Hi, I'm Henry! I will help you with this.
It sounds like something is triggering PowerShell to run periodically in the background. Here are a few possible causes and solutions:
1. Check Task Scheduler
- Some scheduled tasks may be running PowerShell automatically.
- Open Task Scheduler (Windows + S, search for "Task Scheduler").
- Look under Active Tasks for any entries related to PowerShell.
- If you find a suspicious task, disable or delete it or if you don’t recognize any task, just send me a screenshot, I will help check for that.
2. Scan for Malware
- Some malware or unwanted scripts may be executing PowerShell commands.
- Run a full scan using Windows Defender or a trusted antivirus program.
3. Use Process Monitor
- Sysinternals Process Monitor can help track what is launching PowerShell.
- Download it from this link.
- Open and filter for Process Creation events.
- Look for PowerShell-related entries and check their parent process.
4. Check Startup Programs
- Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and go to the Startup tab.
- Disable any unknown or unnecessary startup programs.
5. Perform a Clean Boot
- A clean boot helps identify software conflicts.
- Open msconfig (Windows + R, type msconfig).
- Go to the Services tab, check Hide all Microsoft services, then click Disable all.
- Restart your PC and see if the issue persists.
6. Reset PowerShell Execution Policy
- Open PowerShell as Administrator and run: Set-ExecutionPolicy Restricted
- This prevents unauthorized scripts from running.
If the issue continues, let me know, and we can dig deeper.