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

"smss.exe - Windows Session Manager" process is responsible for handling sessions of Windows 7 operating system.

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

Root
   Idle
      System
         smss

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

Image Name                 Memory   Description
--------------------   ----------   -----------
smss.exe                  1,172 K   Windows Session Manager

Additional information about "smss.exe" process:

Command line:
   \SystemRoot\System32\smss.exe

Programe file information:
   Name: smss.exe
   Location: C:\windows\System32\smss.exe
   Description: Windows Session Manager
   Version: 6.1.7600.16385 (win7_rtm.090713-1255)
   Size: 112640 bytes
   Last modified: 10/7/2016 10:56:08 AM
   Company Name: Microsoft Corporation

Some data files used:
C:\Windows

Some registry keys used:


Some DLL libraries used:
C:\windows\SYSTEM32\ntdll.dll

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

⇒ "csrss.exe" Process on Windows 7

⇐ "System" Process on Windows 7

⇑ System Processes on Windows 7

⇑⇑ Windows 7 Processes Tutorials