How to Detect the Event of Execution of a Specific Process on Windows 10: A Step-by-Step Guide

Are you wondering how to detect when a specific process is executed on your Windows 10 system? Perhaps you want to monitor system performance, track user activity, or identify potential security threats. Whatever the reason, detecting process execution events can be a powerful tool in your Windows 10 toolkit. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the various methods to detect process execution events on Windows 10, covering both built-in and third-party solutions.

Method 1: Using Windows Event Viewer

The Windows Event Viewer is a built-in utility that allows you to view system events, including process execution. To detect process execution events using Event Viewer, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type eventvwr and press Enter to open the Event Viewer.
3. In the Event Viewer, navigate to the Windows Logs section.
4. Click on the Filter Current Log button in the right-hand Actions panel.
5. In the Filter window, select the XML tab.
6. In the <Query> field, enter the following code:

<QueryList>
  <Query Id="0"><Select Path="Application">*[System/Provider[@Name='Windows PowerShell' or @Name='PowerShell']]</Select></Query>
</QueryList>

This code will filter events related to process execution. You can modify the query to specify the process name or executable you’re interested in monitoring.

Interpreting Event Viewer Results

Once you’ve applied the filter, the Event Viewer will display a list of events related to process execution. Look for events with the following characteristics:

• Event ID: 4688 (Process creation)
• Event ID: 4689 (Process termination)
• Source: Windows PowerShell or PowerShell (depending on the process)

By analyzing these events, you can detect when a specific process is executed on your Windows 10 system.

Method 2: Using Sysmon

Sysmon is a free, open-source tool from SysInternals that provides advanced system monitoring capabilities. To detect process execution events using Sysmon, follow these steps:

1. Download and install Sysmon from the official SysInternals website.
2. Open the Command Prompt as an administrator.
3. Run the following command to configure Sysmon to monitor process creation events:

sysmon -i -accepteula

This command will install Sysmon and configure it to monitor process creation events.

Configuring Sysmon to Monitor Specific Processes

To monitor specific processes, you’ll need to create a configuration file that specifies the processes you’re interested in. Create a new file called sysmon.config with the following contents:

<Sysmon>
  <ProcessCreate onmatch="include">
    <Rule name="MyProcess" groupRelation="or">
      <Image condition="contains">myprocess.exe</Image>
    </Rule>
  </ProcessCreate>
</Sysmon>

Replace myprocess.exe with the name of the process you want to monitor. Save the file and restart Sysmon using the following command:

sysmon -c sysmon.config

Sysmon will now monitor process creation events for the specified process.

Method 3: Using WMI Events

Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) provides a powerful way to monitor system events, including process execution. To detect process execution events using WMI, follow these steps:

1. Open the PowerShell as an administrator.
2. Run the following command to register for WMI events:

Register-WmiEvent -Class Win32_ProcessStartTrace -SourceIdentifier ProcessStart

This command will register for process start events.

Handling WMI Events

To handle the events, you’ll need to create a script that will execute when a process starts. Create a new file called process_start.ps1 with the following contents:

$event = $EventArgs.NewEvent
$processName = $event.ProcessName
$processId = $event.ProcessId

Write-Host "Process started: $processName ($processId)"

This script will print a message to the console when a process starts. Save the file and run the following command to execute the script when a process starts:

Register-EngineEvent -SourceIdentifier ProcessStart -Action {.\process_start.ps1}

Now, whenever a process starts, the script will execute, and you’ll see a message in the console.

Method 4: Using Third-Party Tools

There are various third-party tools available that can detect process execution events on Windows 10. Some popular options include:

Tool	Description
Process Monitor	A powerful tool for monitoring process activity, including process creation and termination.
System Information	A built-in tool that provides detailed system information, including process activity.
Autoruns	A free tool from SysInternals that shows you what programs are configured to run during system startup or login.

These tools can provide valuable insights into process execution events on your Windows 10 system.

Conclusion

Detecting process execution events on Windows 10 can be a powerful tool for system administration, performance monitoring, and security auditing. By using the methods outlined in this guide, you can detect when a specific process is executed on your system, providing valuable insights into system activity. Remember to choose the method that best suits your needs, and happy monitoring!

Please note that some of these methods may require administrative privileges and might have performance implications. Always test and validate the methods in a controlled environment before deploying them in production.

We hope this comprehensive guide has helped you learn how to detect process execution events on Windows 10. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don’t hesitate to ask.

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