your computer. In other words, it’s perfectly normal to see CSRSS.exe running more than once.
However, you can follow our guide to check each instance of CSRSS.exe if you’re worried you have a virus. If it turns out you do, you can use a secure antivirus like Norton to scan your PC for any infections.
Is CSRSS.exe needed?
Yes, CSRSS.exe is needed. Without it, Windows won’t be able to operate, and your PC will shut down. If you force delete CSRSS.exe, your computer will show a blue screen of death (BSOD) when you try to boot.
You should never delete CSRSS.exe. If you suspect it may be a fake version made by hackers, you need to investigate further to see if your version of CSRSS.exe is legit. If you do have a fake version of CSRSS.exe, you should use a virus scanner like Norton to remove it.
