The genuine alg.exe file is a software component of Microsoft Windows by Microsoft. Microsoft Windows is an operating system. Application Level Gateway is a Windows service that enables third party plug-ins and Internet Connection Sharing. Alg.exe runs the ALG utility, and is completely safe for your PC.
The Application Level Gateway was created to provide support for certain third party plug-ins that permit network protocols access via the Windows Firewall, and Internet Connection Sharing features. Plug-ins supported by this service are able to open ports and change data that is available in packets such as IP addresses and ports. Additionally, it is designed to support active file transfer protocol sessions through the Network address translation engine of Windows.
The Windows Corporation is an American multinational technology company that was founded by Paul Allen and Bill Gates in 1975. The company is noted for several innovative products such as the Windows range of operating systems, Microsoft Surface Pro tablets and Xbox range of consoles. Microsoft generated a revenue of approximately $85 billion in 2016 and acquired LinkedIn for $26+ billion in 2016 and Skype Technologies for $8.5 billion in 2011.
ALG stands for Application Layer Gateway
The .exe extension on a filename indicates an executable file. Executable files may in some cases harm your computer. Therefore, please read below to decide for yourself whether the alg.exe on your computer is a Trojan that you should remove, or whether it is a file belonging to the Windows operating system or to a trusted application.
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Description: The original alg.exe from Microsoft is an important part of Windows, but often causes problems. Alg.exe is located in the C:\Windows\System32 folder.
Known file sizes on Windows 10/11/7 are 44,544 bytes (97% of all occurrences), 59,392 bytes and 6 more variants.
It is a background process, and the service name is ALG.
The program has no visible window. The alg.exe file is a Microsoft signed file. The software listens for or sends data on open ports to a LAN or the Internet.
Alg.exe is able to connect to the Internet.
Therefore the technical security rating is 17% dangerous; but you should also compare this rating with the user reviews.
Is alg.exe a virus? No, it is not. The true alg.exe file is a safe Microsoft Windows system process, called "Application Layer Gateway Service".
However, writers of malware programs, such as viruses, worms, and Trojans deliberately give their processes the same file name to escape detection. Viruses with the same file name are for instance Trojan.Generic.4356578 (detected by BitDefender), and Generic PUA HD (PUA) (detected by Sophos).
To ensure that no rogue alg.exe is running on your PC, click here to run a Free Virus Scan.
How to recognize suspicious variants?
If alg.exe is located in the "C:\Program Files\Common Files" folder, the security rating is 74% dangerous. The file size is 33,205 bytes (66% of all occurrences) or 33,792 bytes.
The program has a visible window. The application starts upon Windows startup (see Registry key: MACHINE\Run, User Shell Folders, Run).
The file is not a Windows system file.
If alg.exe is located in a subfolder of C:\, the security rating is 82% dangerous. The file size is 184,832 bytes (50% of all occurrences) or 1,195,005 bytes.
The program has no visible window. The application starts upon Windows startup (see Registry key: MACHINE\Run, Run, User Shell Folders).
There is no information about the author of the file. The alg.exe file is not a Windows system file.
Alg.exe is able to record keyboard and mouse inputs.
If alg.exe is located in a subfolder of the user's profile folder, the security rating is 74% dangerous. The file size is 128,512 bytes.
If alg.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files", the security rating is 56% dangerous. The file size is 128,512 bytes.
If alg.exe is located in a subfolder of C:\Windows, the security rating is 54% dangerous. The file size is 7,105,992 bytes.
Important: Some malware disguises itself as alg.exe, particularly when not located in the C:\Windows\System32 folder. Therefore, you should check the alg.exe process on your PC to see if it is a threat. We recommend Security Task Manager for verifying your computer's security. This was one of the Top Download Picks of The Washington Post and PC World.
Score
User Comments
If you delete it . it reappear in 7 seconds. Sounds safe. Bill
Windows system process Matt
If you delete it from C:\WINDOWS\system32 it reappear in 5-6 seconds. It's safe like Windows... Tommy Tomorrow
You only need it if you want Microsoft Firewall. If you have an additional firewall program, you are probably okay in disabling it. If you share any files or programs and resources (for example through a corporate or school network), you should not disable it. Ari
A microsoft file. its safe. Gill Bates
If you have Intel My WiFI Technology installed on your PC, it is used for that function Jarrett Z (Computer Network Admin)
It just a crap and nothing happens if you end it. Sometimes when my internet gets slow I simply end it and what a magic.My net speed increased. muralidharan
Normally harmless as already explained by many here, but i notice every time my internet slows down terribly it is due to alg.exe opening. It is used by skype and msn messenger and utorrent too, which can also be used by backdoor hackers to send stuff from your pc. Its to do with data sharing Ajarn Spencer
Summary: Average user rating of alg.exe:
based on 495 votes with 9 user comments.
204 users think alg.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application.
37 users think it's probably harmless.
111 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous.
66 users suspect danger.
77 users think alg.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it.
45 users don't grade alg.exe ("not sure about it").
Best practices for resolving alg issues
A clean and tidy computer is the key requirement for avoiding problems with alg. This means running a scan for malware, cleaning your hard drive using 1cleanmgr and 2sfc /scannow, 3uninstalling programs that you no longer need, checking for Autostart programs (using 4msconfig) and enabling Windows' 5Automatic Update. Always remember to perform periodic backups, or at least to set restore points.
Should you experience an actual problem, try to recall the last thing you did, or the last thing you installed before the problem appeared for the first time. Use the 6resmon command to identify the processes that are causing your problem. Even for serious problems, rather than reinstalling Windows, you are better off repairing of your installation or executing the 7DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth command. This allows you to repair the operating system without losing data.
To get your computer running as fast as it did on day one, you can 8reset your PC. Your personal files will remain intact, but any programs you installed will need to be reinstalled.
To help you analyze the alg.exe process on your computer, the following programs have proven to be helpful: ASecurity Task Manager displays all running Windows tasks, including embedded hidden processes, such as keyboard and browser monitoring or Autostart entries. A unique security risk rating indicates the likelihood of the process being potential spyware, malware or a Trojan. A good Bantivirus software detects and removes sleeping spyware, adware, Trojans, keyloggers, malware and trackers from your hard drive.
Score
User Comments
Bill
Matt
Tommy Tomorrow
Ari
Gill Bates
Jarrett Z (Computer Network Admin)
muralidharan
Ajarn Spencer
(further information)
Summary: Average user rating of alg.exe: based on 495 votes with 9 user comments. 204 users think alg.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application. 37 users think it's probably harmless. 111 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous. 66 users suspect danger. 77 users think alg.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it. 45 users don't grade alg.exe ("not sure about it").