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What’s virtiofs.exe? Is it safe or a virus?

Virtiofs.exe is a system component associated with Virtio-FS, a shared file system mechanism designed to facilitate efficient file sharing between a host system and a virtual machine (VM). It is developed in collaboration with Virtio and ensures seamless integration of file systems, enabling VMs to access host files with minimal overhead and high performance. Virtio-FS is commonly used in virtualization environments to optimize file access in containerized or multi-VM setups. Its classification under "Microsoft Windows Hardware Compatibility Publisher" indicates it meets Microsoft's security and compatibility standards, ensuring stability and trustworthiness in supported Windows environments.

Researched by Laura @ SpyShelter Labs

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A Trojan is a harmful software that pretends to be a legitimate program or file to deceive users into downloading it. It can steal personal information, damage files, or give hackers control over the infected device.

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More about virtiofs.exe on WINDOWS

Who makes virtiofs.exe?

We’ve found Microsoft Windows Hardware Compatibility Publisher should be the publisher of virtiofs.exe.

How do we know? Our SpyShelter cybersecurity labs focuses on monitoring different types of Windows PC executables and their behaviors for our popular SpyShelter Antispyware software. Learn more about us, and how our cybersecurity team studies Windows PC executables/processes.

What does it mean if someone is the publisher of a PC .exe (executable or process)?

The publisher of an executable is the entity responsible for its distribution and authenticity. Most processes/executables on your PC should be signed. The signature on the executable should have been verified through a third party whose job it is to make sure the entity is who it says it is. Find an unsigned executable? You should consider scanning any completely unsigned .exe on your PC.

Last updated: October 25, 2025

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Why should you trust us?

Our team at SpyShelter has been studying Windows PC executables for over 15 years, to help fight against spyware, malware, and other threats. SpyShelter has been featured in publications like The Register, PC Magazine, and many others. Now we’re working to share free, actionable, and easy to understand information about Windows executables (processes) with the world, to help as many people as possible keep their devices safe. Learn more about us on our "About SpyShelter” page.

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