You may have noticed COM Surrogate processes running in your Windows computer‘s Task Manager. But is COM Surrogate a dangerous virus? Or is it a harmless system file? I‘m going to make this easy to understand and walk you through exactly what COM Surrogate is, how to tell if it‘s malware, and what to do if your computer is infected.
What is COM Surrogate?
COM stands for Component Object Model. This is a core communication system within Windows that allows different processes, programs and parts of the operating system to talk to each other.
Think of COM as the universal translator in Star Trek. Just like how the translator lets aliens communicate with humans, COM makes it possible for all the different components of your computer to interact smoothly.
COM Surrogate is the specific process that runs COM objects and facilitates this communication. It‘s packaged in the executable file dllhost.exe, located in the C:\Windows\System32 folder on your computer.
To understand why COM Surrogate is so important, let‘s look at a quick example. Say you want to open a document in Microsoft Word. This involves Word, Windows itself, your keyboard and mouse drivers, monitor drivers, the hard drive where the document is stored, and many other parts. COM Surrogate makes it possible for all those pieces to work together seamlessly when you click to open that file.
Without COM Surrogate running in the background managing COM communication, your core Windows system operations would fail. Your computer would be like a car with its engine removed – it‘s just not going anywhere.
Is COM Surrogate Malware?
COM Surrogate itself is absolutely not malware or a virus. It‘s a legitimate, vital Windows system process.
However, cybercriminals often disguise malware as COM Surrogate to stealthily infect computers. According to Avast, cases of malware posing as COM Surrogate increased over 300% in 2021 alone.
Hackers do this because COM Surrogate normally runs benignly in the background of every Windows machine. Disguising dangerous malware programs to look like a real system process helps them avoid detection by security software and computer users.
Some of the nastiest viruses around like spyware, ransomware, password stealers, trojans and more masquerade as COM Surrogate. Just a single infection can seriously harm your computer.
How to Identify a Fake COM Surrogate Virus
Telling a real COM Surrogate process apart from an imposter can be tricky. Here are a few techniques to determine if COM Surrogate on your Windows PC is malware:
Check the Location
The legitimate COM Surrogate process only runs from the C:\Windows\System32 folder. But malware versions could be in other locations.
To find out where COM Surrogate is on your computer:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager
- Go to the Processes or Details tab
- Right click any process named COM Surrogate
- Select "Open file location"
If the file path leads anywhere else besides C:\Windows\System32\dllhost.exe, it‘s an infected file disguised as COM Surrogate.
Monitor System Resource Usage
Real COM Surrogate uses minimal CPU, memory and disk resources. On the other hand, malware posing as COM Surrogate needs to utilize more of your computer‘s resources to operate – so it will have high resource usage.
Check Task Manager to see if any COM Surrogate processes are taxing your CPU, RAM or hard drive. Malware will drain much more system resources than the real deal.
Scan With Security Software
Quality antivirus or anti-malware tools like Malwarebytes and HitmanPro can often detect fake COM Surrogate right away. Run a full scan – if malware is found, it should get quarantined and terminated. Make sure to keep your security software updated.
Here is a simple table summarizing the key differences between legitimate COM Surrogate and malware imitating it:
| Legitimate COM Surrogate | Fake COM Surrogate Malware | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | C:\Windows\System32\dllhost.exe | Other folders |
| Resource Usage | Low CPU, RAM, disk | High resource drain |
| Security Scan | Not detected | Detected as malware |
Removing the Fake COM Surrogate Virus
If you confirm COM Surrogate running on your machine is an infected imposter, resist the urge to manually delete it. That risks wiping out critical Windows system files!
Instead, use these safe steps to remove fake COM Surrogate malware:
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Download and install a top-rated antivirus program or malware removal tool like Malwarebytes, HitmanPro or Norton Power Eraser.
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Run a full scan of your entire system. This will detect and remove any instances of malware masquerading as COM Surrogate.
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Restart your computer. This ensures any malicious processes have been terminated.
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Run another full antivirus or anti-malware scan. Verify it finds zero remaining traces of the fake COM Surrogate virus.
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Open Task Manager and confirm no suspicious COM Surrogate processes are still running.
Removing deeply embedded malware can take some time and patience. You may need to use multiple security tools and repeat this process to fully eliminate the infection.
I know it‘s frustrating, but taking shortcuts risks further damaging your system. Stick with this safe procedure and your computer will be clean and stable again.
How to Improve Security Against Malware
While COM Surrogate itself isn‘t harmful, malware misusing it can seriously impact your computer‘s health. Here are a few ways to bolster your defenses:
- Keep all software updated with the newest security patches
- Use robust antivirus and anti-malware tools and keep them updated
- Only download apps from trusted sources like official app stores
- Avoid clicking links or opening attachments in suspicious emails
- Exercise caution before granting admin access to software
- Use ad blockers in your web browsers to block malicious ads
- Utilize a VPN for greater privacy and security when browsing online
Building good security habits goes a long way towards keeping your computer safe and healthy.
Closing Thoughts
COM Surrogate is a vital background process in Windows that allows different system components to communicate. Without it, your computer couldn‘t function properly.
Cybercriminals often disguise malware as COM Surrogate to stealthily infect computers and avoid detection. This can seriously harm your system and compromise your data.
By learning the warning signs of an infection and using proper security tools, you can safely remove fake COM Surrogate malware. With improved security habits, you can avoid these viruses in the first place.
I hope this guide has helped shed some light on this tricky security issue. Let me know if you have any other questions!
