What Is lsass.exe? Is It A Virus Or Malware? Remove?

What is lsass.exe?

lsass.exe is an executable exe file which belongs to the Local Security Authority Process process which comes along with the LSA Shell (Export Version) Software developed by Microsoft Windows Operating System software developer.

If the lsass.exe process in Windows 10 is important, then you should be careful while deleting it. Sometimes lsass.exe process might be using CPU or GPU too much. If it is malware or virus, it might be running in the background.

The .exe extension of the lsass.exe file specifies that it is an executable file for the Windows Operating System like Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.

Malware and viruses are also transmitted through exe files. So we must be sure before running any unknown executable file on our computers or laptops.

Now we will check if the lsass.exe file is a virus or malware? Whether it should be deleted to keep your computer safe? Read more below.

Is lsass.exe safe to run? Is it a virus or malware?

Let’s check the location of this exe file to determine whether this is a legit software or a virus. The location of this file and dangerous rating is mentioned below.

File Location / Rating : 14% dangerous

To check whether the exe file is legit you can start the Task Manager. Then click on the columns field and add Verified Signer as one of the columns.

Now look at the Verified Signer value for lsass.exe process if it says “Unable to verify” then the file may be a virus.

If the developer of the software is legitimate, then it is not a virus or malware. If the developer is not listed or seems suspicious, you can remove it using the uninstall program.

Based on our analysis of whether this lsass file is a virus or malware we have displayed our result below.

How to check if lsass.exe is a security issue ?

We also recommend using Security task manager application  to find which processes are unwanted in your windows computer and can be security issue. Here is how you can find whether lsass.exe is a security threat using Security task manager application.

1. Download Security task manager application and install it on your computer.
2. Run it as administrator. It will now show all the applications that are running on your computer.
3. Now it will show the Rating, file location , company and product name for each process.
4. Now click on the Ratings column to sort based on ratings.
5. You will now see which process has the worst rating easily so can decide lsass.exe is given a bad rating or not easily.
6. You will also find whether the lsass.exe process is important or not with this feature.

How To Remove or Uninstall lsass.exe

To remove lsass.exe from your computer do the following steps one by one. This will uninstall lsass.exe if it was part of the software installed on your computer.

1. If the file is a part of a software program, then it will also have an uninstall program. Then you can run the Uninstaller located at directory like C:Program Files>Microsoft Windows Operating System>LSA Shell (Export Version) >Local Security Authority Process> lsass.exe_uninstall.exe.
2. Or the lsass.exe was installed using the Windows Installer then to uninstall it, go to System Settings and open Add Or Remove Programs Option.
3. Then Search for lsass.exe or the software name LSA Shell (Export Version) in the search bar or try out the developer name Microsoft Windows Operating System.
4. Then click on it and select the Uninstall Program option to remove lsass.exe file from your computer. Now the software LSA Shell (Export Version) program along with the file lsass.exe will be removed from your computer.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do i stop lsass.exe process?

In order to stop the lsass.exe process from running you either have to uninstall the program associated with the file or if it’s a virus or malware, remove it using a Malware and Virus removal tool.

Is lsass.exe a Virus or Malware?

As per the information we have the lsass.exe is not a Virus. But a good file might be infected with malware or virus to disguise itself.

Is lsass.exe causing High Disk Usage?

You can find this by opening the Task Manager application ( Right-click on Windows Taskbar and choose Task Manager) and click on the Disk option at the top to sort and find out the disk usage of lsass.exe.

Is lsass.exe causing High CPU Usage?

You can find this by opening the Task Manager application and find the lsass process and check the CPU usage percentage.

Is lsass.exe causing High Network Usage?

If the lsass.exe has High data Usage You can find this by opening the Task Manager windows app and find the lsass process and check the Network Usage percentage.

How to check GPU Usage of lsass.exe?

To check lsass.exe GPU usage. Open Task Manager window and look for the lsass.exe process in the name column and check the GPU usage column.

I hope you were able to learn more about the lsass.exe file and how to remove it. Also, share this article on social media if you found it helpful.

Let us know in the comments below if you face any other lsass.exe related issues.

Gowtham V

Gowtham V, the founder of howtodoninja.com is an experienced tech writer and a cybersecurity enthusiast with a passion for exploring the latest technological advancements. He has 10 years of experience in writing comprehensive how to guides, tutorials, and reviews on software, hardware, and internet services. With an interest in computer security, he strives to educate users by writing content on how to use technology, and how to also protect their smart devices and personal data from cyber threats. He currently uses a Windows computer, and a Macbook Pro, and tests hundreds of Android phones for writing his reviews and guides.