mshta.exe task purpose and description:

mshta.exe is a file that was probably on your copmuter since the day you first purchased it. Verify the disk location shown below to make sure it is not spyware or virus related. It's critical to check the folder as often virus writers use similiar names or place the same names in other folders in an attempt to fool you into thinking it is a good file. This mshta.exe file is a critical Windows file, it is used to open hta file types. This file is safe and it is not considered an adware or spyware related program. It will appear in your startup list. (See the details below for the actual location of this file.)

Actual process or task name: (You can view alphabetical task list here)
mshta.exe

File type:
This is an executable program. (Location shown below)

Where is this file and folder located on my computer?
This will be found at C:\WINDOWS\System32\mshta.exe

General information:
Be aware that many tasks will be similiar names to existing tasks or processes. You can always view the running tasks on your computer by pressing ctrl-alt-del to view the windows "task manager", and then view the "processes" tab. This will show you all tasks running or currently active on your PC. Although this shows you all running tasks, it does not show dll file thats are loaded, as they get loaded as part of other processes. Many spyware writers attempt to hide their files on your computer, for example, mshta.exe may be intentionally misspelled to look like a similiar task, or spyware may be named very similiar to a Windows system task. The reason they do this is so you cannot easily recognize the name in your tasklist as I have mentioned above. Make sure always check the location of the file if you are concerned. You can always find the location of mshta.exe on your computer by using your Windows search options, but I will also try to list the file location of every file described on this website, so you can verify the correct location. You can view the entire tasklist directory with the link below.

View entire task list here!