How to remove an ctfmon error

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Ctfmon.exe file information

The process known as CTF Loader or eMule or Cicero Loader or Sun Java update scheduler or SoBit Mail Service or Microsoft Office Word or Shareaza Ultimate File Sharing

belongs to software Microsoft Windows Operating System or eMule or Microsoft® Windows NT® Operating System or wsgta or Microsoft Office Professional Edition (version 2003) or Family Keylogger or jusched.exe or Microsoft Office (version 2003)

by Microsoft (www.microsoft.com) or http://www.emule-project.net or Sun MicroSystems (www.sun.com) or Shareaza Development Team (www.shareaza.com) or SoBit.

Description: The file ctfmon.exe is located in the folder C:\Windows\System32. Known file sizes on Windows 7/XP are 15,360 bytes (78% of all occurrences), 30,208 bytes and 79 more variants.  
The program is not visible. The application is loaded during the Windows boot process (see Registry key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Shell, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Userinit, HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce). Ctfmon.exe is a Microsoft signed file. Therefore the technical security rating is 33% dangerous, however also read the users reviews.

Recommended: Identify ctfmon.exe related errors

Viruses with the same file name

Is ctfmon.exe a virus? No, it is not. The true ctfmon.exe file is a safe Microsoft Windows system process, called "CTF Loader". However, writers of malware programs, such as viruses, worms, and trojans deliberately give their processes the same file name to escape detection. Viruses with the same file name are such as Worm:Win32/Fakerecy.A or Virus:Win32/Virut.BI (detected by Microsoft), and Trojan.Win32.VB.aqt or Worm.Win32.VB.xb (detected by Kaspersky).
To ensure that no rogue ctfmon.exe is running on your PC, click here to run a Free Malware Scan.

How to recognize suspicious variants? If ctfmon.exe is located in a subfolder of C:\Windows, the security rating is 23% dangerous. The file size is 15,360 bytes (53% of all occurrences), 8,704 bytes and 8 more variants. The program has no visible window. The file is a trustworthy file from Microsoft. ctfmon.exe is able to record inputs.

If ctfmon.exe is located in a subfolder of C:\Windows\System32, the security rating is 69% dangerous. The file size is 4,952,064 bytes (46% of all occurrences), 291,908 bytes and 11 more variants. The file is not a Windows core file. There is no description of the program. File ctfmon.exe is located in the Windows folder, but it is not a Windows core file. The program has no visible window. The process is loaded during the Windows boot process (see Registry key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Shell, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Userinit, HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce). ctfmon.exe is able to record inputs, connect to Internet and hide itself.

If ctfmon.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Documents and Settings", the security rating is 46% dangerous. The file size is 20,480 bytes (79% of all occurrences), 49,152 bytes and 6 more variants.

If ctfmon.exe is located in the folder C:\Windows, the security rating is 69% dangerous. The file size is 2,811,732 bytes (17% of all occurrences), 95,744 bytes and 17 more variants.

If ctfmon.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files", the security rating is 61% dangerous. The file size is 20,480 bytes (19% of all occurrences), 5,798,912 bytes and 12 more variants.

If ctfmon.exe is located in the folder C:\Windows\System32\drivers, the security rating is 97% dangerous. The file size is 43,928 bytes (33% of all occurrences), 49,762 bytes and 4 more variants.

If ctfmon.exe is located in a subfolder of C:\, the security rating is 100% dangerous. The file size is 45,568 bytes.

If ctfmon.exe is located in a subfolder of the "My Files" folder, the security rating is 56% dangerous. The file size is 7,680 bytes.

If ctfmon.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files\Common Files", the security rating is 56% dangerous. The file size is 368,640 bytes.

External information from Paul Collins:

• "ctfmon" can run at start up. CTFMon is involved with the language/alternative input services in Office XP. CTFMON.exe will continue to put itself back into MSConfig when you run the Office XP apps as long as the Text Services and Speech applets in the Control Panel are enabled. Not required if you don't need these features. For more info on ctfmon see here

Important: Some malware camouflages itself as ctfmon.exe, particularly when located in the c:\windows or c:\windows\system32 folder. Therefore, you should check the ctfmon.exe process on your PC to see if it is a threat. We recommend Security Task Manager for verifying your computer's security. This was one of the Top Download Picks of The Washington Post and PC World.

Ctfmon scanner

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