The genuine SDTray.exe file is a software component of Spybot - Search & Destroy by Safer-Networking. SDTray.exe is an executable file that belongs to Spybot - Search & Destroy, a program that scans and removes spyware and adware from computers running Windows. This process runs the tray icon for the program. This is not a critical Windows component and should be removed if known to cause problems. Removing this file may cause problems while running Spybot - Search & Destroy. Spybot - Search & Destroy is a freeware, full fledged security program that removes malicious programs and protects systems from online threats while providing live protection from viruses, trojans, malware, etc. The program also features a Boot CD creator, a registry repair tool, startup tools, command line parameters, etc. Spybot - Search & Destroy was created by Patrick Michael Kolla in 2000 while he was still a software engineering student. Safer-Networking Limited is an Irish company that was founded by Patrick Michael Kolla in 2000 to develop and distribute his program, Spybot - Search & Destroy. The company is currently headquartered in Wicklow, Ireland. The company is financially supported by donations from people are over the world.
SDTray stands for Spybot Search & Destroy System Tray Process
The .exe extension on a filename indicates an executable file. Executable files may, in some cases, harm your computer. Therefore, please read below to decide for yourself whether the SDTray.exe on your computer is a Trojan that you should remove, or whether it is a file belonging to the Windows operating system or to a trusted application.
Description: SDTray.exe is not essential for Windows and will often cause problems. SDTray.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files (x86)" or sometimes in a subfolder of C:\ or in a subfolder of the user's profile folder—usually C:\Program Files (x86)\Spybot - Search & Destroy 2\ or C:\Programme\Spybot - Search & Destroy 2\.
Known file sizes on Windows 10/11/7 are 4,101,576 bytes (32% of all occurrences), 6,788,032 bytes and 10 more variants.
SDTray.exe is not a Windows core file. SDTray.exe is digitally signed. The software starts when Windows starts (see Registry key: MACHINE\Run, TaskScheduler, Run).
The program is not visible. The application listens for or sends data on open ports to a LAN or the Internet.
SDTray.exe is able to connect to the Internet, manipulate other programs, record keyboard and mouse inputs and monitor applications.
Therefore the technical security rating is 37% dangerous, but you should also take into account the user reviews.
Uninstalling this variant:
If problems with Spybot - Search & Destroy or Spybot - Search & Destroy tray access occur, you can also do the following:
Important: Some malware camouflages itself as SDTray.exe, particularly when located in the C:\Windows or C:\Windows\System32 folder, for example ML.Attribute.HighConfidence (detected by Symantec), and TROJ_GEN.R002C0WAN22 (detected by TrendMicro). Therefore, you should check the SDTray.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.
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User Comments
Hallo, guten Tag. Ich habe den Security-Task-Manager installiert. Er warnt mich immer bei Registry-Änderungen. War mir zu nervig. Habe dann mit Suchprogramm "Everything" nach allen Spybot-Einträgen gesucht. Hab dann mit dem Programm "Unlocker" die "Log-Datei" gelöscht. Seither kommen keine Meldungen mehr vom Security-Task-Manager. Ich hoffe, dass ich weiterhelfen konnte. Herzliche Grüsse aus Stuttgart AXEL AXEL
Summary: Average user rating of SDTray.exe:
based on 7 votes with 1 user comment.
3 users think SDTray.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application.
One user thinks it's probably harmless.
2 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous.
One user thinks SDTray.exe is dangerous and recommends removing it.
Best practices for resolving SDTray issues
A clean and tidy computer is the key requirement for avoiding problems with SDTray. This means running a scan for malware, cleaning your hard drive using 1cleanmgr and 2sfc /scannow, 3uninstalling programs that you no longer need, checking for Autostart programs (using 4msconfig) and enabling Windows' 5Automatic Update. Always remember to perform periodic backups, or at least to set restore points.
Should you experience an actual problem, try to recall the last thing you did, or the last thing you installed before the problem appeared for the first time. Use the 6resmon command to identify the processes that are causing your problem. Even for serious problems, rather than reinstalling Windows, you are better off repairing of your installation or executing the 7DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth command. This allows you to repair the operating system without losing data.
To get your computer running as fast as it did on day one, you can 8reset your PC. Your personal files will remain intact, but any programs you installed will need to be reinstalled.
To help you analyze the SDTray.exe process on your computer, the following programs have proven to be helpful: ASecurity Task Manager displays all running Windows tasks, including embedded hidden processes, such as keyboard and browser monitoring or Autostart entries. A unique security risk rating indicates the likelihood of the process being potential spyware, malware or a Trojan. A good Bantivirus software detects and removes sleeping spyware, adware, Trojans, keyloggers, malware and trackers from your hard drive.
Score
User Comments
AXEL
Summary: Average user rating of SDTray.exe: based on 7 votes with 1 user comment. 3 users think SDTray.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application. One user thinks it's probably harmless. 2 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous. One user thinks SDTray.exe is dangerous and recommends removing it.