What Is COM Surrogate And How To Fix It (Causes And Solution)

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There are a variety of applications and programs that run in the background, making it more straightforward for systems to work effectively. Yet, only some know such applications, their functions, and how they can benefit the system’s processing.

In this article, we’ll discuss an of these files, Com surrogate or dllhost.exe. Additionally, we will learn different ways to eliminate this file.

Table of Contents

What Is COM Surrogate

Component object model (COM) can be described as a technique or process that Windows uses to create extensions to speed up your system’s performance. It handles all DLL files and can help form attachments to simplify the task.

One of the most common examples of tasks that COM Surrogate performs is that the moment a user launches an existing folder, it produces thumbnails of different types of files within the folder. It also helps the user to see the folders and to differentiate the files and distinguish them.

In addition, it is additionally responsible for hosting all DLL files. As such, the name is DLLhost.exe. It is among the essential components in the operation of Windows.

Is COM Surrogate A Virus

It’s among the main files in the system. It controls the operation of the system. It assures that all extensions to the program are created and that the program runs without issue. It isn’t a virus. However, those with malicious motives generate the virus to appear like a COM-like surrogate and may harm the system.

Causes Of The Error

Many causes could be at fault for the error. The reasons are listed in the following paragraphs:

Outdated Software: If the software has not yet to be up-to-date to the latest version, it may create invalid COM objects, which will not validate in the system so this error can occur.

Incorrect Codecs: There’s an possibility that Explorer might not have been able to load the thumbnails for extensions into the system. It may be because of outdated codecs.

Malware: Infected file is among the leading causes of numerous errors responsible for this error.

COM Surrogate Error Types

There are many types of errors that users might encounter. Below are some examples of issues in the following:

High CPU COM
Surrogate, utilization of the disk
COM Surrogate has stopped functioning
COM Surrogate is constantly crashing, and the program isn’t opening
COM Surrogate is always on
The COM surrogate is taking memory
The COM Surrogate service isn’t responding and has been frozen
COM Surrogate virus

Harms Caused By COM Surrogate Virus

This virus is harmful because it attempts to interfere with the system’s operation and makes the user’s information vulnerable. It’s a Trojan virus. Someone with malicious intent generally installs them to track the actions of users and take sensitive information.

The infection is associated with the file “Dllhost.exe,” The pop-up displaying this error says, “COM surrogate has stopped working.” This virus could harm your information in a variety of ways. Some options are listed in the following paragraphs:

The virus could allow hackers to access your computer remotely, making tracking your activities and harming your data much more manageable.
The virus could also open backdoor into your system that allows hackers to access your system, bypassing the security firewall by using the backdoor created by this virus.
This malware acts as the key logger. Each time you press a key on your keyboard, it is recorded in the logbook. It allows hackers to access records of your login credentials, including banking passwords and various login details.

How To Identify And Remove COM Surrogates

Criminals seek to replicate the COM surrogate files and inflict harm on the system. But this fake file can easily be discovered and eliminated by following these steps:

Note: Don’t attempt to remove the COM surrogate file by hand, as it could cause harm to the system.

#1) Right-click the taskbar and select “Task Manager,” as shown in the image below.

#2) A dialog box will appear like the one in the following picture. Select “Processes” and then further search for “COM Surrogate.” Right-click it and select “Open file location.”

#3) If the path to the directory is the same as shown in the picture below, Then it’s the original COM surrogate in the first instance, or it could be an replica.

If the file is a replica, Do not erase the file, but instead, check the folder using Antivirus. Once the scan is complete and the file is deleted, you can delete it. If you reboot the computer, you can conduct an antivirus scan to eliminate all evidence of the infection.

How To Fix COM Surrogate Errors

There are many methods to correct this issue, and we have listed a few of them in the following paragraphs:

Method 1: Reset Internet Explorer

#1) Press Windows + R on the keyboard. Then type “inetcpl.cpl” and click on “OK.”

#2) The dialog box, similar to the picture, will pop up. Click on “Advanced” and further click on “Reset.”

Please restart your computer, and all system data will be restored to their initial configurations helping to resolve the COM surrogate issue.

Method 2: Rollback Display Driver

Also, you can solve the problem with the COM surrogate by returning the driver to the earlier version. Take the steps given below to restore the driver.

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#1) Press Windows + R from the keyboard, then search to find “hdwwiz. cpl,” as shown in the picture below. After that, click “OK.”

#2) Right-click the Display adapter, then click “Properties,” as depicted in the following image.

#3) A dialog box will pop up like the picture below. Select “Roll Back Driver,” as illustrated in the screenshot below.

When you have completed the above steps following the above steps, the driver will be reset to its previous version. You will then have to reboot the operating system.

Method 3: Re-Register DLLs

#1) Find Command Prompt in the Windows search bar. Then, right-click “Run as Administrator,” as shown in the screenshot below.

#2) The screen is black and appears. Enter “regsvr32 vbscript.dll” and press Enter. Similarly, you can type “regsvr32 jscript.dll” and press Enter.

Restart your computer, re-register DLLs, your system’s configuration, and DLL file issues are resolved, and it can fix the problem since it’s also referred to as DLLHost.exe.

Method 4: Update Antivirus

The Antivirus is a vital program available to the computer since it assists in preventing harmful files that may cause harm to the system. It is recommended that your Antivirus is current with the latest version to identify all harmful and affected files on your system.

Prevent Further Entry Of COM Surrogate Virus: Steps

These points should be remembered to avoid getting re-infected with COM surrogate virus

Avoid downloading files from sites that are not secure.
Choose the top antivirus program to protect your system.
Make sure your system is up to date and ensure that all of your drivers are updated.
Make sure your codec is updated.
Prefer using VPN.
Perform a frequent antivirus scan of your computer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q #1) Is COM surrogate virus?
Answer: It is not a virus. However, people with malicious intentions reproduce it and spread the virus to additional files on the system.

Q #2) What’s a COM Surrogate?
Answer: It’s software that can create extensions to software that helps the program run on the computer.

Q #3) Do I have the right to take out the surrogate COM?
Answer: You can eliminate or block this program from Task Manager. However, it could affect the system’s functioning and cause Windows to become corrupted.

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Q #4) What’s the surrogate COM process?
Answer: It is a sacrifice in which the program creates extensions to the software and helps it run.

Q #5) Why can I have two surrogates for COM?
Answer: Those with malicious motives reproduce COM surrogates to try and cause harm to the system. One is the affected file if two or more files are in your system.

Q #6) Does Windows Defender any good?
Answer: Windows Defender is a good security tool. However, it’s not strong enough against different viruses and harmful files.

Q #7) Should I remove the COM Surrogate Process?
Answer: The answer is no, do not remove the application as it’s among the most vital functions of the system. If you delete it, this could lead to Windows being damaged in the system.

Final Thoughts

The COM surrogate procedure is among the system’s essential functions, and those with malicious intent could attempt to interfere with the system’s functioning using the replication of dllhost.exe. Thus, removing this file is the sole option.

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In this article, we have discussed the COM surrogate procedure in addition to learning how to detect the virus and then remove it from your system.