Javascript required
Skip to content Skip to sidebar Skip to footer

Any Size File Upload Check if Safe

Check if .exe file is safe

Is that .exe file safe?
You probably found this folio because you noticed a strange Windows .exe procedure or service running on your PC.

Perchance the program is causing your computer to crash or it's using too much retentiveness or CPU resource. Or perhaps yous downloaded an .exe and you're not sure if it'south safe to run.

If yous're concerned about a file on your PC just follow the 5 easy steps below to see if it's rubber. Our team has helped over 20 million people protect their PCs so y'all've come up to the right place.

Let's bank check that file for threats!

  • 1. Check it with Windows itself
  • 2. Upload the file to VirusTotal
  • iii. Who is the publisher?
  • 4. Run it in Windows Sandbox
  • five. Check the .exe's network activity for suspicious beliefs

i. How to bank check the .exe file with Windows Defender

Check with Windows Defender

These days all Windows versions come with Windows Security (formerly Microsoft Defender), and Windows Security has a congenital in easy way to scan specific .exe files. If the file is on your desktop right click it and cull "scan with Microsoft Defender".

If you institute the .exe you want to scan in the Windows task manager and you're not sure of its location, then right click it and choose "open file location". The file should then automatically be highlighted. Now right click the file once and scan it. If information technology's marked equally prophylactic, and then it'south probably safe to be on your PC.

Are you however non certain if an .exe file is safe? At that place are iv more steps yous can take.

2. Analyze the file with VirusTotal

Analyse the file with VirusTotal

Don't trust Windows Security? That'due south OK. Go to VirusTotal.com and upload the file. VirusTotal is a file assay service that will analyze the file with over 25 dissimilar antimalware engines. Please note it'due south not uncommon with most files to have one or two faux positives.

When this happens people in the VirusTotal community will often leave some comments about the file, so click the comments and come across what people are proverb.

Want to analyze all your apps for security issues with VirusTotal automatically? Our GlassWire software does this for gratis for anyone who uses the app.

Get-go install GlassWire (it'due south free to try), then go to the top left card and choose "settings" and so "VirusTotal", then turn on automatic executable security analysis. Once this VirusTotal API setting is enabled, every fourth dimension an .exe accesses the network on your PC, it will automatically be analyzed by VirusTotal.

Don't desire automatic file checking? It'south optional, and it'south turned off by default. To adjust the security settings go to GlassWire's firewall and mouse over the VirusTotal column side by side to whatever app to clarify it with VirusTotal manually.

3. Does the .exe take a publisher?

Are yous still not sure about the file? Right click the file and check its properties to come across if it has a known publisher. If a file is signed by Microsoft or a major company then it's most likely safe. If the file isn't signed at all then all bets are off. Look under "Digital Signature" to see once y'all check the file backdrop.

Does the .exe have a publisher

Delight note that with our ain GlassWire Network Security Monitoring app nosotros show existent-time network activity by publisher then information technology's easy to see if unsigned apps are accessing the network. Keeping rails of the apps on your PC and how they are signed is a great way to keep your device secure.

Practise you still not trust the .exe file?

4. Check it in Windows Sandbox

Check it in Windows Sandbox

Did y'all know the latest versions of Windows 10 or 11 have a complimentary sandbox characteristic that allows you to safely run applications in a protected surround on your PC? Search for Windows Sandbox in the Windows search box to run it. At present re-create the file, then paste information technology into the Windows Sandbox. You can then run it and see what information technology does after it's executed.

5. Monitor the file's network activity for strange beliefs

If you lot are already running the .exe on your PC and yous remember it's suspicious then it's very useful to see what hosts the .exe is connecting to along with the types of traffic information technology is sending and receiving. Our free GlassWire software can evidence you lot that data in real-time. If you lot discover the .exe is behaving badly you can and so block it instantly with our firewall, or even bank check it with VirusTotal directly from within GlassWire.

Check out this example of Calculator app:

Monitor file network activity

Download GlassWire free to give it a try.
GlassWire's modern firewall gives you lot extra protection for your PC.

Download for Windows

LifeHacker "…identify problematic or malicious application"

img-blocking-traffic-for-app "Beautifully informative"

FastCompany "…brings attention to suspicious Cyberspace activities"

NetworkWorld "Who is your computer talking to?"

Are you nevertheless not sure what files are safe or dangerous on your PC? We've put together this useful directory of commonly used Windows files then you can understand their purpose and threat level.

Directory of Windows .exe files

We at GlassWire have helped over 20 million people monitor the beliefs of certain Windows .exe files on their PCs. Are y'all curious if a certain .exe file name is safe? Check out our directory below to run into.

  • svchost.exe
  • lsass.exe
  • igfxem.exe
  • mrt.exe
  • msascuil.exe
  • gfxdownloadwrapper.exe
  • tiworker.exe
  • hxtsr.exe
  • ntoskrnl.exe
  • video.ui.exe
  • localbridge.exe
  • fingagent.exe
  • werfault.exe
  • backgroundtaskhost.exe
  • spoolsv.exe
  • msedge.exe
  • olicenseheartbeat.exe
  • cleanmgr.exe
  • compattelrunner.exe
  • mpcmdrun.exe
  • sihclient.exe
  • sdxhelper.exe
  • msmpeng.exe
  • apphostregistrationverifier.exe
  • dashost.exe
  • systemsettings.exe
  • winstore.app.exe
  • yourphone.exe
  • microsoft.photos.exe
  • Winword.exe
  • rundll32.exe
  • wermgr.exe
  • pingsender.exe
  • mousocoreworker.exe
  • mpsigstub.exe
  • dmclient.exe
  • waasmedicagent.exe

Keeping runway of what executables are running on your PC is a great kickoff step to protect your privacy and security.

GlassWire network graph

Want even more security and privacy? Consider trying out our costless GlassWire Firewall app. GlassWire helps you see the network behavior of the apps on your PC in real-fourth dimension. Yous tin can then use GlassWire's firewall to reveal malware, bandwidth wasters, or other desperately behaving apps.

darnell-smithwithurch1995.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.glasswire.com/processes/