Quick Answer
network-monitor-telemetry.exe is safe. It collects anonymized network telemetry to help optimize connectivity, diagnose issues, and improve reliability without exposing personal data.
Is it a Virus?
✔ NO - Safe
Located in C:\Program Files\NetworkMonitor\Telemetry\network-monitor-telemetry.exe
Warning
Multiple components
Telemetry runs across several sub-processes (collector, uploader, analyzer) to minimize performance impact
Can I Disable?
✔ YES
Disable telemetry collection via Settings → Privacy → Telemetry or stop the Telemetry service
What is network-monitor-telemetry.exe?
network-monitor-telemetry.exe is the Windows service responsible for collecting and transmitting anonymized network performance data to help diagnose connectivity issues, optimize routing, and improve overall network reliability. It runs in the background, often spawning multiple sub-processes, and is designed to minimize user impact while providing IT with actionable insights.
This process gathers metrics such as latency, throughput, packet loss, and error rates from network interfaces, then batches and uploads them to a central server for analysis. It operates under a sandboxed, low-privilege context to reduce risk and preserve system stability.
Quick Fact: Network-monitor-telemetry helped standardize lightweight network telemetry protocols across Windows components and enterprise tools.
Types of Network Telemetry Processes
- Telemetry Collector: Gathers network metrics like latency and throughput from adapters.
- Uploader: Sends anonymized data to the organization's telemetry server.
- Analyzer: Performs local correlation and anomaly detection before upload.
- Background Service: Monitors network health in the background, restarting if needed.
- UI Component: Presents telemetry status and health checks in the admin interface.
Is network-monitor-telemetry Safe?
Yes, network-monitor-telemetry.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from Network Insight Corp installed by your organization or system vendor.
Is network-monitor-telemetry.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real file is not a virus. Malware can mimic names; verify the file location and digital signature to confirm legitimacy.
How to Tell if network-monitor-telemetry.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location:: Must be in
C:\Program Files\NetworkMonitor\Telemetry\network-monitor-telemetry.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\NetworkMonitor\Telemetry\network-monitor-telemetry.exe. Any other path is suspicious.
- Digital Signature:: Right-click the file in File Explorer → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show a provider such as "Network Insight Corp" or your organization's signing authority.
- Resource Usage:: Normal usage is 1-12% CPU, 40-120 MB total memory. Constantly high usage or unusual spikes when idle is suspicious.
- Behavior:: Telemetry should run in accordance with defined policies or user consent. It should not operate without a monitoring configuration.
Red Flags: If network-monitor-telemetry.exe is located in unusual folders (Temp, AppData, System32), runs when monitoring is off, lacks a valid signature, or uses excessive resources constantly, scan with antivirus immediately. Beware of similarly named files like "network-monitor.exe" or "nm-telemetry.exe" from untrusted sources.
Why Is network-monitor-telemetry Running on My PC?
network-monitor-telemetry runs to collect and report network health metrics either on a schedule or when monitoring is enabled by policy. It may also run during startup or diagnostics to ensure baseline visibility.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Network Telemetry: Collects latency, throughput, jitter, and error statistics for performance visibility.
- Background Health Checks: Continuously monitors interface status, link reliability, and packet drop rates.
- Startup Initialization: Launches at user logon or system startup to maintain baseline telemetry.
- Policy-Driven Collection: Runs due to administrator or security policy to verify network health.
- Event-Triggered Diagnostics: Engages during diagnostics or incident responses to capture context.
Can I Disable or Remove network-monitor-telemetry.exe?
Yes, you can disable telemetry collection. It's safe to stop data collection when not needed, and you can disable or remove it if your organization allows.
How to Stop network-monitor-telemetry
- End Specific Telemetry Tasks: Use Task Manager to end particular telemetry processes (collector, uploader, analyzer).
- Pause Monitoring Service: Open Services.msc and set Network Monitor Telemetry Service to Manual or Disabled.
- Disable Startup: Task Manager → Startup → Disable Network Monitor Telemetry.
- Disable Background Data: Settings → Privacy → Telemetry → Turn off Collect network telemetry.
- Uninstall Telemetry Component: If provided by vendor, use Programs and Features to uninstall the telemetry package.
How to Uninstall Network Monitor Telemetry
- ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → Network Monitor Telemetry → Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → Network Monitor Telemetry → Uninstall
- ✔ If part of an enterprise package, follow vendor guidance via MDM or Group Policy to remove the component
Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage in Network Telemetry
If network-monitor-telemetry.exe is consuming excessive resources:
Common Causes & Solutions
- Too Many Telemetry Channels: Disable or consolidate telemetry channels in policy; reduce sample rate to lessen load.
- Background Tasks Running Too Often: Lower telemetry collection frequency or disable non-essential tasks.
- Poor Network Condition: Telemetry may spike during unstable networks; ensure stable connectivity and retry after issues are resolved.
- Outdated Telemetry Agent: Update to the latest telemetry client from Network Insight Corp.
- Malicious Extensions or Software: Run a full antivirus scan and verify vendor signatures; remove untrusted components.
- Configuration Conflicts: Review Group Policy/MDM settings for conflicting telemetry schedules and disable if redundant.
Quick Fixes:
1. Quick Fixes:
2. 1. Open Task Manager and identify telemetry-related processes (network-monitor-telemetry.exe, nm-collector.exe, nm-uploader.exe).
3. Pause or stop non-essential telemetry components.
4. Update to the latest telemetry client from Network Insight Corp.
5. Review policy: Settings → Privacy → Telemetry → Set to 'Basic' or 'Off' if permitted.
6. Run a full system antivirus scan and verify vendor signatures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is network-monitor-telemetry.exe safe?
Yes, when the file is located in C:\Program Files\NetworkMonitor\Telemetry\network-monitor-telemetry.exe and signed by Network Insight Corp or your organization’s trusted signer.
Why is network-monitor-telemetry.exe running in the background?
The process runs to collect and report network health metrics, typically triggered by policy, startup, or when monitoring is enabled. It operates in the background to minimize user impact.
Can I disable or uninstall network-monitor-telemetry?
Yes. You can disable telemetry collection or uninstall the component via Settings → Apps, or the vendor's uninstall tool if provided. Enterprise environments may manage this via GPO/MDM.
Where is the file located on Windows?
Default location is C:\Program Files\NetworkMonitor\Telemetry\network-monitor-telemetry.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\NetworkMonitor\Telemetry\network-monitor-telemetry.exe.
What data does it collect exactly?
It collects anonymized network performance metrics such as latency, throughput, jitter, and error rates to improve network reliability and troubleshooting—no personal user content is captured.
How can I reduce its impact on performance?
Limit sampling rate, disable non-essential channels, ensure you’re on the latest version, and consider enabling a lightweight mode in policy settings or temporarily pausing telemetry during heavy workloads.