What is the "iexplore.exe" process on Windows 8? Is the "iexplore.exe" process a virus? Can I terminate the "iexplore.exe" process? Why where are multiple "iexplore.exe" process?

"iexplore.exe - Internet Explorer" process represents the Internet Explorer Web browser you are running on the desktop.

"iexplore.exe" process is created by "explorer.exe" when you launch Internet Explorer. "iexplore.exe" creates child "iexplore.exe" processes to make Automatic Crash Recovery possible. This is why you will see multiple "iexplore.exe" processes.

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

Image Name  PID  Memory  Description

iexplore.exe    4    36 K    Internet Explorer

Additional information about "iexplore.exe" process:

Command line:
   "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe" 
   
Started by: explorer.exe

Files used:
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\en-US\iexplore.exe.mui
C:\Users\fyicenter\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files
C:\Users\fyicenter\AppData\Local\Temp
C:\Users\fyicenter\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\My
C:\Users\fyicenter\Desktop
C:\Windows\Fonts\StaticCache.dat
C:\Windows\System32\en-US\KernelBase.dll.mui

Registry keys: 
HKCU\Software\Classes
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\SystemCertificates
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\SystemCertificates
HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Cryptography\OID\EncodingType 0
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\EnterpriseCertificates
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\MAIN
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\SystemCertificates
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\SystemCertificates
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Session Manager
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\WinSock2\Parameters\NameSpace_Catalog5
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\crypt32

"iexplore.exe" process is not a virus. You should not terminate "iexplore.exe" process. It will go away after you close Internet Explore.

⇒ "Skype.exe" Process on Windows 8

⇐ "firefox.exe" Process on Windows 8

⇑ Application Program Processes on Windows 8

⇑⇑ Windows 8 Processes Tutorials