The genuine pageant.exe file is a software component of PuTTY by Braindonors.net.
Pageant is a secure shell (ssh) tunneling method for connecting to Unix or Linux machines via PuTTY. PuTTY is terminal emulator that has the ability to utilize several protocols and includes the ability to transfer files.
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 pageant.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.
The process known as PuTTY SSH authentication agent belongs to software PuTTY suite or Git Extensions by Simon Tatham (www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham).
Description: Pageant.exe is not essential for the Windows OS and causes relatively few problems. Pageant.exe is located in a subfolder of the user's profile folder—usually C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\SourceTree\app-1.10.23.1\tools\putty\.
Known file sizes on Windows 10/11/7 are 269,128 bytes (33% of all occurrences), 269,088 bytes or 142,664 bytes.
The program has no visible window. It is not a Windows core file.
Therefore the technical security rating is 74% dangerous; but you should also compare this rating with the user reviews.
Recommended: Identify pageant.exe related errors
If pageant.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files", the security rating is 32% dangerous. The file size is 269,128 bytes (20% of all occurrences), 530,192 bytes, 152,520 bytes, 290,704 bytes or 154,536 bytes. The software can be uninstalled in the Control Panel. The file is not a Windows core file. The program has no visible window. The file has a digital signature.
Important: Some malware camouflages itself as pageant.exe. Therefore, you should check the pageant.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.
A clean and tidy computer is the key requirement for avoiding problems with pageant. 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 pageant.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.
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User Comments
Marc (further information)
Martin Fuchs
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Summary: Average user rating of pageant.exe: based on 5 votes with 4 user comments. 5 users think pageant.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application.