Quick Answer
sgav.exe is safe. It's SGAV Antivirus Agent, a legitimate real-time protection component that runs as a service with multiple worker processes to monitor activity, scan files, and enforce security policies.
Is it a Virus?
C NO - Safe
Typically located in C:\\Program Files\\SGAV\\Agent\\sgav.exe
Warning
Many processes normal
Real-time protection uses multiple worker processes per file or activity
Can I Disable?
C NOT RECOMMENDED
You can pause protection temporarily from the SGAV Console if needed; disabling entirely reduces protection
What does sgav.exe do?
Real-time protection, scanning, and policy enforcement
Workflows include update checks, on-access scans, and background monitoring
What is sgav.exe?
sgav.exe is the executable for the SGAV Antivirus Agent. It runs as a background service and spawns multiple worker processes to monitor file access, run real-time scans, and enforce security policies. It often starts at system boot or when SGAV updates or schedules a check to ensure continuous protection.
sgav.exe operates within a modular architecture: a main service coordinates workers, a scan engine handles on-access and scheduled scans, and auxiliary components manage updates and UI interactions. This separation minimizes UI impact while maintaining robust protection.
Quick Fact: SGAV was designed to balance continuous protection with low system overhead by running most tasks in dedicated worker processes.
Types of SGAV Processes
- Service Process: Core SGAV service that coordinates protection tasks (sgavservice.exe)
- Scanner Engine: Real-time and on-demand scanning workers
- Update Worker: Downloads and applies definition updates
- UI Helper: User interface components and status indicators
- Background Tasks: Logging, reporting, and policy enforcement
Is sgav.exe Safe?
Yes, sgav.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from SGAV Technologies and installed from official sources (e.g., C:\Program Files\SGAV\Agent).
Is sgav.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real sgav.exe is NOT a virus. Malware sometimes disguises itself with similar names. Always verify location and signature.
How to Tell if sgav.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in
C:\Program Files\SGAV\Agent\ or C:\Program Files (x86)\SGAV\Agent\. Any sgav.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
- Digital Signature: Right-click the file in Explorer -> Properties -> Digital Signatures. Should show "SGAV Technologies" as the signer.
- Resource Usage: Normal usage is 1-10% CPU and 50-300 MB memory depending on active scans. Constant high usage outside scans is suspicious.
- Behavior: sgav.exe should run as a Windows service and perform updates/scans without initiating unusual network activity.
Red Flags: If sgav.exe is found outside official program folders, lacks a valid signature, runs when SGAV is not installed, or uses unusual resources continuously, run a full system scan with an alternative AV and verify with SGAV support.
Why Is sgav.exe Running on My PC?
sgav.exe runs when SGAV Antivirus Agent is active or performing protected tasks. It may also operate as part of scheduled scans, updates, or real-time monitoring to maintain endpoint security.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Real-Time Protection: The agent continuously monitors file activity and process behavior to detect threats in real time.
- Scheduled or Quick Scans: Regularly scheduled scans run in background to detect dormant threats without UI disruption.
- Updates and Definitions: SGAV checks for and downloads definition updates, enabling detection of new malware families.
- Startup and Service Initialization: SGAV starts its Windows service on boot to ensure protection is available immediately.
- Policy Enforcement and Logging: Background tasks enforce security policies and log events for auditing and incident response.
Can I Disable or Remove sgav.exe?
Yes, you can pause protection temporarily or uninstall SGAV to remove it. Pausing reduces protection, while uninstalling removes the agent and its services.
How to Stop sgav.exe
- Pause Protection: Open the SGAV Console and click Pause Protection (if available) to temporarily halt real-time protection.
- Stop SGAV Service: Open Services (services.msc), locate 'sgavservice' and click Stop.
- Disable Startup: Task Manager > Startup tab > Disable SGAV related entries to prevent auto-start.
- Close UI: Exit the SGAV UI and ensure no related background processes remain unnecessarily active.
- Prevent Background Apps: In SGAV settings, turn off options that keep protection running after UI closure.
How to Uninstall SGAV
- ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → SGAV Antivirus Agent → Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → SGAV Antivirus Agent → Uninstall
- ✔ Follow prompts to remove all SGAV components; restart a final time after uninstall
Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage
If sgav.exe is consuming excessive resources:
Common Causes & Solutions
- Active full system scan: Wait for the scan to complete or pause it in the SGAV Console; avoid manual scans during heavy workload
- Frequent definition updates: Ensure updates are scheduled sensibly and verify network bandwidth; postpone heavy updates during peak hours
- Overlapping scheduled scans: Check Schedule in SGAV; adjust times to avoid overlap and conflicts with other tasks
- Background protection enabled while idle: Review settings to reduce unnecessary background activity when the system is idle
- Outdated SGAV version: Update SGAV to the latest version via the Console or the official site
- Conflicts with other security software: Temporarily disable or uninstall conflicting security tools and re-test SGAV performance
Quick Fixes:
1. Open SGAV Console and identify high-usage components via the dashboard
2. Pause or cancel the active scan if safe to do so
3. Update definitions to the latest release
4. Disable non-essential background tasks in SGAV settings
5. Restart SGAV services if necessary and monitor resource usage
Frequently Asked Questions
Is sgav.exe a virus?
No, the legitimate sgav.exe is part of SGAV Antivirus Agent. Verify the file is located in C:\\Program Files\\SGAV\\Agent\\ and has a valid digital signature from SGAV Technologies.
Why is sgav.exe using so much CPU?
High CPU usage usually occurs during active scans, updates, or heavy real-time protection. Use SGAV Task Manager or the console to identify the specific process or file causing the spike, pause if needed, and scan for conflicts.
Can I delete sgav.exe?
You should not delete sgav.exe by hand. Uninstall SGAV Antivirus Agent through Settings → Apps or Programs and Features to remove the component safely.
Can I disable sgav.exe?
You can pause protection temporarily or disable startup, but fully disabling protection is not recommended. Use the SGAV Console to pause and manage protection levels.
Why is sgav.exe running at startup?
SGAV is designed to start with Windows to provide immediate protection. You can disable this in Task Manager under Startup or via SGAV settings to prevent auto-launch.
How do I update SGAV definitions?
Open the SGAV Console and run Definitions Update, or visit the official SGAV update service to download and apply the latest threat definitions.