Is kernel32.exe safe or is this task spyware?



Purpose of kernel32.exe:









File purpose and description:

This should not be confused with kernel32.dll. Kernel32.exe is a virus and should be cleaned up on your pc. This virus will attempt to send files to everyone in your Outlook email address book. (See the details below for the actual location of this file.)

Actual file or task name:
kernel32.exe

File type:
This is an executable file.

File or folder location:
You should do a Windows search to find this file. The name is very unique and will be easy to find by doing a Window search of your hard drive.


General information:
Be aware that many tasks will be similiar names to existing tasks or processes. You can always view the running tasks on your computer by pressing ctrl-alt-del to view the windows "task manager", and then view the "processes" tab. This will show you all tasks running or currently active on your PC. Although this shows you all running tasks, it does not show dll file thats are loaded, as they get loaded as part of other processes. Many spyware writers attempt to hide their files on your computer, for example, kernel32.exe may be intentionally misspelled to look like a similiar task, or spyware may be named very similiar to a Windows system task. The reason they do this is so you cannot easily recognize the name in your tasklist as I have mentioned above. Make sure always check the location of the file if you are concerned. You can always find the location of kernel32.exe on your computer by using your Windows search options, but I will also try to list the file location of every file described on this website, so you can verify the correct location. You can view the entire tasklist directory with the link below.

Lookup other processes below.
gcasserv.exe gcastdtserv.exe gearsec.exe geeba.dll getflash.exe
ghoststarttrayapp.exe giocl.dll gnotify.exe go in.exe goec62~1.dll
googleafe.dll googledesktop.exe googletoolbar1.dll googletoolbar2.dll googletoolbar3.dll
googletoolbar5.dll googletoolbarnotifier.exe gozilla.exe gra.exe gstart.exe
gtpbx.dll guard.exe guard32.dll hbtoeaddon.exe hdashcut.exe
hdaudpropshortcut.exe hggda.dll hggdcaw.dll hidserv.exe hijackthis.exe
hkcmd.exe hkserv.exe homerunner.exe hookdump.exe host.dll
hostie.dll hotkeyapp.exe hot_canada.exe hpadvisor.exe hpbootop.exe
hpcmpmgr.exe hpgs2wnd.exe hpgs2wnf.exe hphipm07.exe hphipm11.exe
hphmon03.exe hphmon04.exe hphmon05.exe hphupd05.exe hphupd08.exe