What is the "lsm.exe" process on Windows 8? Is the "lsm.exe" process a virus? Can I terminate the "lsm.exe" process?

"lsm.exe - Session Manager Service" process is the Local Session Manager (LSM) on Windows 8 to manages connections related to the terminal server.

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

Image Name  PID  User Name   Memory   Description

lsm.exe     612  SYSTEM      1,336 K  Session Manager Service

Additional information about "lsm.exe" process:

Command line:
   \Windows\System32\lsm.exe

Started by: wininit.exe

Files used:
   C:\Windows\System32
   C:\Windows\System32\en-US\lsm.exe.mui
   
Registry keys: None
   HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies
   HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\Sorting\Versions
   HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Session Manager
   HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Terminal Server
   HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Lsa\FipsAlgorithmPolicy
   HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Terminal Server\WinStations

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

⇒ "explorer.exe" Process on Windows 8

⇐ "taskhost.exe" Process on Windows 8

⇑ System Processes on Windows 8

⇑⇑ Windows 8 Processes Tutorials