Quick Answer
cyberghost-driver.exe is safe. It's the official VPN driver used by CyberGhost to route traffic securely, enforce DNS leak protection, and maintain a reliable kill switch.
Is it a Virus?
NO - Safe
Must be located in C:\Program Files\CyberGhost VPN\ or C:\Program Files (x86)\CyberGhost VPN\; Digital signature should show CyberGhost S.R.L.
Warning
Many driver processes normal
CyberGhost may spawn background driver processes for VPN functionality; if in doubt, verify digital signatures and installation path.
Can I Disable?
YES
Disabling the VPN driver will disable CyberGhost features; you can stop the driver via the CyberGhost app or Windows Services, but VPN functionality may be affected.
What is cyberghost-driver.exe?
cyberghost-driver.exe is CyberGhost VPN's dedicated driver component that enables secure VPN routing at the system level. It interacts with the Windows networking stack to ensure traffic is sent through CyberGhost servers, provides DNS leak protection, and enforces the kill switch when the VPN is active. The driver runs in the background as needed and integrates with the main CyberGhost client.
The driver creates a virtual network interface and applies routing rules to tunnel traffic through CyberGhost VPN endpoints, leveraging a kernel-mode component for performance and security.
Quick Fact: CyberGhost's driver architecture helps isolate VPN traffic and minimize leak risks by applying policy at the kernel level.
Types of CyberGhost Driver Processes
- Driver Core Process: Core service that handles VPN routing and interface management
- Tunnel/Network Filter: Filters traffic to apply VPN policy across network adapters
- DNS Filter Service: Manages DNS requests to prevent leaks when the VPN is active
- Background Service: Keeps VPN state, performs auto-reconnect and health checks
- Update Helper: Checks for driver updates alongside the main CyberGhost app
Is cyberghost-driver.exe Safe?
Yes, cyberghost-driver.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from CyberGhost downloaded from official sources (cyberghostvpn.com or the official installer).
Is cyberghost-driver.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real cyberghost-driver.exe is NOT a virus, but malware may impersonate it. Verify location and signature.
How to Tell if cyberghost-driver.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in C:\Program Files\CyberGhost VPN\ or C:\Program Files (x86)\CyberGhost VPN\CyberGhostDriver.exe. Any cyberghost-driver.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
- Digital Signature: Right-click the file -> Open file location -> Right-click cyberghost-driver.exe -> Properties -> Digital Signatures. Should show 'CyberGhost S.R.L.' or equivalent valid signer.
- Resource Usage: Normal usage is 0-3% CPU when idle, 5-50 MB total memory. Excessive resource use when VPN is off may indicate a problem.
- Behavior: The driver should load when CyberGhost is installed and will run in the background while VPN is active. It should not launch without the app.
Red Flags: If cyberghost-driver.exe is located in unusual folders (like Temp or AppData), runs when the VPN is not active, lacks a valid digital signature, or shows persistent abnormal resource usage, scan with antivirus software and verify with CyberGhost support.
Why Is cyberghost-driver.exe Running on My PC?
cyberghost-driver.exe runs when CyberGhost VPN is installed and either connected or configured to maintain VPN features in the background.
Reasons it's running:
- Active VPN Connection: You're connected to a CyberGhost server; the driver handles tunneling and traffic routing through the VPN endpoint.
- Background VPN Services: DNS leak protection, kill switch, and automatic reconnect logic run in the background via the driver.
- Startup/Auto-Launch: Windows or CyberGhost app settings may launch the driver at startup to ensure VPN readiness.
- Server Switching: Changing servers or protocols prompts the driver to update routing rules and interfaces.
- App Updates: Driver updates accompany CyberGhost app updates to support new protocols and security patches.
Can I Disable or Remove cyberghost-driver.exe?
Yes, you can disable cyberghost-driver.exe. However, doing so will affect VPN functionality and security features.
How to Stop cyberghost-driver.exe
- Stop CyberGhost Service: Open Services.msc, locate CyberGhost Service, right-click, and choose Stop
- Disable Startup: Open Task Manager > Startup tab, find CyberGhost, and click Disable
- Disconnect VPN: In the CyberGhost app, disconnect the active VPN connection
- Uninstall Driver: In CyberGhost app, use the Settings to remove drivers, or use Apps & Features to uninstall the CyberGhost VPN client
- Restart: Reboot the computer to ensure the driver is no longer loaded
How to Uninstall CyberGhost
- ✔ Windows Settings -> Apps -> Apps & Features -> CyberGhost VPN -> Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel -> Programs -> Uninstall a program -> CyberGhost VPN -> Uninstall
- ✔ After uninstall, delete remaining CyberGhost folders under C:\Program Files\CyberGhost VPN and C:\ProgramData\CyberGhost if present
Common Problems: VPN Driver Issues and Troubleshooting
If cyberghost-driver.exe is causing problems, use these common fixes to restore VPN functionality and system stability.
Common Causes & Solutions
- Driver not loaded after reboot: Ensure CyberGhost is installed as Administrator, start CyberGhost service manually, and check startup options in Task Manager.
- VPN fails to connect or loses tunnel: Verify server selection, restart the driver, clear DNS cache, and disable/enable DNS leak protection if needed.
- High memory usage by the driver: Reduce number of active VPN connections, restart the VPN, and update to the latest CyberGhost version.
- DNS leaks despite VPN connection: Enable DNS leak protection in the CyberGhost app and ensure the driver is active for all network adapters.
- Driver signing issues: Reinstall CyberGhost from the official installer to restore a valid digital signature.
- Conflict with other VPN or security software: Temporarily disable other VPN clients or security tools to identify conflicts; configure exceptions for CyberGhost driver.
Quick Fixes:
1. Open CyberGhost Task Manager within the app to identify issues with the driver
2. Restart the CyberGhost service from Services.msc
3. Reset VPN settings in CyberGhost and reconnect
4. Update CyberGhost to the latest version
5. Run a malware scan if unexpected driver behavior persists
Frequently Asked Questions
Is cyberghost-driver.exe a virus?
No, the legitimate cyberghost-driver.exe from CyberGhost is not a virus. Verify the file location is C:\Program Files\CyberGhost VPN\ or C:\Program Files (x86)\CyberGhost VPN\ and that the digital signature shows CyberGhost S.R.L.
Why is cyberghost-driver.exe running when my VPN is not connected?
The driver may still run to maintain VPN readiness, perform background checks, or complete a recent app update. You can stop it from the CyberGhost app or Windows Services.
Can I delete cyberghost-driver.exe?
You should not delete the driver manually. Uninstall the CyberGhost VPN client to remove the driver safely; manual deletion can leave remnants or affect other components.
Can I disable cyberghost-driver.exe?
Yes, you can disable it by stopping the CyberGhost service and turning off startup options. This will disable VPN functionality until re-enabled.
Why does cyberghost-driver.exe start at Windows boot?
If the CyberGhost app is configured to start with Windows, the driver may load automatically to ensure VPN readiness on login and background protection.
Where is cyberghost-driver.exe located on disk?
Typically in C:\Program Files\CyberGhost VPN\CyberGhostDriver.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\CyberGhost VPN\CyberGhostDriver.exe. Verify the path and digital signature to confirm legitimacy.