What is Chrome.exe?

Chrome.exe is a known and legitimate process that is associated with Google Chrome. Whenever you open Google Chrome, you’d normally see this process running in the background. If you have multiple Google Chrome windows opened, there will be multiple Chrome.exe processes running in the background, too.

Now, it is worth noting that there are rare instances when this particular process triggers problems on your PC, causing it to slow down. This happens when your computer is infected with the malicious Trojan.Poweliks malware.

In this article, we aim to answer the following questions:

• What is the Poweliks Trojan?
• Can Chrome.exe be a virus?
• What to do about Chrome.exe?
• How to tell if Chrome.exe is a virus?

What is the Poweliks Trojan?

The Poweliks Trojan is a common infection that attacks the Windows operating system. It is known to download and execute other known malware entities onto an affected computer.

Most often, this infection is spread via exploit kits that are distributed on hacked websites. Once the installer makes its way to a computer; it wreaks havoc in the Windows registry. And then, it deletes itself, leaving no trace.

Is Chrome.exe a Virus?

After the Poweliks Trojan deletes itself, it leaves the fake Chrome.exe process, which resides in your computer’s memory. It does not store any file on your disk, making it quite difficult to detect.

Once your computer is infected, it immediately creates multiple registry entries that causes pop-up ads to display and random error messages to show.

So, how can you tell if the Chrome.exe is a malware entity or not?

There are a few signs that tell you that the Chrome.exe process running on your background is no longer legitimate. Among them is a high CPU usage and multiple Chrome.exe processes that are active on your Task Manager.

Other symptoms that tell your computer is infected are as follows:

• The Task Manager shows several DLLHOST.exe files.
• When you access the web, certain pages are unreachable or blocked.
• Your computer is acting sluggish and some programs take time to load.
• You notice unusual disk activities.
• PowerShell errors randomly pop up.
• You cannot download files using Internet Explorer.

How to Remove the Fake Chrome.exe Process

If you suspect that your computer is infected by the fake Chrome.exe process that is left by the Poweliks Trojan, try the solutions below:

Solution #1: Change the security settings on Internet Explorer

If you are using Internet Explorer as your default browser, you can fix the problem by taking these steps:

1. Launch Internet Explorer.
2. Select Tools and click Internet Options.
3. In the new window that appears, click Security.
4. Choose Custom Level.
5. Navigate to Security Settings and click Downloads.
6. Go to File Download and click Enable.
7. Hit OK.
8. Relaunch Internet Explorer.

Solution #2: Delete unnecessary files

Sometimes, all you need to do to get rid of the fake Chrome.exe process is to delete all the unnecessary files on your PC.

Here’s how:

1. Close all active programs.
2. Press the Windows + R keys to launch the Run utility.
3. Into the text field, input %temp%.
4. Hit OK. The Temp folder will now open in Windows Explorer.
5. Go to Edit and click Select All.
6. Hit Delete.
7. Click Yes to confirm.

Alternatively, you can use a PC repair tool to delete unnecessary system files that are consuming a huge chunk of your system space. This is highly recommended if you do not have the technical know-how of things.

Solution #3: Install an anti-malware tool

To ensure no other malware entities infect your computer, it is best to have a reliable anti-malware tool in handy. In just a few clicks, you can quickly scan your PC and delete any files and processes that are considered serious threats.

Wrapping Up

Your PC should now be free of the Poweliks Trojan that triggers the creation of the fake Chrome.exe process. If you are still having issues with the Chrome.exe process after trying the solutions above, then we suggest you seek help from an Apple expert.