Quick Answer
bsdtar.exe is safe. It's the BSD Tar utility (bsdtar) used to create and extract tar archives, often bundled with libarchive-based toolchains. It runs on demand from command-line operations or scripts.
Is it a Virus?
✔ NO - Safe
Must be in legitimate Libarchive paths such as C:\Program Files\Libarchive\bsdtar.exe
Warning
Typically only one bsdtar.exe process per operation
Multiple invocations may occur when running several archive tasks sequentially or via scripts
Can I Disable?
✔ YES
Disable or remove the toolchain that provides bsdtar.exe if you do not need tar support
What is bsdtar.exe?
bsdtar.exe is the Windows port of the BSD Tar archiving utility (bsdtar) used to create and extract tar archives. It is commonly bundled with libarchive-based toolchains and appears in development environments such as Git for Windows or MSYS2. This section explains its role, typical usage, and safety considerations.
bsdtar.exe is the Windows port of BSD tar built on libarchive. It supports tar archives with compression formats (gzip, bz2, xz) and can create, extract, or list contents via a command-line interface within supported environments.
Quick Fact: bsdtar.exe is frequently included in Libarchive-based tooling and is commonly used in scripts for cross-platform archive handling on Windows.
Types of bsdtar.exe Processes
- Standalone Tar Operations: Direct creation or extraction of tar archives via command line
- Scripted Batching: Automated archive tasks within build or deployment pipelines
- Compression/Decompression: Handles gzip, bz2, and xz within tar archives
- Archive Inspection: List contents of tar archives without extracting
- Cross-Platform Compatibility: Windows port of BSD tar to integrate with libarchive-based stacks
- Error/Diagnostic Tasks: Produces exit codes and verbose output for troubleshooting
Is bsdtar.exe Safe?
Yes, bsdtar.exe is safe when obtained from legitimate Libarchive distributions or official package managers. Verify the path and signature before using.
Is bsdtar.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real bsdtar.exe is not a virus. However, attackers can masquerade with similar names. Always verify location and digital signature from legitimate sources.
How to Tell if bsdtar.exe is Legitimate
- File Location: Must be in
C:\Program Files\Libarchive\bsdtar.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Libarchive\bsdtar.exe, or within a known toolchain like C:\Git\usr\bin\bsdtar.exe.
- Digital Signature: Right-click bsdtar.exe in File Explorer -> Properties -> Digital Signatures. Should show a signing entity like "Libarchive Project".
- Resource Usage: Typically light; during active archive operations expect low CPU and modest memory usage.
- Behavior: bsdtar.exe should not spawn unexpectedly in background without an archive task or wrapper script.
Red Flags: If bsdtar.exe is found in Temp folders, unusual user directories, or lacks a valid signature, or if it runs without a corresponding archive task, scan for malware.
Why Is bsdtar.exe Running on My PC?
bsdtar.exe runs when you perform tar operations or scripts that create/extract archives. It can be invoked directly or by build systems, package managers, or development utilities that rely on libarchive-based tooling.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Archive Creation/Extraction: You are actively creating or extracting a tar archive or a script invoking bsdtar.exe.
- Automation in Build/CI Systems: CI pipelines or build scripts call bsdtar.exe for packaging artifacts or deployment tasks.
- Integrated Tools: Git for Windows, MSYS2, Cygwin, or other environments include bsdtar.exe as part of their toolchain.
- Scheduled or Background Tasks: Automated backups or archiving tasks may run bsdtar.exe in the background.
- User-Initiated Shell Sessions: Manual tar operations in PowerShell or CMD invoke bsdtar.exe to manipulate archives.
Can I Disable or Remove bsdtar.exe?
Yes, you can disable or remove bsdtar.exe if you don't need it. It is typically part of a toolchain; uninstall or disable the specific package providing it, or stop scripts that invoke it.
How to Stop bsdtar.exe
- End Archive Task: If a tar operation is running, wait for it to finish or interrupt it in the console that launched it.
- Close Applications: Close the development tool (Git Bash, MSYS2, IDE) that uses bsdtar.
- Kill Process: Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), find bsdtar.exe, right-click -> End Task.
- Disable Startup or Services: If bsdtar is brought in by a startup script, disable that task from Task Scheduler or the startup script.
- Uninstall Package: Uninstall the package that provides bsdtar (e.g., Libarchive, Git for Windows, MSYS2).
How to Uninstall bsdtar tooling
- ✔ Windows Settings -> Apps -> Apps & Features -> Libarchive (or Git for Windows, MSYS2) -> Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel -> Programs -> Programs and Features -> Libarchive (and keep the system stable) -> Uninstall
- ✔ Optionally reinstall a minimal toolchain if you still need tar functionality via another utility
Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage
If bsdtar.exe is consuming excessive resources during tar operations:
Common Causes & Solutions
- Large archive with many files: Split the archive or exclude unnecessary directories; use --exclude patterns to limit work.
- Compression During Extraction: Disable compression or use appropriate flags; ensure dependencies like zlib are installed.
- Corrupted Archive: Verify integrity and redo extraction or creation from a known-good source.
- Too Many SimultaneousOps: Close other tar operations or limit parallel jobs; adjust scripts to serialize tasks.
- Outdated bsdtar: Update the bsdtar package to the latest stable release for performance fixes.
- Resource-Heavy I/O: Run on SSDs if possible and ensure sufficient memory; avoid swapping by closing other apps.
Quick Fixes:
1. Monitor the tar operation with the console output to identify the heavy step.
2. Use --exclude to skip unnecessary directories.
3. Update Libarchive package to the latest version.
4. Run bsdtar with verbose output to diagnose issues.
5. Close other resource-heavy applications during tar tasks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is bsdtar.exe on Windows?
bsdtar.exe is the Windows port of the BSD tar utility (bsdtar) used to create or extract tar archives, often bundled with libarchive-based toolchains.
Is bsdtar.exe safe to use?
Yes, when obtained from official Libarchive distributions or trusted package managers; verify the file path and digital signature.
How do I verify bsdtar.exe's origin?
Check the file path under C:\Program Files\Libarchive\bsdtar.exe or C:\Git\usr\bin\bsdtar.exe, and verify the digital signature in Properties.
Can I disable bsdtar.exe if I don't need it?
Yes, disable the tooling or remove the package that provides it, but ensure your build scripts don't rely on it.
How do I use bsdtar.exe to extract a tar archive?
Open a terminal and run bsdtar -xvf archive.tar to extract; add -C target_dir to specify extraction location.
Why would bsdtar.exe run in my background?
It may be invoked by a script, IDE, or CI system; ensure no orphan processes remain by stopping the script and terminating the process if needed.