The updated McAfee SystemCore files (version 15.4) that are installed with McAfee Agent 5.x add a new McAfee service,
McAfee Management Service (MMS). MMS replaces the
Windows Service Control Manager (SCM) as the manager of all 15.4 core-related McAfee services. The goal of MMS is to reduce the security risks of SCM-managed services being shut down or disabled by malware. When a McAfee service is integrated with MMS, rather than SCM, it is a normal process that is protected by self-protection policies. This design makes it far less susceptible to malware attacks.
MMS itself is a Windows SCM-managed service. As such, you see it listed in the SCM as McAfee Service Controller or by its short name,
mfemms. The service itself is protected by the McAfee
LockDown API, which protects it from being shut down or disabled. McAfee makes sure that they are not dependent on MMS. So, if MMS crashes or is somehow closed, the managed services continues to operate without interruption. There is also a self-protection watchdog for the MMS service. If MMS crashes or is closed unexpectedly, it automatically restarts.
