Welcome to the PC Pitstop Process Library. We have an extensive list of the most common processes currently running on PCs. Use this library to inspect the safety of your running processes on a regular basis.

Click here to run our free scan and see if your computer's processes are safe. To find out how to make your computer faster, try running our Free PC Matic Scan.

Search For Processes

Process Name

  

Unknown Unknown
Safe Safe
User Optional User Optional
Unwanted Unwanted
Spyware / Adware Spyware / Adware
Virus Virus


More than one possible match was found; all matches are listed below in order of their prevalence. This only tells you what the file and the correct action might be.

To understand which possibility is actually running on your own system, perform an Overdrive test and then look at the Software|Processes tab.

You may find more information on this process by visiting Process Detail Pages.


Match #1



update.exe (Microsoft Update)

Percentage of recently scanned PC's with this process running: 0.19%
Average CPU use for this program: 11%
Average RAM for this program: 13 MB


In addition to the file name, update.exe, the following version information is used to identify the file. If the file does not match this information, it may be a different file. To ensure the file is absolutely correct, run a free and comprehensive scan.

Vendor contains:Microsoft Corporation
Product contains:Windows

To view version information with Windows Explorer, right-click the file and click Properties, Version.



Detailed Description and/or Removal Instructions

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windowsserver2003/deployment/winupdte.mspx


Win Patrol

update.exe - This is a generic exe file for update, used to update any Microsoft program. It should be loaded just while the process is in progress. Rebooting the system should clear this out.

update.exe  is an essential part of Windows and required for Windows to work properly. It should never be disabled.

PC Pitstop recommends WinPatrol Plus for monitoring all of the background activity on your PC. WinPatrol Plus provides an easy to understand descriptions of over 15,000 processes and programs.


MD5 hashes is the way that computers can define the uniqueness of a file. Anti malware vendors frequently use this technique to detect and clean malware. It is common for a program to have multiple MD5 hashes as the developers create newer versions of the program. For the program called update.exe, we have detected more than 10 different MD5 hashes. Click on a hash to research the hash in Google.

Program Name MD5 Count
update.exe> 10
MD5 Hashes
# MD5 Size
1 0xb31bf35156dbb7349be95d8ff25a1382 724704 bytes
2 0x87a1c108d30d59511c596d385a1234e4 726752 bytes
3 0x46306f5693c221f6f383649d7fc74026 765304 bytes
4 0xc5140c3f32cbeccf30e4037948805474 654336 bytes
5 0xcb10fb06b778bbe75ef8968eb9ff24c1 760696 bytes
MD5 Hashes
# MD5 Size
6 0xc1fbbf95adb4c68c7f966c0f00bf009c 760696 bytes
7 0x0b630c8656b1ea82c82b929d51fa351b 716000 bytes
8 0x6c77aae610403f3d0788aa8548dcda40 727776 bytes
9 0x1f7e2678a9c800457afc931cbde070f9 360960 bytes
10 0xfb5c337800ed35091f3d95f3ff34b3f9 655872 bytes

Match #2



update.exe (update.exe)

Percentage of recently scanned PC's with this process running: 0.02%
Average CPU use for this program: 1%
Average RAM for this program: 4 MB


In addition to the file name, update.exe, the following version information is used to identify the file. If the file does not match this information, it may be a different file. To ensure the file is absolutely correct, run a free and comprehensive scan.

Vendor contains:Microsoft Corporation
Product contains:Microsoft Security Essentials Update
File name contains:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Download\4c0f3116f2de6460ce0da60c61560a39\update\update.exe

To view version information with Windows Explorer, right-click the file and click Properties, Version.




Win Patrol

update.exe -

update.exe  is returning insufficient information about this program.

PC Pitstop recommends WinPatrol Plus for monitoring all of the background activity on your PC. WinPatrol Plus provides an easy to understand descriptions of over 15,000 processes and programs.



Match #3



update.exe (PC Tools Smart Update - Spyware Doctor)

Percentage of recently scanned PC's with this process running: 0.00%
Average CPU use for this program: 0%
Average RAM for this program: 7 MB


In addition to the file name, update.exe, the following version information is used to identify the file. If the file does not match this information, it may be a different file. To ensure the file is absolutely correct, run a free and comprehensive scan.

