What is lsass2.exe? Should I remove it?

lsass2.exe – a part of a malicious program you should get rid of immediately

lsass2.exe is an executable file that could be also be running as a process in the background of the Windows operating system. It is operated by a malicious parasite known as the Agobot worm. Its main purpose is to create a botnet of infected computers and use them for malicious actions such as distributing Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks or send spam in massive quantities to other unsuspecting victims.

While the worm is a relatively simple program written in the C++ programming language, the presence of it on your machine should never be ignored. Not only would your PC be used to harm others but cause significant damage to you. Thus, eliminate it immediately upon detection.

Malicious actors use the visual similarities between the letter “L” and “I” when written as lower-case characters, as lsass.exe is a legitimate Windows component used by the system to manage important tasks, such as enforcing security policies or handling password changes.

When it comes to malware's distribution, malicious actors can use several methods for the purpose. For example, they can abuse software vulnerabilities to install payload automatically or employ brute-force tactics to break into computers protected by weak passwords.

Once installed, the virus establishes lsass2.exe as one of its main components that run in the background at all times. The threat is capable of performing a variety of functions on the infected machines, which include:

• Send spam to other victims, infecting them with the worm;
• Record keystrokes using a keylogging functionality;
• Install other malicious files and programs, as well as update itself with new versions;
• Install a rootkit on the infected machine, etc.;

You have to remove lsass2.exe immediately after you have found it running on your PC. The parasite will continue to violate your privacy and harm your computer unless all its components are deleted from the system. However, deleting this parasite manually might be difficult, as it can sue defensive mechanisms to prevent its easy removal.

Therefore, you should instead rely on professional anti-malware software such as SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner that deletes everything malicious from Windows within just a few minutes. If you can't launch a security app in normal mode due to malware's defensive properties, access Safe Mode with Networking and perform a full scan from there.

Since this threat is a worm, it could infect various applications or even Windows system files, making them corrupt after it is eliminated. In order to address that, you might have to reinstall the OS completely; alternatively, you could use an automatic repair tool FortectIntego.

Ways to avoid high-risk malware

There are many different malware types that are crafted to perform particular tasks. While the severity and the capabilities of these malicious programs differ, none of them ever benefit those infected. From annoying advertisements that pop up on every website to identity theft or personal file loss – everything is possible. Besides, many viruses are designed in a way that might be difficult to eliminate or interfere with security applications.

Therefore, it is vital to keep malware away from your machine in the first place. To do that, follow these tips:

• Equip your computer with reliable anti-virus and web protection software;
• Use strong passwords and never reuse them (password managing applications work well also);
• Never allow an email attachments to run macro functions on your PC;
• Use an ad-blocker to deny execution of malicious JavaScript ads;
• Install all the available security updates for Windows and the installed programs;
• Backup your personal files.

lsass2.exe removal steps

While they have some differences when it comes to their infection routine, worms and viruses are quite similar. Due to their ability to self-propagate and infect various other files on the host machine, they can be extremely difficult to eliminate, especially if this process is performed manually.

Therefore, you should not waste your time and employ the most up-to-date security software, such as SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes, and perform a full system scan to eradicate Agobot along with its lsass2.exe component from the system immediately. Infected system files can cause severe issues (crashes, errors, BSODs, etc.) after malware is eliminated; you can either reinstall the operating system or use FortectIntego repair software instead.