What is the "csrss.exe" process on Windows 8? Is the "csrss.exe" process a virus? Can I terminate the "csrss.exe" process?

"csrss.exe - Client Server Runtime Process" is responsible for Win32 console handling and GUI shutdown of Windows 8 operating system.

On the Processes tab of "Task Manager", 2 "csrss.exe" processes may be listed: one to help background processes like services, and one to help foreground processes like winlogon.exe and your applications.

Image Name  PID  User Name   Memory   Description

csrss.exe   428  SYSTEM      648 K    Client Server Runtime Process
csrss.exe   484  SYSTEM      1,356 K  Client Server Runtime Process

Additional information about "csrss.exe" process:

Command line:
   Windows\system32\csrss.exe ObjectDirectory=\Windows 
   SharedSection=1024,12288,512 Windows=On SubSystemType=Windows 
   ServerDll=basesrv,1 ServerDll=winsrv:UserServerDllInitialization,3 
   ServerDll=winsrv:ConServerDllInitialization,2 ServerDll=sxssrv,4 
   ProfileControl=Off MaxRequestThreads=16

Started by: Boot program
   
Files used:
   C:\Windows\System32
   C:\Windows\System32\en-US\ntdll.dll.mui
   C:\Windows\Fonts\StaticCache.dat
   
Registry keys:
   HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\Sorting\Versions
   HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Session Manager
   HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SideBySide
   HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\PriorityControl

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

⇒ "wininit.exe" Process on Windows 8

⇐ "smss.exe" Process on Windows 8

⇑ System Processes on Windows 8

⇑⇑ Windows 8 Processes Tutorials