Local Security Authority Subsystem Service

Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS) is a process in Microsoft Windows operating systems that is responsible for enforcing the security policy on the system. It verifies users logging on to a Windows computer or server, handles password changes, and creates access tokens. It also writes to the Windows Security Log.

Forcible termination of lsass.exe will result in the Welcome screen losing its account/s, prompting a restart of the machine.

Because lsass.exe is a crucial system file, its name is often faked by malware. The lsass.exe file used by Windows is located in the directory Windows\System32. If it is running from any other location, that lsass.exe is most likely a virus, spyware, trojan or worm. Due to the way some systems display fonts, malicious developers may name the file something like Isass.exe (capital "i" instead of a lowercase "L") in efforts to trick users into installing or executing a malicious file instead of the trusted system file.

See also

• Pass the hash
• Stuxnet
• Sasser (computer worm)
• LAN Manager
• NT LAN Manager
• Active Directory
• Windows startup process

External links

• Security Subsystem Architecture
• LSA Authentication
• MS identity management