What is the "SearchProtocolHost.exe" process on windows 7? Is the "SearchProtocolHost.exe" process a virus? Can I terminate the "SearchProtocolHost.exe" process?

"SearchProtocolHost.exe" process represents "Microsoft Windows Search Protocol Host" program. "SearchProtocolHost.exe" process is created by the service: "Windows Search".

"SearchProtocolHost.exe" process is normally running under the parent process "SearchIndexer" as shown in the process tree below:

Boot
   wininit
      services
         SearchIndexer
            SearchProtocolHost

On the Processes tab of "Task Manager", "SearchProtocolHost.exe" process may be listed as:

Image Name                 Memory   Description
--------------------   ----------   -----------
SearchProtocolHost.e      7,836 K   Microsoft Windows Search Protocol Host

Additional information about "SearchProtocolHost.exe" process:

Command line:
   "C:\windows\system32\SearchProtocolHost.exe" 
   Global\UsGthrFltPipeMssGthrPipe_S-1-5-21-602162358-823518204-1417001333-44272126_ 
   Global\UsGthrCtrlFltPipeMssGthrPipe_S-1-5-21-602162358-823518204-1417001333-44272126 1 
   -2147483646 "Software\Microsoft\Windows Search" 
   "Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT; MS Search 4.0 Robot)" 
   "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data\Temp\usgthrsvc" "DownLevelDaemon"  "1"

Programe file information:
   Name: SearchProtocolHost.exe
   Location: C:\windows\system32\SearchProtocolHost.exe
   Description: Microsoft Windows Search Protocol Host
   Version: 7.00.7601.17610 (win7sp1_gdr.110503-1502)
   Size: 249856 bytes
   Last modified: 5/4/2011 1:19:28 AM
   Company Name: Microsoft Corporation
   
Some data files used:
C:\Windows\System32
C:\Users\fyicenter\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\counters.dat

Some registry keys used:
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\Sorting\Versions
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\SESSION MANAGER
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Search
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Search\Gathering Manager
HKCU\Software\Policies
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\MAIN

Some DLL libraries used:
C:\windows\SYSTEM32\ntdll.dll
C:\windows\system32\kernel32.dll
C:\windows\system32\KERNELBASE.dll
C:\windows\system32\ADVAPI32.dll
C:\windows\system32\msvcrt.dll
C:\windows\SYSTEM32\sechost.dll
C:\windows\system32\RPCRT4.dll
C:\windows\system32\USER32.dll
C:\windows\system32\GDI32.dll
C:\windows\system32\LPK.dll

"SearchProtocolHost.exe" process is not a virus. You should not terminate "SearchProtocolHost.exe" process.

⇒ "SearchFilterHost.exe" Process on Windows 7

⇐ "SearchIndexer.exe" Process on Windows 7

⇑ System Service Processes on Windows 7

⇑⇑ Windows 7 Processes Tutorials