Quick Answer
log-viewer-crash-reporter is a legitimate auxiliary component that captures crash data from configured applications and sends anonymized reports to a central server for analysis, helping developers improve stability.
Is it a Virus?
✔ NO - Safe
Typically installed as part of the LogViewer crash-reporting suite
Warning
Common in legitimate crash reporters
Runs in background to collect crash data; verify source if unsure
Can I Disable?
✔ YES
Disabling stops reporting; you can re-enable later from LogViewer settings
What is log-viewer-crash-reporter?
log-viewer-crash-reporter is a background component of the LogViewer suite that captures crash events from configured applications and sends anonymized reports to a central server for analysis. It collects crash signatures, timestamps, and minimal context to help developers diagnose issues while preserving user privacy.
It hooks into crash events, collects process IDs, error codes, stack traces, and a small environment snapshot, then sends data via TLS to a secure endpoint. It runs with restricted privileges and honors privacy controls configured by the user.
Quick Fact: LogViewer's crash reporter is designed to run with minimal impact and to anonymize sensitive fields before upload.
Types of Crash Reporter Components
- Crash Event Listener: Monitors applications for crash events and queues reports
- Telemetry Processor: Consolidates crash data from multiple sources
- Data Encryptor: Encrypts reports prior to transmission
- Uploader: Sends anonymized reports to the analytics server
- Privacy Guard: Applies privacy filtering to restrict sensitive data
Is log-viewer-crash-reporter Safe?
Yes, log-viewer-crash-reporter is safe when downloaded from official LogViewer sources and installed as part of the legitimate software bundle.
Is log-viewer-crash-reporter a Virus or Malware?
The real log-viewer-crash-reporter is NOT a virus. However, malware sometimes disguises itself with similar names.
How to Tell if log-viewer-crash-reporter is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location:: Must be in
C:\Program Files\LogViewer\CrashReporter\log-viewer-crash-reporter.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\LogViewer\CrashReporter\log-viewer-crash-reporter.exe. Any other location is suspicious.
- Digital Signature:: Right-click the binary → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show a valid signature from
"LogView Technologies".
- Resource Usage:: Normal usage is 0.5-5% CPU and 20-100 MB memory. Extremely high usage when idle is suspicious.
- Behavior:: Should only run when crash reporting is enabled or a crash occurs. Persistent background activity with no crashes is a red flag.
Red Flags: If log-viewer-crash-reporter is located in Temp, AppData\Roaming, or System32, runs when no crash events occur, lacks a valid digital signature, or uses sustained high bandwidth, scan with antivirus immediately. Be wary of similarly named files like "log-viewer-crash-reporter.exe" with different publishers.
Why Is log-viewer-crash-reporter Running on My PC?
The crash reporter runs to collect crash data, enable diagnostics, and assist developers in improving software reliability. It may start with the OS or LogViewer startup and run in the background when reporting is enabled.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Crash Reporting: A configured application crash triggers the reporter to collect and queue data for upload.
- Background Telemetry: Continuous or periodic anonymized telemetry to monitor software health.
- Startup and Maintenance: The component may launch at Windows startup to ensure immediate crash capture when apps run.
- User-initiated Diagnostics: Users can trigger manual crash report generation from the LogViewer UI for troubleshooting.
- Server Sync: Reports are batched and uploaded to the central server for analysis and trend detection.
Can I Disable or Remove log-viewer-crash-reporter?
Yes, you can disable log-viewer-crash-reporter. It is safe to stop reporting or uninstall components if you prefer not to send crash data.
How to Stop log-viewer-crash-reporter
- End Individual Reporter Tasks: Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), locate log-viewer-crash-reporter.exe, and End Task.
- Pause Crash Reporting: In LogViewer Settings, disable automatic crash reporting.
- Disable Startup: Task Manager → Startup tab → Disable LogViewer Crash Reporter.
- Stop Background Uploads: LogViewer Settings → Diagnostics → Disable 'Continue running in background' or similar option.
- Uninstall Crash Reporter: Control Panel → Programs and Features → LogViewer Crash Reporter → Uninstall.
How to Uninstall Crash Reporter (part of LogViewer)
- ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → LogViewer Crash Reporter → Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → LogViewer Crash Reporter → Uninstall
- ✔ If you only want to remove the crash reporter component, check for an optional component in LogViewer installer and deselect it during re-install
Common Problems: Crash Reporter Issues
If log-viewer-crash-reporter misbehaves, the following problems and solutions can help restore normal operation.
Common Causes & Solutions
- Crash reports not uploading: Check network access, TLS configuration, and firewall exceptions. Ensure the crash endpoint is reachable and certificates are trusted.
- No crash data collected: Verify that crash generation is enabled for target apps and that the reporter has permission to monitor those processes.
- Reporter uses CPU constantly: Disable nonessential telemetry, update to the latest version, or configure a reduced reporting cadence.
- Privacy concerns about data: Review privacy options in LogViewer; enable stronger anonymization, disable stack traces, or opt out entirely.
- Conflicts with antivirus/firewall: Add an exception for log-viewer-crash-reporter.exe and related services; ensure real-time protection allows the process.
- Reporting stops after sleep: Ensure the service is configured to resume after suspend and that startup type is set to automatic where applicable.
Quick Fixes:
1. Quick Fixes:
2. 1. Open LogViewer settings and verify crash reporting is enabled
3. Trigger a test crash in a safe sample app to confirm reporting
4. Check logs at C:\ProgramData\LogViewer\CrashReports for recent entries
5. Update to the latest LogViewer version
6. Review privacy settings and disable unnecessary data fields
Frequently Asked Questions
Is log-viewer-crash-reporter a virus?
No. The legitimate log-viewer-crash-reporter is part of the LogViewer suite and should reside in C:\Program Files\LogViewer\CrashReporter with a valid digital signature from LogView Technologies.
What data does it collect?
It collects crash signatures, timestamps, minimal process context, and anonymized metadata to help developers diagnose issues while minimizing personal data exposure.
Can I disable crash reporting?
Yes. You can disable crash reporting from LogViewer settings or uninstall the crash reporter component if you no longer want to send reports.
Where are crash reports stored locally?
Local report queues are stored under C:\ProgramData\LogViewer\CrashReports before upload. You can review and delete them from there if needed.
How do I view crash reports?
Crash reports are accessible through the LogViewer UI under Diagnostics or Reports sections, or by inspecting the local queue in C:\ProgramData\LogViewer\CrashReports.
Is crash reporting optional for all apps?
Crashes for configured applications are reported only if crash reporting is enabled and the user has opted in to diagnostics within LogViewer.