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

"explorer.exe - Windows Explorer" process represents the Windows desktop interface and the Windows Explorer folder and file manager.

"explorer.exe" is created by the Windows startup procedure.

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

Image Name    PID   Memory    Description

explorer.exe  3344  31,096 K  Windows Explorer

Additional information about "explorer.exe" process:

Command line:
   C:\Windows\System32\explorer.exe
   
Started by: Startup procedure

Files used:
   C:\$Recycle.Bin
   C:\Canon c4080i
   C:\DRIVERS
   C:\Data
   C:\Intel
   C:\Program Files\Microsoft Security Client\en-us\shellext.dll.mui
   C:\Program Files\Windows Photo Viewer\en-US\PhotoViewer.dll.mui
   C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu
   C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ReportArchive
   C:\Users\Public\Desktop
   C:\Users\fyicenter
   C:\Windows\Fonts\StaticCache.dat
   C:\Windows\System32\en-US

Registry keys: 
HKCU\Software\Classes
HKCU\Software\Classes\Applications\UEDIT32.EXE
HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Direct3D
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\MSF\Registration\Listen
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\SystemCertificates
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\HomeGroup\Printers
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Ext
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell
HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office
HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\SystemCertificates
HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Cryptography\OID\EncodingType 0\
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Direct3D
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\EnterpriseCertificates
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Fax\Client\ServiceStartup
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\MAIN\FeatureControl
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MSF\Registration\Listen
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\SystemCertificates
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Search\CrawlScopeManager
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\GameUX
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\HomeGroup
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\WinSock2\Parameters
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\crypt32

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

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