Ieuser.exe missing in C:Program Files\Internet Explorer - is my IE compromised?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the absence of the ieuser.exe file in Internet Explorer 9 (IE 9) on Windows Vista SP2. Users confirm that ieuser.exe is not a permanent process in IE 9, as it only runs briefly during the launch of the browser to set security settings. The consensus suggests that the missing file does not necessarily indicate malware tampering, especially since IE 9 operates normally without it. Users recommend verifying with additional anti-spyware tools and considering alternative browsers like Mozilla Firefox for enhanced security.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Internet Explorer 9 functionality
  • Familiarity with Windows Vista SP2 operating system
  • Knowledge of anti-spyware tools and their usage
  • Basic navigation of Windows Task Manager
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the role of ieuser.exe in Internet Explorer 9
  • Learn how to use multiple anti-spyware programs for system security
  • Explore the differences between Internet Explorer 9 and Mozilla Firefox
  • Investigate how to monitor transient processes in Windows Task Manager
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for Windows Vista users, IT professionals, and anyone concerned about the security of their Internet Explorer installation, particularly those using IE 9.

petergreat
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I'm using Windows Vista SP2 and IE 9. An anti-spyware program alerted me that ieuser.exe, a crucial IE component, is missing. I checked C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer, and indeed there were several .exe files but no ieuser.exe.
First question, is this file present in version 9 of IE?
Second question, does this suggest malware has tampered with my IE installation?
 
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petergreat said:
I'm using Windows Vista SP2 and IE 9. An anti-spyware program alerted me that ieuser.exe, a crucial IE component, is missing. I checked C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer, and indeed there were several .exe files but no ieuser.exe.
First question, is this file present in version9 of IE?
Second question, does this suggest malware has tampered with my IE installation?

http://www.processlibrary.com/directory/files/ieuser/75309/

Can you load IE9?
 
If you download and reinstall IE you should be fine, but I suggest you don't. I suggest you move to Mozilla Firefox.
 
Greg Bernhardt said:

I can open and run IE 9 just fine, but again in Windows Task Manager I don't see the process ieuser.exe. Unless this file is no longer present in the latest version of IE 9, I smell something suspicious.
 
petergreat said:
I can open and run IE 9 just fine, but again in Windows Task Manager I don't see the process ieuser.exe. Unless this file is no longer present in the latest version of IE 9, I smell something suspicious.

Get a second opinion and load a different spyware program.
 
Can anyone who have IE9 installed check whether the file ieuser.exe is one of the installed files? This would be really helpful!
 
If you do a web search for ieuser.exe, it's a process run before running IE (IE9?) that "sets security settings for medium level". I'm thinking it's more generic than that, since why would only medium security require a pre-process when the other security level in IE don't?

ieuser.exe is only going to be running for a very short period of time, so you're not going to see it in your list of processes with task manager unless you get real lucky while launching IE9.

I don't see any instance of ieuser.exe on my system, but I'm using IE8, not IE9. I have a triple boot system, XP 32 bit, XP 64 bit, and Win7 64 bit, so it must be related to IE9, not the OS.
 

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