What is lsm.exe? Should I remove it?

lms.exe stands for Local Manageability Service. It operates as a legitimate process which is incorporated in Intel-based operating systems. It is crucial for Intel® Active Management Technology Local Manageability services, or in other words AMT. Users who have recently purchased a new laptop or standalone computer might notice running lms.exe task in the Task Manager. The source file can be located in C:/Program Files/Intel folder. This process is a which is a core service of Intel's active management technology and is not vital for Windows OS processes. Some see dangerous activity disguised under the files. In order to dispel any uncertainties and suspicions about possible virus activity, there are several methods to test it. More information about them you find out in the following chapters. One of the fast solutions is to run FortectIntego and test whether the program reports any shady activities of this file.

As mentioned before, you can determine whether the file performs malicious activities by following several steps. First of all, if the file is not located in C:/Program Files/Intel folder, but in a different folder, it may be one of the hints of a suspicious origin of such virus. Furthermore, if lms.exe automatically starts to run in the startup and consumes large CPU memory energy resources, it may signify that the file is a disguise for malware, perhaps even ransomware. Similar executable files are popular among hackers as such files attract little users‘ attention and reduce the risk of them interfering with file‘s processes. Furthermore, recently, a Russian researcher Maksim Malyutin found a crucial vulnerability in AMT which can grant cyber villains remote access to users‘ computers. Specifically, he reversed the code of the software only to find out that authentification issues can be easily avoided. The problem is that this software requires lms.exe to run. Luckily, the manufacturers already started working on the patch updates. Since this file is not crucial for Windows processes, you should terminate lms.exe file.

Uninstalling lms.exe file

There are several methods how you can eliminate this file. If the process does not renew itself after each startup process, you may simply terminate it by launching Task Manager. Find lms.ex, right-click on it and choose End task. Alternatively, if the process launches every time, you turn on your Windows OS, opt for System Configuration option. Click Windows+R and type msconfig. Enter Startup tab and choose Open Task Manager. Choose lms.exe and click Disable in the bottom right corner. Return to System Configuration window and enable changes by clicking Apply. Finally, restart the device. Lastly, you can check this file with a computer security application.