How to remove an waol error

The free file information forum can help you determine if waol.exe is a virus, trojan, spyware, or adware that you can remove, or a file belonging to a Windows system or an application you can trust.

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Waol.exe file information

The process known as America Online or AOL or AOL Software belongs to software America Online or AOL or USB Game Controller by America Online (www.aol.com) or AOL (www.aol.com).

Description: waol.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files" - usually C:\Program Files\America Online 9.0a\. Known file sizes on Windows 7/XP are 37,464 bytes (37% of all occurrences), 259,672 bytes and 11 more variants.
It is not a Windows core file. The file is a Verisign signed file. File waol.exe is certified by a trustworthy company. Program uses ports to connect to a LAN or the Internet. The file is a file without information about the developer of this file. waol.exe is able to record inputs and monitor applications. Therefore the technical security rating is 26% dangerous, however also read the users reviews.
In the event of any problems with waol.exe, you can also remove the entire program USB Game Controller using Windows Control Panel.

Recommended: Identify waol.exe related errors

If waol.exe is located in a subfolder of C:\, the security rating is 34% dangerous. The file size is 37,464 bytes (80% of all occurrences) or 39,208 bytes. Waol.exe is a Verisign signed file. File waol.exe is certified by a trustworthy company. Waol.exe is not a Windows core file. The program is not visible.

External information from Paul Collins:

"quicken" definitely not required. CoolWebSearch parasite variant

Important: Some malware camouflages itself as waol.exe, particularly when located in the c:\windows or c:\windows\system32 folder. Therefore, you should check the waol.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.

Score

User Comments

AOL - ISP
Belial (further information)

Its AOL. Have some respect.
Billy Bradshaw (further information)

its a keylogger that records your key strokes and mouse move movements
mark hamill (further information)

Part of AOL Startup program
steve c

keeps my computers from running
Albert Hoser

You can turn end the process in task mgr
K2

i have no idea what it is, but it is using a lot of memory
Roxanne

connects to aol
fab

it is a PUP (potentialy unwanted program) because it can record keystrokes and mouse movements

First, in the UK, AOL is now owned bt Talk-Talk. The WAOL.exe with its embrded manifest (waol.exe.manifest) and its (waol.dll) are still gobbling up resources to the extent of around 94% (More than the system Ide Process at times). AOL/TALK_TALK need to address this WAOL.exe issue before many customers migrate to another ISP.
Vincent Carlysle

It uses a lot (98%) of my cpu
Tom Wallis

It freezes my PC, I hate it, if I can't get it off my PC. than I'l dump AOL.....
fred martin

AOL needs it. If using lots of CPU (as seen in task manager- waol.exe) CLOSE THE WELCOME WINDOW.
Dave

waol.exe connects to internet. You need it for AOL. Close AOL Welcome window--see if that drops your CPU usage.
Dave

I know that it completely slows down and even stops my system
Ed Dahle

uses to much memory and slows computer
Joan

is installed with winamp toolbar, when open ie 7 it aks you for permission on vista
danny o

the REAL WAOL.exe is a valid file; ur looking at at fake
Gene

Uses up huge amounts of CPU and when that is the case, computer is very very sluggish.
Janush

It records key strokes but how key entry is retrieved, I do not know.
Dolores Roberto

This stupid program sometimes stops AOL from running so I have to shut it off in task manager.
VernO

It stops me from getting to the enternet
Benjamin Thorne

constantly have to restart computer; and always close welcome window...no difference.
Dave R

nothing ..... i want to delete adobe flash player and it says to delete WAOL
Barbara

waol.exe consumes a lot of memory and slows my computer
Rocco

Totally consumes my PC resources. I'm switching to gmail.
Don B

Summary: Average user rating of waol.exe: based on 21 votes with 26 reviews.

6 users think waol.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application. 4 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous. 4 users suspect danger. 7 users think waol.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it. 8 users doesn't grade waol.exe ("not sure about it").

Waol scanner

Security Task Manager shows all running Windows tasks including embedded hidden functions (e.g. keyboard or browser monitoring, autostart entry). A unique security risk rating indicates the likelihood of the process being potential spyware, malware, keylogger or a Trojan.

Spyware Doctor detects and removes sleeping spyware, adware, trojans, keyloggers, malware and tracking threats from your hard disk. Ideal supplement to Security Task Manager.

SpeedUpMyPC scans, cleans, repairs and optimizes your computer.

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