Windows 8: Review Running Processes

Windows Security Tutorials - Herong's Tutorial Examples

∟Windows 8: Review Running Processes

This section provides a tutorial example on how to review all processes that are currently running on a Windows 8 system.

You should also review all processes that are currently running on the Windows 8 system and investigate any processes that are strange to us.

1. Type in and run "task manager" in the "Search > Apps" input field. You will see the "Task Manager" screen.

2. Click on the "Processes" tab. You see a list of all processes that are currently running on the Windows 8 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 consider to look into its properties and find out why it is running.

For example, on my Windows 8 system, I saw "OpenOffice.org 3.2" showing up 2 times in the running process list. But I am not running OpenOffice tools at this moment. Where are 2 processes came from? I need to investigate them by review their detailed properties.

Right mouse click on the first "OpenOffice.org 3.2" and select "Properties". You will see detailed properties about this process:

Program file name: soffice.bin
Location: C:\Program Files(x86)\OpenOffice.org 3\program
Size: 10.7 MB (11,312,128 bytes)
Access: Monday, September 16, 2013, 7:28:19 AM

Right mouse click on the second "OpenOffice.org 3.2" and select "Properties". You will see detailed properties about this process:

Program file name: soffice.exe
Location: C:\Program Files(x86)\OpenOffice.org 3\program
Size: 10.7 MB (11,318,784 bytes)
Access: Monday, September 16, 2013, 7:28:19 AM