Introduction Windows 11, the latest version of Microsoft’s operating system, has introduced several new improvements and features. Among them are changes to the Task Manager, particularly the ability to identify admin processes. In this article, we will dive deeper and uncover the secret trick to identify admin processes on Windows 11.
Understanding Admin Processes Admin processes refer to the background processes that are initiated and run by the administrator account. These processes are usually critical to the functioning of the operating system and are not visible to regular users. However, certain malicious programs can also hide themselves as admin processes to avoid detection and carry out their nefarious activities.
Identifying Admin Processes on Windows 11 Fortunately, Windows 11 comes with an improved Task Manager that allows users to identify admin processes. To do so, follow these simple steps:
Step 1: Open Task Manager by pressing the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys simultaneously, or by right-clicking on the taskbar and selecting “Task Manager” from the menu.
Step 2: On the Task Manager window, click on the “Details” tab to view the list of all running processes.
Step 3: Right-click on any of the column headings, such as “Name,” “PID,” or “CPU,” and select “Security” from the menu.
Step 4: This will add a new column to the list, labeled “Integrity Level.” This column will display the integrity level of the process - whether it is low, medium, or high.
Step 5: Admin processes always have a high integrity level. Therefore, scroll through the list and look for any processes with a high integrity level. These are admin processes, and you should investigate them further if they seem suspicious.
Expert Tips to Spot Malicious Admin Processes While the above trick can help you identify admin processes, it may not always be foolproof. To spot malicious admin processes, follow the expert tips below:
Tip 1: Check the publisher - look for processes from trusted publishers, such as Microsoft or other reputable software companies. If you see a suspicious publisher, investigate further.
Tip 2: Look for processes with generic file names - if a process has a generic file name, such as “svc.exe” or “dllhost.exe,” be cautious as it could be a malicious process masquerading as a legitimate one.
Tip 3: Watch out for unusual behavior - if a process is consuming an unusually high amount of CPU or memory resources, or connecting to unfamiliar network addresses, it could be a sign of a malicious process.
Conclusion Identifying admin processes on Windows 11 is crucial in maintaining the security and integrity of your system. By following the simple steps outlined above, you can easily spot admin processes and investigate any suspicious activity. However, it’s important to remember that this trick is not foolproof and to rely on expert tips to spot malicious admin processes. Stay vigilant and protect your system from potential threats.
When you run any program as an administrator, it gives the app administrative privileges. Microsoft recommends against running programs as an administrator unless you know what you are doing. We usually run lots of different apps/processes with administrative privileges in Windows 10/11. However, sometimes we forget which ones are running with admin privileges. Running apps without knowing whether it has escalated privileges might invite lots of troubles. So, it’s better to keep check of apps running with admin privileges on your Windows 10/11. Also read: Best Free Windows 11 Themes, Skins & Icon Packs
Steps to Check if a Process is Running as Administrator
So, in this article, we will share a step-by-step guide on how to check if a process is running with admin privileges in Windows 11. So, let’s check out.
- First of all, click on the Windows 11 search and type in Task Manager. Open Task Manager from the list.
2. On the Task Manager, click on the More details button as shown below.
- Now, you need to click on the Details tab, as shown in the screenshot below.
4. Now, right-click on any of the column headers and click on Select Columns.
5. On the Select Columns, check the Elevated option and click on the Ok button.
6. Now, the Details tab of Taskmanager will display an Elevated Colum. If a process has Yes in the column, the process is running with administrative privileges.
That’s it! You are done. This is how you can check if a process is running with Admin Privileges in Windows 11. So, this guide is all about checking if an app/process is running with admin rights in Windows 10/11. I hope this article helped you! Please share it with your friends also. If you have any doubts related to this, let us know in the comment box below.
