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

"policyHost.exe" process represents "Microsoft(R) Policy PlatformService Host" program. "policyHost.exe" process is created by the service: "Microsoft Policy Platform Processor".

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

Boot
   wininit
      services
         policyHost

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

Image Name                 Memory   Description
--------------------   ----------   -----------
policyHost.exe            4,832 K   Microsoft(R) Policy PlatformService Host

Additional information about "policyHost.exe" process:

Command line:
   "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Policy Platform\policyHost.exe" /service

Programe file information:
   Name: policyHost.exe
   Location: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Policy Platform\policyHost.exe
   Description: Microsoft(R) Policy PlatformService Host
   Version: 1.2.3602.0 (fbl_srv_ompssvc_lantern_sccmrc_sp1(jupibacc).120802-1211)
   Size: 50280 bytes
   Last modified: 8/2/2012 1:24:32 PM
   Company Name: Microsoft Corporation
   
Some data files used:
C:\Windows\System32
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Policy Platform\PolicyPlatformClient.log

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

Some DLL libraries used:
C:\windows\SYSTEM32\ntdll.dll
C:\windows\system32\kernel32.dll
C:\windows\system32\KERNELBASE.dll
C:\windows\system32\msvcrt.dll
C:\windows\system32\SHELL32.dll
C:\windows\system32\SHLWAPI.dll
C:\windows\system32\GDI32.dll
C:\windows\system32\USER32.dll
C:\windows\system32\LPK.dll
C:\windows\system32\USP10.dll

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

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