Quick Answer
ac-telemetry.exe is a legitimate Nebula Anti-Cheat Telemetry service. It runs in the background to collect gameplay events and cheat signals, sending anonymized data to Nebula servers to help detect cheating while minimizing impact on game performance.
Is it a Virus?
✔ NO - Safe
Located in C:\Program Files\Nebula Interactive\AntiCheatTelemetry
Telemetry Data Behavior
Many telemetry workers may run concurrently during a game session.
This is expected for per-module data collection and cheat-detection workloads.
Can I Disable?
✔ YES
You can disable telemetry in the Nebula Launcher privacy settings; fully removing the component may affect cheat detection.
What is ac-telemetry.exe?
ac-telemetry.exe is the Nebula Anti-Cheat Telemetry service that runs in the background to collect gameplay events, security-related metrics, and cheat-detection signals. It supports multiple worker processes, operates under a consent-based model, and reports anonymized telemetry to Nebula servers to improve game integrity while minimizing impact on performance.
Utilizes a multi-process telemetry pipeline: collects event streams from game modules, encrypts data at rest and in transit, and transmits over TLS to Nebula data endpoints. Uses hashing for user IDs and respects opt-out preferences.
Quick Fact: Nebula Anti-Cheat Telemetry helped set industry standards for minimal-impact, consent-based data collection in multiplayer games.
Types of Telemetry Processes
- Telemetry Manager Process: Orchestrates data collection across game modules (1-2 instances).
- Event Renderer: Parses gameplay events and prepares payloads for transmission (per session).
- Network Sender: Encrypts and transmits telemetry using TLS to Nebula servers.
- Data Sanitization Worker: Applies privacy-preserving transforms to identifiers before sending.
- Update Checker: Checks for protocol and detection rule updates in the background.
Is ac-telemetry.exe Safe?
Yes, ac-telemetry.exe is safe when it is the legitimate Nebula file from Nebula Interactive downloaded from official sources (launcher or nebula.io).
Is ac-telemetry.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real ac-telemetry.exe is NOT a virus. Malware can mimic names; verify signature.
How to Tell if ac-telemetry.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location:: Must be in C:\Program Files\Nebula Interactive\AntiCheatTelemetry\ac-telemetry.exe. Other locations are suspicious.
- Digital Signature:: Open file location from Task Manager → Right-click ac-telemetry.exe → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show Nebula Interactive Ltd.
- Resource Usage:: Normal usage is 0.5-4% CPU per session, 20-120 MB total memory. Extremely high usage when the game is idle is suspicious.
- Behavior:: Telemetry should only run when the game or launcher requires it. Continuous background activity when no game is launched indicates possible tampering.
Red Flags: If ac-telemetry.exe is located in unusual folders (like AppData, Temp, or System32), runs when no game is launched, has no digital signature, or uses network constantly, scan with antivirus and verify through Nebula support. Beware of similarly-named files like "ac-telemetry.dll" from untrusted sources.
Why Is ac-telemetry.exe Running on My PC?
ac-telemetry.exe runs to support game integrity by collecting gameplay events and security signals. It may start with the launcher or a Nebula-enabled game and can operate in the background to enforce anti-cheat rules.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Gameplay Telemetry: Telemetry runs during an active Nebula-enabled game session to monitor events for cheat detection.
- Background Integrity Checks: Telemetry workers monitor for memory tampering and process irregularities even when UI is not visible.
- Launcher Initialization: Nebula Launcher initializes telemetry modules when a game is launched to prepare data collection.
- Consent-Driven Data Collection: Telemetry operates based on user consent; disabling data collection will pause telemetry during sessions.
- Rule and Signature Updates: Telemetry retrieves updated cheat-detection rules from Nebula servers and applies them in real time.
Can I Disable or Remove ac-telemetry.exe?
Yes, you can disable ac-telemetry.exe. However, doing so may reduce the effectiveness of cheat detection; you can opt-out in the Nebula Launcher or terminate processes manually.
How to Stop ac-telemetry.exe
- End Telemetry Worker: Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), locate ac-telemetry.exe from C:\Program Files\Nebula Interactive\AntiCheatTelemetry\ac-telemetry.exe, and End Task.
- Close Game Launcher: Exit Nebula Launcher or the game completely to stop telemetry from running during a session.
- Disable Startup: Task Manager → Startup → Disable Nebula Launcher to prevent automatic startup.
- Disable Telemetry in Launcher: Nebula Launcher Settings → Privacy → Data & Telemetry → Turn off Telemetry.
- Stop Background Apps: If available, toggle off "Continue running background apps when Nebula Launcher is closed" in launcher settings.
How to Uninstall Nebula Anti-Cheat Telemetry (ac-telemetry)
- ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → Nebula Launcher → Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → Nebula Launcher → Uninstall
- ✔ During uninstall, ensure telemetry options are deselected if prompted
- ✔ Restart your PC after uninstall to complete removal
Common Problems: Telemetry Impact and Connectivity
If ac-telemetry.exe is causing issues such as startup delays or connectivity errors, review these common causes and solutions.
Common Causes & Solutions
- Too Many Concurrent Telemetry Workers: Close unnecessary game modules and ensure only active game sessions run telemetry workers.
- Network/Firewall Blocks: Allow outbound TLS traffic on port 443 to Nebula telemetry endpoints; add Nebula domains to allowlist.
- Telemetry Opt-Out Not Saved: Reopen Nebula Launcher and re-apply privacy settings to ensure telemetry is disabled when desired.
- Outdated Launcher: Update Nebula Launcher to the latest version from official sources.
- Antivirus Interference: Add ac-telemetry.exe and Nebula Telemetry folders to the antivirus exclusions list.
- Corrupted Telemetry Cache: Clear cache at C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Nebula\Telemetry and restart launcher.
Quick Fixes:
1. Quick Fixes:
2. 1. Restart Nebula Launcher and the game to refresh telemetry workers
3. Update Nebula Launcher to the latest version
4. Whitelist ac-telemetry.exe path C:\Program Files\Nebula Interactive\AntiCheatTelemetry\ac-telemetry.exe in your antivirus
5. Check firewall rules and allow Nebula telemetry endpoints
6. Clear telemetry cache at C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Nebula\Telemetry
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ac-telemetry.exe safe?
Yes. The legitimate ac-telemetry.exe comes from Nebula Interactive and should reside at C:\Program Files\Nebula Interactive\AntiCheatTelemetry\ac-telemetry.exe with a valid signature from Nebula Interactive Ltd.
What data does Nebula Telemetry collect?
Telemetry collects gameplay events, anti-cheat signals, and performance metrics in a privacy-conscious manner with anonymization and hashing where applicable; no personal identifiers are transmitted unless explicitly enabled by consent.
Can I disable or opt-out of telemetry?
Yes. Use the Nebula Launcher settings under Privacy → Data & Telemetry to opt-out. You can also close the launcher or uninstall the components, though this may reduce cheat-detection effectiveness.
Will telemetry affect game performance?
Telemetry is designed to minimize impact. It uses asynchronous processing and compressed data reporting to avoid noticeable performance changes during gameplay.
How do I know if telemetry is running?
Check Task Manager for ac-telemetry.exe (C:\Program Files\Nebula Interactive\AntiCheatTelemetry\ac-telemetry.exe) and monitor Launcher notifications or events in the Nebula Console.
Where can I adjust telemetry settings in the launcher?
Open Nebula Launcher → Privacy → Data & Telemetry to enable, disable, or customize telemetry preferences and data sharing.