Short on time?
However, you should never attempt to delete the COM Surrogate virus manually.
The most efficient and secure way to remove the COM Surrogate virus is by installing a comprehensive antivirus suite.
I recommend Norton as the best antivirus to remove the COM Surrogate virus.
Think of COM Surrogate as a behind-the-scenes helper for your system.
So, why do hackers like to impersonate this helper?
In the picture above, you could see COM Surrogate is running 3 times on the system.
While this may look alarming, its not.
It simply means multiple applications are using the middleware to help them communicate with the OS.
Step 1.
Identify the COM Surrogate Virus With Your Antivirus (And Dont Make the Problem Worse!)
So dont be tempted to cancel the scan once you see the virus appear on the infected file list.
Its time for the next step.
Step 2.
More technical users can go through the files one by one and check for false positives before hittingDelete.
Once youve deleted the files, you should cycle your box.
For now, that is.
Read on to find out what you could do to avoid getting reinfected.
Step 3.
Plus, theres the danger of identity theft, online data harvesting, and your Wi-Fi getting hacked.
You cant disable COM Surrogate.
Its a core system function within Windows that will be called upon every time an system requests it.
Afterwards, I accessed a folder in File Explorer and opted forThumbnail View.
Upon doing so, I noticed COM Surrogate reappeared in my task list.
This is normal, and it shouldnt be interfered with.
COM Surrogate is a part of dllhost.exes function and a required Windows background process.
If in doubt, followthis guideon how to remove malicious instances of COM Surrogate.
How do I turn off COM Surrogate?
Unfortunately, its impossible to turn off COM Surrogate.
However, in most cases, theres nothing to worry about when you see COM Surrogate running.
Why does COM Surrogate keep popping up?
COM Surrogate is a form of middleware, so multiple processes within Windows can run it.
However, if youre receiving an actual pop-up that claims its COM Surrogate, its probably a malware infection.
You shouldscan your computerusing an antivirus program such as Norton.
Why does COM Surrogate keep crashing?
Its totally normal for COM Surrogate to crash occasionally.
COM Surrogate is a sacrificial process.
In fact, surrogate means toact in anothers place.
In other words, COM Surrogate crashing is a form of protection.
That being said, consistent crashes or system slow-downs may be the symptom of something more serious.
Should COM Surrogate crash frequently, follow theabove steps.
your system may be infected.
Where is COM Surrogate located?
COM Surrogate is an internal process that is initiated by dllhost.exe which is located in your System32 folder*.
COM Surrogate itself isnt something you might find in your system files.
If you were to delete System32, Windows would no longer function.
Why is the COM Surrogate virus dangerous?
The COM Surrogate virus is hazardous as it can create a backdoor into your system.
This enables them to dominate your OS and use it in botnets and cryptojacking software.
How do I get rid of COM Surrogate in Windows 11?
If youre seeing COM Surrogate running in Windows 11, its perfectly normal.
COM Surrogate is a form of middleware that Windows uses to draw thumbnails, among other processes.
