Is it a Virus?
NO - Safe
Must be in C:\Program Files\Acme Antivirus\CrashReporter or C:\Program Files (x86)\Acme Antivirus\CrashReporter
Warning
Multiple crash reports are normal
Each crash event may trigger a separate report submission
Can I Disable?
YES
Settings in Acme Antivirus to disable crash reporting or background telemetry
What is antivirus-crash-reporter.exe?
antivirus-crash-reporter.exe is a lightweight background utility of Acme Antivirus that collects crash data from the antivirus engine and generates anonymized crash reports for vendor diagnostics. It runs automatically after a crash or when telemetry is enabled, then securely transfers data to support servers.
It operates as a separate process to isolate crash data collection from core antivirus functions. It may spawn small child processes to package dumps and uses TLS to transmit data. No user action is required unless troubleshooting is needed.
Quick Fact: The crash reporter helps the vendor analyze failures without exposing personal user data.
Types of Crash Reporter Processes
- CrashCollector Process: Gathers crash data and metadata from the antivirus engine
- Uploader Process: Packages and transmits anonymized reports to vendor servers
- Telemetry Listener: Monitors health telemetry and triggers report submission on crash
- Background Manager: Oversees scheduling and retries of report transmissions
- Diagnostic Loader: Loads crash dumps for analysis during troubleshooting
- Update Helper: Ensures reporting components align with installed antivirus version
Is antivirus-crash-reporter.exe Safe?
Yes, antivirus-crash-reporter.exe is safe when it is the legitimate file from Acme Antivirus installed via official sources.
Is antivirus-crash-reporter.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real antivirus-crash-reporter.exe is NOT a virus. Malware may masquerade with similar names.
How to Tell if antivirus-crash-reporter.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in
C:\Program Files\Acme Antivirus\CrashReporter\antivirus-crash-reporter.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Acme Antivirus\CrashReporter\antivirus-crash-reporter.exe.
- Digital Signature: Right-click the file in Explorer -> Properties -> Digital Signatures. Should show "Acme Security Inc." as the signer.
- Resource Usage: Normal usage is 1-4% CPU and 10-60 MB memory. Constant high usage or activity outside crashes is suspicious.
- Behavior: Should run during crashes or telemetry events. Background operation with no crash or telemetry is unusual.
Red Flags: If antivirus-crash-reporter.exe is located outside the install folder, lacks a valid signature, or runs when no crash/telemetry is enabled, scan with antivirus tools. Look for similarly named files like "antivirus-crash-reporter.exe" from untrusted sources.
Why Is antivirus-crash-reporter.exe Running on My PC?
antivirus-crash-reporter.exe runs to collect crash data and transmit it for vendor diagnostics. It may operate when crashes occur, during scheduled telemetry, or after software updates.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Crash Detected: A recent antivirus engine crash triggers data collection and report submission.
- Telemetry Enabled: User or enterprise telemetry settings allow automatic crash data transmission.
- Background Reporting Service: The crash reporter runs as a persistent service to handle queues and retries.
- Software Update: Post-update integrity checks may temporarily launch the reporter to verify crash pathways.
- Diagnostics Queue: Queued crash reports from multiple events may keep the process active longer.
Can I Disable or Remove antivirus-crash-reporter.exe?
Yes, you can disable antivirus-crash-reporter.exe. It will stop sending crash data, but unrelated antivirus protections remain active.
How to Stop antivirus-crash-reporter.exe
- End Specific Tasks: Open Task Manager, locate antivirus-crash-reporter.exe, and End Task.
- Disable Telemetry: In Acme Antivirus settings, navigate to Privacy/Telemetry and turn off crash reporting.
- Disable Startup: In Task Manager > Startup, disable Acme Crash Reporter.
- Stop Background Apps: In Settings → System → Background apps, disable crash reporter if present.
- Uninstall If Desired: Uninstall Acme Antivirus completely via Apps & Features (note: may remove protection).
How to Uninstall Crash Reporter (Part of Antivirus Removal)
- ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → Acme Antivirus → Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → Acme Antivirus → Uninstall
- ✔ After uninstall, consider alternatives and ensure residual files are removed
Common Problems: Crash Reporter Issues
If antivirus-crash-reporter.exe shows errors or misbehaves, try the following common scenarios and fixes.
Common Causes & Solutions
- Too many crash reports queued: Open the antivirus crash reporter, clear the queue, and ensure update to latest version.
- High CPU usage during reporting: Limit telemetry in settings or disable background submissions; ensure antivirus components are up to date.
- Failed to sign or signature mismatch: Verify digital signature from Acme Security Inc.; reinstall if the signature is missing or invalid.
- Reporter not launching after crash: Repair installation or reinstall Acme Antivirus; check for conflicting security software.
- Network submission blocked: Ensure firewall allows outbound traffic to vendor servers and TLS ports are open.
- Outdated crash reporter: Update antivirus to latest version which includes updated crash reporter components.
Quick Fixes:
1. Open Task Manager and locate antivirus-crash-reporter.exe to observe activity
2. Update Acme Antivirus to ensure latest crash reporter is installed
3. Review Telemetry settings and disable if not needed
4. Run a full system scan to rule out malware masquerading as crash reporter
5. If problems persist, contact vendor support with the crash report IDs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is antivirus-crash-reporter.exe a virus?
No, antivirus-crash-reporter.exe is a legitimate Acme Antivirus component designed to collect crash data for diagnostics. Ensure it is located in C:\Program Files\Acme Antivirus\CrashReporter and signed by Acme Security Inc.
Why is antivirus-crash-reporter.exe running on my PC?
It runs to collect crash data after antivirus engine crashes, or when telemetry is enabled for diagnostics and product improvement.
Can I disable antivirus-crash-reporter.exe?
Yes. Disable crash reporting in the antivirus settings or stop the crash reporter service; this will prevent data submissions but keep core protection enabled.
Where is antivirus-crash-reporter.exe located?
Typically in C:\Program Files\Acme Antivirus\CrashReporter or C:\Program Files (x86)\Acme Antivirus\CrashReporter.
Does disabling crash reporting affect antivirus protection?
Disabling crash reporting does not affect real-time protection; it only stops diagnostic data submissions and analytics.
How can I troubleshoot crash reporter problems?
Verify the binary signature, ensure it is installed from official sources, check network access for report submission, and review antivirus logs for crash IDs and error messages.