# What does "svchost.exe" do???

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-svchost-exe-do/194553>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 12, 2003, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-svchost-exe-do/194553 "2003-08-12T01:50:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-svchost-exe-do/194553/21 "2003-08-12T09:35:05Z")

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This virus has just brought down everyone on windows 2000 and windows NT in the company I work for (that’s hundreds of pc’s). I am ok (on windows 98) for some reason

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**Author:** ![Lagged2Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ac8455/32.png) [@Lagged2Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lagged2Death)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-svchost-exe-do/194553/22 "2003-08-12T13:14:14Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Frylock \*  
> \*\*I definitely had the MSBlaster.exe thing on my WinXP system, and my computer was shutting down, but only when I was connected to the internet.  
> \*\*

From what the security web sites say about this worm, I gather it’s only active when you are connected to the internet, so I’m guessing your experience is pretty normal. Most of the other posters simply didn’t make the connection between internet use and the worm symptoms.

It’s purpose is to spread, and to attack Microsoft’s web servers starting on August 16th, not to crash your computer. It’s the nature of buffer overflow exploits, however, to have side effects that are difficult to predict or control.

> [@](#):
>
> _Originally posted by Carl\_A\_Norris_  
> **I am ok (on windows 98) for some reason**

This one only goes after Windows NT-derived systems - Windows 2000 and Windows XP. Enjoy your reprieve, usually things are the other way around. 🙂

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