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

"msseces.exe - Microsoft Security Client User Interface" process is part of the Microsoft Security Essentials anti-virus tool for Windows 8.

"msseces.exe" process is created by the startup program entry called "Microsoft Security Client".

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

Image Name  PID   Memory  Description

msseces.exe 3676  2528 K  Microsoft Security Client User Interface

Additional information about "msseces.exe" process:

Command line:
   "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Security Client\msseces.exe" -hide -runkey
   
Started by: explorer.exe

Files used:
   C:\Program Files\Microsoft Security Client\en-us\MsMpRes.dll.mui
   C:\Users\fyicenter\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\My
   C:\Windows\Fonts\StaticCache.dat
   C:\Windows\Fonts\segoeuib.ttf
   C:\Windows\System32
   C:\Windows\System32\en-US\KernelBase.dll.mui
   
Registry keys: 
HKCU\Software\Classes
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\SystemCertificates
HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\SystemCertificates
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Cryptography\OID\EncodingType 0\...
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\EnterpriseCertificates
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MSDTC\Tracing
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft Antimalware
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\SystemCertificates
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\SystemCertificates
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\Language Groups
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\Locale
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\Locale\Alternate Sorts
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\Sorting\Versions
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Session Manager
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\crypt32

"msseces.exe" process is not a virus. You should not terminate "msseces.exe" process if you are using Microsoft Security Essentials

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