What does the shstat.exe file do?
The shstat.exe process is also known as VirusScan tray icon and is a part of McAfee VirusScan Enterprise. This software is produced by McAfee (www.mcafee.com). An obsolete or defective version of shstat.exe can cause problems for your computer that can range from slowness to error messages such as these:
- VirusScan tray icon has stopped working. Windows is checking for a solution to the problem... (Windows 10, 8, 7)
- VirusScan tray icon has stopped working. A problem caused the program to stop working correctly. Windows will close the program and notify you if a solution is available. (Windows 10, 8, 7)
- shstat.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close. (Windows XP)
- Access violation at address FFFFFFFF in module shstat.exe. Read of address 00000000.
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What you should know about shstat.exe VirusScan tray icon
shstat.exe is not a Windows system file and is known to frequently cause computer problems. The file shstat.exe is found in a subdirectory of "C:\Program Files".
Frequently occurring are file sizes such as 215,360 bytes (25% of all these files), 243,560 bytes, 124,240 bytes or, as the case may be, 244,080 bytes.
The program appears as a small tray icon. You will find it on the Windows taskbar next to the clock. If you don't see the tray icon, click the white (<) symbol.
This particular software is recognizable as a window and also on the taskbar. You can use Windows Control Panel (Programs icon) to completely remove the software. The original file is digitally signed. Check your file. This file has a digital signature. This confirms that the producer has been registered with a certificate authority. The shstat file is not part of the Windows operating system.
Shstat.exe is capable of track other applications as well as modify other Windows tasks.
For this reason, 0% of all experts consider this file to be a possible threat. The probability that it can cause harm is high.
If you see this file on your hard drive or in Windows Task Manager, please make sure that it is not a malicious variant. It's a fact that many trojans try to cloak their true identity by calling themselves shstat.exe. With the above information or by using tools like Security Task Manager you can determine if, in your case, the file is an undesirable variant.
What do other computer users say about shstat?
Related Network Associates Virus Scan Scorpio0124 | |
McAfee Virus Scan background process Lee Wilson | |
VirusScan related Georg | |
Anti virus. Network Associates Antony Gomez (Manager LRC Cirencester College) | |
handles virus and communication error Andrew Chilala |
Summary: 7 users judge shstat.exe to be an essential file that should not be touched. However, 2 users consider this to be a suspicious process and would like to get rid of it. For this reason, 2 users have already deleted shstat.exe. source: file.net
How to uninstall McAfee VirusScan Enterprise
To remove VirusScan tray icon from your computer, please follow the manual instructions below or use an automatic uninstaller product.
- Click the Windows Start Button. You find it in the lower left corner of the taskbar.
- Type the word uninstall.
- Click Add or remove programs.
- Now locate McAfee VirusScan Enterprise in the list of displayed applications.
- Click the program, and then click Uninstall.


How to tell if shstat.exe (VirusScan tray icon) was uninstalled cleanly
After uninstalling, restart your computer. Then start Windows Explorer and see if there is still a folder with the name of the software under C:\Program Files. Be sure to check the Registry as well for remnants of VirusScan tray icon. To do this, start "Regedit", then look under "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE" > "Software" for VirusScan tray icon or the name of the producer. Always keep in mind that only a computer professional should ever directly delete entries in the Windows Registry.
What to do if a program does not uninstall
The easiest way to remove any kind of software cleanly and accurately is to use an uninstaller tool. Because the uninstaller automatically creates a backup, there is no risk of anything going wrong.
Last but not least
If Windows not working quite right for you, or if startup is taking a long time, or shstat.exe is causing problems for you, a good Windows diagnostic tool may very well help. This is especially effective when it comes to older computers that have accumulated vast quantities of "garbage data" as the result of many software installs and uninstalls.
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