What is the "SearchFilterHost.exe" process on windows 7? Is the "SearchFilterHost.exe" process a virus? Can I terminate the "SearchFilterHost.exe" process?

"SearchFilterHost.exe" process represents "Microsoft Windows Search Filter Host" program. "SearchFilterHost.exe" process is created by the service: "Windows Search".

"SearchFilterHost.exe" process is normally running under the parent process "SearchIndexer" as shown in the process tree below:

Boot
   wininit
      services
         SearchIndexer
            SearchFilterHost

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

Image Name                 Memory   Description
--------------------   ----------   -----------
SearchFilterHost.exe      5,424 K   Microsoft Windows Search Filter Host

Additional information about "SearchFilterHost.exe" process:

Command line:
   "C:\windows\system32\SearchFilterHost.exe" 0 524 528 536 65536 532 

Programe file information:
   Name: SearchFilterHost.exe
   Location: C:\windows\system32\SearchFilterHost.exe
   Description: Microsoft Windows Search Filter Host
   Version: 7.00.7601.17610 (win7sp1_gdr.110503-1502)
   Size: 113664 bytes
   Last modified: 5/4/2011 1:19:28 AM
   Company Name: Microsoft Corporation
   
Some data files used:
C:\Windows\System32

Some registry keys used:
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\Sorting\Versions
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\SESSION MANAGER

Some DLL libraries used:
C:\windows\SYSTEM32\ntdll.dll
C:\windows\system32\kernel32.dll
C:\windows\system32\KERNELBASE.dll
C:\windows\system32\ADVAPI32.dll
C:\windows\system32\msvcrt.dll
C:\windows\SYSTEM32\sechost.dll
C:\windows\system32\RPCRT4.dll
C:\windows\system32\USER32.dll
C:\windows\system32\GDI32.dll
C:\windows\system32\LPK.dll

"SearchFilterHost.exe" process is not a virus. You should not terminate "SearchFilterHost.exe" process.

⇒ "WmiPrvSE.exe" Process on Windows 7

⇐ "SearchProtocolHost.exe" Process on Windows 7

⇑ System Service Processes on Windows 7

⇑⇑ Windows 7 Processes Tutorials