Is it a Virus?
NO - Safe
Must be located in C:\Program Files\PCCntMon\pccntmon.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\PCCntMon\pccntmon.exe
Warning
Multiple processes typical
PCCntMon may spawn worker threads for sampling and alerting; check for legitimate modules in the PCCntMon folder
Can I Disable?
YES
Disabling can be done via services or startup settings, but ensure you still collect required monitoring data
What is pccntmon.exe?
pccntmon.exe is the executable core of the PCCntMon performance monitoring tool. It collects, aggregates, and exposes system and application counters (CPU, memory, disk I/O, network, and custom metrics) for local machines and remote agents. It runs as a service and as a user process.
PCCntMon uses Windows Performance Counters and WMI queries to harvest data, buffers samples in memory, and writes to local logs or remote dashboards. It supports configurable sampling intervals, alerting, and role-based data access for secure monitoring.
Quick Fact: PCCntMon was designed to minimize impact on production systems by using lightweight sampling and adaptive polling.
Types of PCCntMon Processes
- Service Process: Runs in the background as a Windows service to collect persistent metrics
- Worker Thread: Samples counters at configured intervals and handles alerting
- Agent Process: Collected data can be pushed to remote monitoring servers or dashboards
- Dashboard Backend: Provides local APIs for visualization tools
- Logger/Telemetry: Writes operational logs and telemetry data for auditing
- Configuration Loader: Parses config files to adjust counters and sampling rates
Is pccntmon.exe Safe?
Yes, pccntmon.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from PCCntMon LLC downloaded from official sources or bundled with the licensed PCCntMon product.
Is pccntmon.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real pccntmon.exe is NOT a virus. However, malware can mimic names; verify the digital signature and path to confirm authenticity.
How to Tell if pccntmon.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in
C:\Program Files\PCCntMon\pccntmon.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\PCCntMon\pccntmon.exe. Any pccntmon.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
- Digital Signature: Right-click the process in Task Manager → Open file location → Right-click pccntmon.exe → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show "PCCntMon LLC".
- Resource Usage: Normal usage is 1-12% CPU per process, 50-200 MB total memory. Extremely high usage when idle is suspicious.
- Behavior: PCCntMon should not exhibit network chatter or files being created in unusual folders when idle.
Red Flags: If pccntmon.exe is located in unusual folders (like Temp, AppData, or System32), runs when not configured, has no digital signature, or uses constant high resources, scan with antivirus software. Be wary of similarly named files.
Why Is pccntmon.exe Running on My PC?
pccntmon.exe runs to collect, process, and expose performance counter data for dashboards, alerts, and remote monitoring. It can run as a service or as a user process depending on configuration.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Monitoring: You have PCCntMon configured to monitor local or remote systems; the process samples counters continuously.
- Background Data Collection: Data collection occurs in the background for dashboards, alerts, and historical reporting.
- Startup Service: PCCntMon may start as a Windows service on boot to ensure continuous monitoring.
- Remote Agent Sync: The tool may maintain connections to remote agents or servers to fetch metrics or push data.
- Alerting and Notifications: Configured thresholds trigger background tasks to evaluate conditions and raise alerts even when the UI is closed.
Can I Disable or Remove pccntmon.exe?
Yes, you can disable pccntmon.exe. You can stop monitoring, unload agents, or uninstall PCCntMon if you no longer need it.
How to Stop pccntmon.exe
- Stop Service: Open Services.msc, locate PCCntMon Service, and click Stop
- Close Background Tasks: If running as a user process, use Task Manager to end pccntmon.exe
- Disable Auto-Start: Task Manager → Startup tab → Disable PCCntMon
- Disable Data Push: In PCCntMon configuration, disable remote data push or dashboards
- Uninstall: Use Windows Settings → Apps → PCCntMon → Uninstall
How to Uninstall PCCntMon
- ✔ Windows Settings -> Apps -> Apps & Features -> PCCntMon -> Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel -> Programs -> Uninstall a program -> PCCntMon -> Uninstall
- ✔ After uninstall, remove residual config files from C:\ProgramData\PCCntMon and C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\PCCntMon
Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage
If pccntmon.exe is consuming excessive resources:
Common Causes & Solutions
- Too Many Monitors/Counters: Reduce the number of counters or samples per second in PCCntMon configuration to ease load.
- Resource-Intensive Counters: Disable or throttle counters that are heavy on I/O or require frequent sampling.
- Background Data Sync: Limit remote sync frequency or disable non-essential push to dashboards.
- Outdated Version: Update PCCntMon to the latest build to benefit from performance fixes.
- Conflicting Extensions/Agents: Identify and disable conflicting modules or agents in the PCCntMon configuration.
- Hardware Acceleration Issues: If available, adjust performance settings to default and verify hardware compatibility.
Quick Fixes:
1. Open PCCntMon Task Manager view or logs to identify heavy counters
2. Reduce sampling interval and number of counters
3. Disable non-essential data pushes to dashboards
4. Update PCCntMon to the latest version
5. Restart PCCntMon service after changes
Frequently Asked Questions
Is pccntmon.exe a virus?
No, the legitimate pccntmon.exe from PCCntMon LLC is a system monitoring tool. Verify the path: C:\Program Files\PCCntMon\pccntmon.exe and the digital signature to confirm authenticity.
What does pccntmon.exe do?
It collects performance counters (CPU, memory, I/O, network) and exposes them to dashboards or remote monitoring. It can run as a service and/or a user process depending on configuration.
Where is pccntmon.exe located?
Typically located at C:\Program Files\PCCntMon\pccntmon.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\PCCntMon\pccntmon.exe. If found elsewhere, investigate for tampering.
Can I disable pccntmon.exe without losing data?
Yes. You can stop monitoring, disable startup, and disable remote pushes. Ensure data retention policies are considered before uninstalling.
How do I uninstall PCCntMon?
Go to Windows Settings -> Apps -> Apps & Features -> PCCntMon -> Uninstall, then remove residual configuration data from ProgramData and user AppData folders.
Why is pccntmon.exe using so much CPU?
High CPU can occur if many counters are monitored or sampling is very frequent. Reduce the counter count, lower sampling rate, or check for misbehaving plugins.