UpdateTrustedSites.exe errors while running Endpoint Protection

Products

• Endpoint Protection

Issue/Introduction

UpdateTrustedSites.exe, a Microsoft utility, may be causing errors or consuming large amounts of CPU on Windows clients. 

This can happen on standalone computers, when running Windows within Citrix or other situations. 

"UpdateTrustedSites.exe has stopped working" popup. 

Task Manager showing UpdateTrustedSites.exe consuming large amounts of CPU

Environment

Windows 10

Windows Server (variety of versions)

Symantec Endpoint Protection 12 and 14

Cause

SEP is preventing UpdateTrustedSites.exe from working properly. 

Resolution

SEP was designed to allow for exclusion of executables for situations such as this one. The resolution is to create an exception for UpdateTrustedSites.exe within the SEP policy used by the affected SEP client computers. 

 

In the SEPM console: 

1. Click the Policies icon in the left-hand pane
2. Click 'Exceptions' in the center pane
3. Double-click 'Exceptions policy' in the main pane
4. In the new window, click 'Exceptions'
5. Click the 'Add' button
6. Select 'Windows Exeption'
7. Select 'File' from the sub list
8. Add entries as follows. Be sure to specify the correct path to UpdateTrustedSites.exe on your systems.