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    "Microsoft windows search filter host" - Should I block it or not?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by octavia, Jul 29, 2008.

  1. octavia

    octavia Notebook Evangelist

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    Zone Alarm keeps asking me about "Microsoft windows search filter host"? I hate when programs call home for no reason. Should I just block it or I allow it permanently?
     
  2. potentv

    potentv Notebook Evangelist

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    I am frightened not to let microsoft do what ever it wants, this little dictator can get a little pissed off when it doesnt get what it wants tbh :p
    No truly...
     
  3. Harper2.0

    Harper2.0 Back from the dead?

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    block it!

    (10 char)
     
  4. AKAJohnDoe

    AKAJohnDoe Mime with Tourette's

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    FWIW, it is ? X X X X X in my ZoneAlarm.

    The Spooler SubSystem App is another.
     
  5. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    SearchFilterHost is the locked-down process that hosts IFilters for extracting metadata and indexing file contents. Code run in that process has extremely limited access to the system (it can't even read the file system). My guess is that whatever it is sending is probably SQM related. Possibly something to track which IFilters are used, especially to identify usage of incompatible filters....

    Searchfilterhost.exe is a part of the indexer, and I think you can switch it off in the control panel....
    Block it, if you notice any problems (especially in searching and indexing)....unblock it