pickerhost.exe Controlled Folder Access


Tomel

Active member
Local time
7:33 PM
Posts
24
OS
Windows 11
I use Controlled Folder Access (and have used it since first available) and don't approve access to anything I don't research and understand first. Just upgraded to Windows 11 the other day. Today, I get a message that pickerhost.exe was denied access. I see that pickerhost.exe is a Windows system file, but that the same file name has been used to infect computers.

I have a few questions:
1. What does pickerhost.exe actually do? I can't find it's actual purpose stated anywhere? Maybe I don't need to give it access?
2. Why after years of using Controlled Folder Access, this is the first time this file has been accessed (obviously it must be related to my upgrade to Win 11)
3. How can I tell whether the file wanting access is the real and legitimate pickerhost.exe?

Thanks in advance for any guidance.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8950
    CPU
    i7-12700
    Memory
    32 Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX 3060 Ti

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home(Beta) - 23H2 - 22635.3350
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Banana Junior 5600- G Series
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
    Motherboard
    Asus ROG Strix B550-F
    Memory
    G.SKILL Ripjaws V Series 64GB 4x16
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN X
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Viotek 32", 28" ASUS VP28U
    Screen Resolution
    1080p
    Hard Drives
    Primary SAMSUNG 970 EVO Plus
    PSU
    EVGA BQ 700w 80+ Bronze
    Case
    Zalman i3 NEO
    Cooling
    ARCTIC Freezer 7 X
    Keyboard
    Corsair
    Mouse
    Amazon Generic with Cord
    Internet Speed
    Download: 295.11 mbps Upload: 65.35 mbps T-Mobile Internet
    Browser
    Firefox and Edge
    Antivirus
    MS - Defender
    Other Info
    Speakers: Klipsch ProMedia 2.1
Thanks. I saw that site when I did my original searches. Just wanted to know a little more. It's purpose? Why it executed now and not before? I haven't allowed it in CFA and don't notice anything that's not working -- at least so far. I try to not allow anything past CFA unless I absolutely need it for some reason.

Again, thanks.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8950
    CPU
    i7-12700
    Memory
    32 Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX 3060 Ti

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