Security Software wowexec.exe

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Keane 16

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Fishy file in taskmanager ... " wowexec.exe" (notice the space) ... searched the registry for it .. no entries ... its not always there ... but sometimes ... :S:S ...
 
I get that too...guess the space is normal :)

wowexec.exe is required by windows and is used to run 16-Bit programs from within a 32-bit version of the operating system. Occasionally wowexec.exe will remain in memory after the 16-Bit program has terminated, as windows is waiting for you to start another 16-bit application. If this is the case, you can safely terminate this process as windows will restart wowexec.exe when you next run a 16-bit application.

wowexec.exe - wowexec, Windows On Windows Process, Delete and Removal Information!
 
Identify 16-bit Programs that Are Running

To determine if any 16-bit programs are currently running, and identify any that are:

1. Start Task Manager. To do so, right-click a blank spot on the taskbar, and click Task Manager.
2. On the Processes tab, note the contents of the Image Name column.
3. If any 16-bit programs are running, you see an entry for Ntvdm.exe, which is the virtual DOS machine that is provided by Windows XP. You also see wowexec.exe (the Windows on Windows subsystem), and the executable name of each 16-bit program that is running in that WOW virtual machine. As a helpful visual aid, wowexec.exe and the 16-bit executable file names are indented.

HOW TO: Identify a 16-bit Program in Windows XP
 
Process Exlorer is a great program to monitor files running on your comp. Get it, im sure it'll help.
 
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