SGRMbroker.exe Virus-What is it and How it runs?

If you are going through Task Manager on a Windows 10 (1709 Fall Creators Update or later) machine. Then you have probably seen SgrmBroker.exe running in the background. Is it a valid file? Is it a virus? Great questions. Let’s review what is SGRMbroker.exe Virus and if you should be concerned or not.

Jumping right to the end everything is fine. You do not need to worry about SgrmBroker.exe. The System Guard Runtime Monitor Broker (SgrmBroker.exe) is a service that Microsoft creates. And also built into the core OS as of Windows 10 version 1709.

What is SGRMbroker.exe Virus

System Guard Runtime Monitor Broker (SgrmBroker) is a Windows Service running and part of the Windows Defender System Guard. It can be easily mistaken for the RuntimeBroker that handles universal apps. However, they are different processes and both safe.

The System Guard Runtime Monitor Broker is responsible for monitoring. And also attests to the integrity of the Windows platform. The service has three key areas it monitors:

1. Protect and maintain the integrity of the system as it starts up.
2. Protect and maintain the integrity of the system after it’s running.
3. Validate the system integrity has also truly been maintained through the local and remote attestation.

However, that’s a fairly high-level explanation of what the SgrmBroker.exe virus service is responsible for. So let’s dig into each of the areas a bit more.

1. Protect and maintain the integrity of the system as it starts up

This ensures that no unauthorized firmware or software can start before the windows bootloader. This would include firmware often called a bootkit or rootkit nasty stuff. Only properly signed and secure Windows files and drivers can start on the device during startup.

One thing to note, for the most advanced functions to work properly. You will need a computer with a modern chipset. That actually supports TPM 2.0. We must also enable it in the bios UEFI.

What is TPM 2.0

Trusted Platform Module (TPM) exists in version 1.2 and the newer 2.0. It is another standard for a secure cryptoprocessor, a sort of hardware chip on your computer.

2. Protect and maintain the integrity of the system after the SgrmBroker.exe virus running

Windows 10 hardware isolates the most sensitive Windows services and data. In short, this actually means that if an attacker gains SYSTEM level privilege or comprises the kernel itself. Then they cannot control or bypass all your system’s defenses.

3. Validate that system integrity has truly been maintained through the local and remote attestation

The TPM 2.0 chip helps you to measure the integrity of your device by isolating top-level processes. And data away from Windows. It measures, for example, device firmware, hardware configuration state and windows boot related components. Remote attestation would require enterprise systems such as Intune or System Center Configuration Manager.

Registry and System File Locations for SgrmBroker.exe virus

Relevant registry and system file for the purpose are:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SgrmBroker %SystemRoot%\system32\SgrmBroker.exe

Don’t Worry, SgrmBroker.exe virus is safe

As we have discussed, SgrmBroker.exe is a safe security service that Microsoft creates to keep you and your system secure. Hence you should not try to stop or remove the service in any way. On a healthy system, this process will also run most of the time with low RAM usage.

If any issues, you can verify that the file is signed by Microsoft and running from c:\windows\system32 folder. It helps us to ensure it is not a copycat file running from another location.

Conclusion

Do you have additional questions about the SgrmBroker.exe virus? If you have further queries related to this article then let us know in the comment section below. Have a Great Day!

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