Whirlpool

Hi all,

One of my old Laptops (Dell Inspiron 2650) goes painfully slow a lot of the time. Checked the Task Manager and found ccSvcHst.exe to be the offender - often using up to 100%. May to have something to do with Symantec/NIS. Any ideas/suggestions?

Thanks

Michael

msc writes...

Any ideas/suggestions?

:> www.file.net/process/ccsvchst.exe.html

Important: Some malware camouflage themselves as ccSvcHst.exe, particularly if they are located in c:\windows or c:\windows\system32 folder.

.

msc writes...

and found ccSvcHst.exe to be the offender

Are you certain that it is "ccSvcHst.exe"?

I have never come across such a file.

Ah, that is why - I never ever use Nortons/Symantec

The process Symantec Service Framework belongs to the software Symantec Security Technologies or Symantec Lic NetConnect service or ccSvcHst.exe or Symantec Event Manager, Symantec Settings Manager, Symantec Lic NetConnect service, LiveUpdate Not by Symantec Corporation (www.symantec.com).

The Windows processes are svchost.exe

Sounds like a malware/trojan/virus problem to me.

escription: File ccSvcHst.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files\Common Files". Known file sizes on Windows XP are 108648 bytes (57% of all occurrence), 107624 bytes, 105632 bytes, 109160 bytes, 105120 bytes, 92320 bytes.
The program has no visible window. It is a Verisign signed file. File ccSvcHst.exe is digitally signed. The file is not a Windows core file. It can change the behavior of other programs or manipulate other programs. Therefore the technical security rating is 32% dangerous.
www.file.net/process/ccsvchst.exe.html

I would suggest downloading the free "Process Explorer" & checking exactly what file/directory this is being run from & what service "owns" the file.

Thanks. I downloaded Process Explorer. It confirmed what the Task Manager also said i.e. that ccSvcHst.exe belongs to Symantec Corporation i.e. Norton 360. I'vd paid more attention to when the problem is occurring and it is mainly around start-up (and intemittently at other times), so I guess it is something to do with a quick scan. Now all I have to do is work out how to stop the quick scan at start up.

Thanks again for your help everyone.

Regards

Michael

Get rid of norton 360 simple really. It is probably one of the worst things you can install, runs a ridiculous amount of programs in the background making practically any computer boot slow. It runs like 5 programs just for the antivirus another one for firewall plus updates etc.

lookie writes...

Get rid of norton 360 simple really.

+1.I heard Norton can slow down a PC by as much as 20%.Use AVG or NOD32 antivirus.Very light on the system.

Actually I am using avast at the moment, only has 2 progs running in background and has little effect on computer usability when running a scan. As in terms of firewalls I use the one in my modem and then another in the router and finally microsofts own in xp/vista. I know I could make things more secure and I have used other firewalls before but what is the point of using something that makes your box run like crap only to try to avoid the 1 in a million chance that someone trys to hack you. Hell if someone can get through my 3 firewalls I am pretty sure they could get through most other firewalls I could install. You are never going to make yourself 100% safe all you can do is offer sufficient deterant so that the newbs wont bother...:)

msc writes...

One of my old Laptops (Dell Inspiron 2650) goes painfully slow a lot of the time.

+1 to removing Norton 360, it's a killer for any computer more than a few years old.

Steve the (original) name pirate

i just found this
http://www.amazon.com/review/R1SPE2L7T5QYUV?ASIN=B000NA780M&nodeID=

which basically says that the problem is a bit of warfare between symantec live update and windows update. solution to turn one or the other off and stagger their usage..

the only shame is that it's not my problem :(