The genuine winamp.exe file is a software component of Winamp by Nullsoft. Winamp.exe is the main executable file that runs the Winamp Media Player, a popular program that supports media files in numerous formats. This process is not harmful to your computer, but can be removed if known to cause problems.
Winamp was first released in 1997 and quickly became a hit, garnering over 3 million downloads. It has been sold as a freemium software since the launch of version 2. It offers a playlist, media library, and offers support for extensions such as skins, plugins and visualizations. Winamp is developed and maintained by Nullsoft, Inc. The latest version, 5.7, has arrived after a benchmark hit of more than 60 million downloads.
Nullsoft, Inc. was founded by Justin Frankel in Sedona, Arizona in 1997. Apart from Winamp, Nullsoft is known for SHOUTcast, an internet radio service that allows users to create their own internet radio stations, broadcasting media in MP3 and AAC formats from the Winamp Media Player. Radionomy, a Belgian online radio company, purchased Nullsoft in January 2014. Financial details of the transaction were not announced.
Winamp stands for Winamp Media Player
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 winamp.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: Winamp.exe is not essential for the Windows OS and causes relatively few problems. Winamp.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files (x86)" or sometimes in a subfolder of the user's profile folder or in a subfolder of C:\—primarily C:\Program Files (x86)\Winamp\.
Known file sizes on Windows 10/11/7 are 2,326,624 bytes (44% of all occurrences), 2,206,888 bytes and 13 more variants.
The file is not a Windows core file. The program is not visible. The file has a digital signature. The application uses ports to connect to or from a LAN or the Internet.
Winamp.exe is able to record keyboard and mouse inputs.
Therefore the technical security rating is 42% dangerous, but you should also take into account the user reviews.
Uninstalling this variant:
In case you experience problems using winamp.exe, you can do the following: 1) uninstall the program using the Control Panel ⇒ Uninstall a Program ⇒ Winamp or Winamp Media Player 2) turn to the software developer, AOL, for advice 3) look for a new, improved version.
"Winamp" definitely not required. Added by the AGOBOT-MC WORM! Note - this is NOT the Winamp Media Player (WinAmpa.exe)
Important: Some malware camouflages itself as winamp.exe, particularly when located in the C:\Windows or C:\Windows\System32 folder. Therefore, you should check the winamp.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.
If you want less (or no) security risk with winamp as well as minimal processor usage I recommend using Winamp 2.8 and disabling the 'check for new versions at startup' check box on the main preferences page. Also disable the 'winampa' service with your 'msconfig' as it is not needed to run the app. Ohms
this file is nothing to do with winamp its a worm called Agobot-MC that disguses itself as winamp. v00d00
Nullsoft WinAmp media player. Note: in "Preferences", it is good if you disable "Chack for new versions of Winamp at startup" in order to avoid an loop-related exploit. m0rph3us (further information)
Winamp is a free MP3/IT/WMA/ETC player for windows made by Nullsoft. it is completely harmless. I have run this through a VM. winampa.exe loads the base of the Winamp application and asks upd.winamp.nullsoft.com if a version of winamp.exe that is greater than the currently installed is availible. the application itself listens to the internet to get the list of SOUTcast, XM, and AOL radio and video streams. these streams are not monitored by Nullsoft, so user warieness is advised. NULL-MAN
Is part of WINAMP player. Great treat up to bleu screen problems if using lower versions than 5.31, so please update your winamp software immediately. Earlier versions could be hacked. Bert (further information)
Not sure about this. I know it is a media player but I haven't installed it and it starts up when i start up the computer. Also it's sends more than 500 packets to the internet - Not a good thing cause I cant use the internet now. If you're having problems and haven't installed winamp, go to msconfig and disable it. My internet works now...! SUMO
Scanned ALL Winamp exe (and associated files) with Norton, Avast, LAVAsoft AD-aware SE, AVG, if in doubt ask WINAMP or an acknowledged expert like Fred Lang Ve4Vendetta
Its just a media player, like iTunes or windows media player
I've found it on an infected clean install of Windows 2003 Server where WinAmp has never been installed. If it's found in windows/system32/, it's definately malware.
It is part of winamp media player, no way it can not be dangerous. Steve (further information)
I never installed the Winamp Player, but my PC shows the winamp.exe process running. I suspect some kind of virus. Luix
No winamp installed of a fresh install of windows but winamp.exe is there. Could not download updates for windows because of this file, killed it in task manager and then could update windows. It is definetly a file to get rid of. Fred
Summary: Average user rating of winamp.exe:
based on 38 votes with 28 user comments.
26 users think winamp.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.
4 users suspect danger.
5 users think winamp.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it.
Best practices for resolving winamp issues
A clean and tidy computer is the key requirement for avoiding problems with winamp. 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 winamp.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
roman (further information)
LizzardX (further information)
h2k.nl
Shio (further information)
z3r0 (further information)
Ben!
Pascal
Jason
LoY-RoY (further information)
Ohms
v00d00
PrOgMaTrIx (further information)
m0rph3us (further information)
NULL-MAN
Filipp (further information)
(further information)
Bert (further information)
SUMO
Ve4Vendetta
Steve (further information)
Luix
Fred
Pete (further information)
Summary: Average user rating of winamp.exe: based on 38 votes with 28 user comments. 26 users think winamp.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. 4 users suspect danger. 5 users think winamp.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it.