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

"GoogleUpdate.exe - Google Installer" process is a Google client that checks for updates for Goolge products like Google Chome.

"GoogleUpdate.exe" process is created by startup program entry "Google Update".

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

Image Name        PID   Memory  Description

GoogleUpdate.exe  3996  548 K   Google Installer

Additional information about "GoogleUpdate.exe" process:

Command line:
   "C:\Program Files\Google\Update\GoogleUpdate.exe" /c
   
Started by: explorer.exe

Files used:
   C:\Program Files\Google\Update\1.3.29.5

Registry keys: 
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Google\Update
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Google\Update\Clients\{430FD4D0-B729-4F61-AA34-91526481799D}
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\Sorting\Versions
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Session Manager
HKU\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\International
HKU\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
HKU\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

"GoogleUpdate.exe" process is not a virus. You can terminate "GoogleUpdate.exe" process or remove the startup program entry "Google Update". You can manually check for updates from Google website.

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