lsass.exe? A utility of a virus?

[Guest]

Hello.

I am using Win XP Professional.

I have noticed that a program called 'lsass.exe' causes my computer to hang
very often. Then I asked a friend of mine to see if it is a virus. (He is
using Win XP Home Edition) He said 'yes' and advised me to delete it. But
when I try closing in the Task Manager, it said that 'This (lsass.exe) is a
critical system process. Task Manager cannot end this process.'

I can't terminate this thing, let alone getting rid of it.

Is it really a virus? Or just another background utility?
Thanks.

 

[Roger]

Not a virus. THought the same thing myself about 3 months
ago. Check out
http://www.liutilities.com/products/wintaskspro/processlib
rary/lsass/

 

[Guest]

I see.
Thank you very very very much.

 

[Dave]

the virus is called 'sasser' and it causes lsass to crash. lsass is not
the infected file just the os service that gets attacked.

 

[nito]

this is a microsoft program do not delete for info
following site: http://www.iamnotageek.com/a/119-p1.php