The genuine Rtvscan.exe file is a software component of Symantec Endpoint Protection by Symantec. Symantec Endpoint Protection is a suite of security software designed to protect servers and desktops from malicious software and online threats. Rtvscan.exe is a process that manages the real-time anti-virus scanner, part of the Symantec Endpoint Protection program. This is not an essential Windows process and can be disabled if known to create problems.
Symantec Endpoint Protection provides firewall, anti-malware, and intrusion prevention features. The program may be scheduled to scan computers for security threats, corporate networks for harmful traffic, and can detect unauthorized software which may be running on networked systems. Symantec Endpoint Protection currently boasts of the largest market-share of any product for endpoint security.
Symantec is an American company that develops and distributes security, storage and systems management solutions and offers services that support its software. It was established in 1982 by Dr. Gary Hendrix, a specialist in the processing of natural languages and artificial intelligence. Symantec was initially funded by a monetary grant by the National Science Foundation and later through venture capital firms. It is currently a Fortune 500 company. Symantec is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California.
RtVScan stands for Symantec Real-time Virus Scanner
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 Rtvscan.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: Rtvscan.exe is not essential for Windows and will often cause problems. The file Rtvscan.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files (x86)" (e.g. C:\Program Files (x86)\Symantec AntiVirus\ or C:\Program Files (x86)\Symantec\Symantec Endpoint Protection\).
Known file sizes on Windows 10/11/7 are 2,477,304 bytes (20% of all occurrences), 1,838,640 bytes and 7 more variants.
It is not a Windows system file. The program is not visible. The process can be removed using the Control Panel's Add\Remove programs applet. It is a Verisign signed file. It is digitally signed.
Rtvscan.exe is able to monitor applications and hide itself.
Therefore the technical security rating is 18% dangerous, however you should also read the user reviews.
Uninstalling this variant:
If you experience any issues with installation of Rtvscan.exe, you can also do the following:
uninstall Symantec AntiVirus or Symantec Endpoint Protection software via Windows Control Panel/Add or Remove Programs (Windows XP) or Programs and Features (Windows 10/8/7)
Important: Some malware camouflages itself as Rtvscan.exe, particularly when located in the C:\Windows or C:\Windows\System32 folder. Therefore, you should check the Rtvscan.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
My entire system runs at less than 20% CPU and less than 50% RAM even with Rtvscan active (2.4 GHz CPU and 4 GB RAM). Doesn't cause me any problems. Never had a problem wtih Symantec Endpoint Protection. Ben
Uses on average over 400,000 k mem. Total hog and renders system almost useless. Corporate system so I can't uninstall or I would josh
it's antivirus file maybe core of symantec/norton antivirus, sometime dominate memory resources used when fighting virus and caused your computer slowing down puguh
the rtv.scan takes up nearly 100% of my CPU and has now made my computer useless Jen
Rtvscan is a total dog and waste of time it hog the memory and cpu john L
killing the process will help, it will start again automatically however it will use significantly less resources Donald
It fits the definition of a virus in that it really hurts productivity and is very hard to get rid of. Norton should clean up their act. Rick
This is a Norton product, so there is no security harms. But it is a resource hog, it took almost entire CPU and memory speed of my PC. And off-course it is causing a loud noise for the CPU fans which also bothersome. MM
Summary: Average user rating of Rtvscan.exe:
based on 175 votes with 9 user comments.
82 users think Rtvscan.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application.
4 users think it's probably harmless.
44 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous.
25 users suspect danger.
20 users think Rtvscan.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it.
10 users don't grade Rtvscan.exe ("not sure about it").
Best practices for resolving Rtvscan issues
A clean and tidy computer is the key requirement for avoiding problems with Rtvscan. 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 Rtvscan.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
Ben
josh
puguh
Jen
john L
Donald
Rick
MM
(further information)
Summary: Average user rating of Rtvscan.exe: based on 175 votes with 9 user comments. 82 users think Rtvscan.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application. 4 users think it's probably harmless. 44 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous. 25 users suspect danger. 20 users think Rtvscan.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it. 10 users don't grade Rtvscan.exe ("not sure about it").