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Display Name (?):

Cryptographic Services

Short Name (?):

CryptSvc

Executable (?):

svchost.exe

Library (?):

cryptsvc.dll

Depends On (?):

Remote Procedure Call (RPC)

Supports (?):

None.

Description (?):

Provides three management services: Catalog Database Service, which confirms the signatures of Windows files; Protected Root Service, which adds and removes Trusted Root Certification Authority certificates from this computer; and Key Service, which helps enroll this computer for certificates. If this service is stopped, these management services will not function properly. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.

OS (?):

2000 Professional, XP Home/Professional, Vista Home/Business, 2000 Server, Server 2003, Vista Server

Startup (?):

Default	Home	Workstation	Server	Minimal	Tweaked	Automatic
Automatic	Automatic	Automatic	Automatic	Manual	Disabled	Disabled

Explanation (?):

The cryptographic Services service is used in providing file verification security. Specifically the service protects the integrity of the catalog database service that is used in Windows Updating, verifies the signatures associated with Windows files such as WHQL for drivers, protects root certificates in validating network security and the key service that works in enrolling computer certificates. This service is generally something you will never want to disable so it is best to leave it set to automatic. Setting this service to manual will do no good because it will just automatically start. If you really wish to save memory then you can safely disable the service but realize it will cause problems for you later.