Vendor contains:PC Tools
Product contains:PC Tools Smart Update

To view version information with Windows Explorer, right-click the file and click Properties, Version.


Vendor or Distributor's Web Site

http://www.pctools.com/spyware-doctor/



Win Patrol

update.exe - PC Tools Smart Update for Spyware Doctor

update.exe  is required by third-party software or hardware and should not disabled.

PC Pitstop recommends WinPatrol Plus for monitoring all of the background activity on your PC. WinPatrol Plus provides an easy to understand descriptions of over 15,000 processes and programs.


MD5 hashes is the way that computers can define the uniqueness of a file. Anti malware vendors frequently use this technique to detect and clean malware. It is common for a program to have multiple MD5 hashes as the developers create newer versions of the program. For the program called update.exe, we have detected more than 10 different MD5 hashes. Click on a hash to research the hash in Google.

Program Name MD5 Count
update.exe> 10
MD5 Hashes
# MD5 Size
1 0x7ede19cbdbc94d1dc95aa355c28088b3 1896016 bytes
2 0xb137ae7c0c452bb9988205bc92028427 1763208 bytes
3 0x5ba0339cfb597766f7182729d527549f 1800048 bytes
4 0x13b3d908cbe26f9a0ee66291f10def5a 1795976 bytes
5 0xe163e26c27405d1d8dc16094a780d130 1857416 bytes
MD5 Hashes
# MD5 Size
6 0xb9bf21ce4f00fc942ab1b04d4abe20ac 1857416 bytes
7 0x630effd6a580d7ebbadee84a172b0462 1857416 bytes
8 0x3ac5ae179c32df28c24c709cbc1dda85 1794048 bytes
9 0x2e6740f6f671fb65b5c8da4f4ea4f719 1947528 bytes
10 0xe2858b1040aa72076cc6b0a2bdb9335f 1848728 bytes

Match #4



update.exe (PWS-Hangame (McAfee))

This program has not been seen on any systems tested at PC Pitstop in the past week.


In addition to the file name, update.exe, the following version information is used to identify the file. If the file does not match this information, it may be a different file. To ensure the file is absolutely correct, run a free and comprehensive scan.

File name contains:\System32\

To view version information with Windows Explorer, right-click the file and click Properties, Version.



Detailed Description and/or Removal Instructions

http://vil.nai.com/vil/content/v_133352.htm


PC Pitstop Exterminate

SubType: Password Stealer.

Accordint to McAfee:

This is a trojan detection. Unlike viruses, trojans do not self-replicate. They are spread manually, often under the premise that they are beneficial or wanted. The most common installation methods involve system or security exploitation, and unsuspecting users manually executing unknown programs. Distribution channels include email, malicious or hacked web pages, Internet Relay Chat (IRC), peer-to-peer networks, etc.

update.exeDISABLE AND REMOVE. Intrusive adware or spyware.

PC Pitstop Exterminate removes update.exe and all other forms of malware and spyware. Run a free scan and analysis to learn how to quickly and easily rid your computer of adware and spyware.


MD5 hashes is the way that computers can define the uniqueness of a file. Anti malware vendors frequently use this technique to detect and clean malware. It is common for a program to have multiple MD5 hashes as the developers create newer versions of the program. For the program called update.exe, we have detected 2 different MD5 hashes. Click on a hash to research the hash in Google.

Program Name MD5 Count
update.exe2
MD5 Hashes
# MD5 Size
1 0xa449407e79128b0333f0de23b1abf2c3 29696 bytes
MD5 Hashes
# MD5 Size
2 0x52d525a223cd29ce3737752506d17adb 765952 bytes


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PC Pitstop is the undisputed leader in PC diagnostics. Our running process library is culled from our database of over 100 million PC diagnostics and scans.

To find the latest driver for your computer we recommend running our Free Driver Scan.

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Tips from the PitCrew

Tips from the Pit Crew

Every process running on your computer takes up CPU cycles and valuable memory. For optimal PC performance and resource utilization, you should be aware of every process on your computer. PC Pitstop designed this process library to help you know which processes are worthwhile and others that slow system performance.

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Important Note

A file name alone may not be enough for positive identification. PC Pitstop's Overdrive tests and spyware scan use information such as the company name, product name, or install directory.

If you are unable to identify a file, ask about it in our forums after running our full tests.