The genuine WebCompanion.exe file is a software component of Web Companion by Lavasoft. Web Companion by Lavasoft began replacing their Ad-Aware Security Toolbar in September 2014. It is a free application providing real-time cloud-based screening of URL's entered in a user's browser. It interacts with the Internet Protocol (IP) stack at the TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) level to detect newly-entered URL's and consult cloud-based Malicious URL (MURL) data and logic from Lavasoft, Avira, Malware Domains, and other security providers to warn the user of unsafe websites in real time. Lavasoft pioneered anti-spyware commercial applications in 1999 when "spyware" was a new term and they continue to lead the field, committed to make millions of users' PC's and the Internet safer through their free anti-malware program and partnering with other security providers to keep up with over half a million new threats and variants created daily.
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 WebCompanion.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: WebCompanion.exe is not essential for Windows and will often cause problems. WebCompanion.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files (x86)" (mostly C:\Program Files (x86)\Lavasoft\Web Companion\Application\).
Known file sizes on Windows 10/11/7 are 8,520,168 bytes (7% of all occurrences), 7,722,600 bytes and 84 more variants.
It is not a Windows core file. The process starts when Windows starts (see Registry key: Run, DEFAULT\Run, TaskScheduler).
WebCompanion.exe is certified by a trustworthy company. The WebCompanion.exe file is a Verisign signed file.
Therefore the technical security rating is 22% dangerous, however you should also read the user reviews.
Uninstalling this variant:
You can do the following: 1) completely remove Web Companion or Ad-Aware Web Companion (Control Panel ⇒ Uninstall a Program) 2) search the support area on the Lavasoft website.
If WebCompanion.exe is located in a subfolder of the user's profile folder, the security rating is 44% dangerous. The file size is 3,427,032 bytes (66% of all occurrences) or 11,456,208 bytes.
The program has a visible window. The application is loaded during the Windows boot process (see Registry key: Run, DEFAULT\Run, TaskScheduler).
The file has a digital signature. It is not a Windows system file.
Uninstalling this variant:
You can do the following: 1) completely remove Web Companion (Control Panel ⇒ Uninstall a Program) 2) search the support area on the Lavasoft website.
Important: Some malware camouflages itself as WebCompanion.exe. Therefore, you should check the WebCompanion.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
Not harmful
Sony Vaio with W7pro resource monitor shows 48% cpu usage 30 minutes after boot up. Uninstalling is recommended. irv post
Giving a pop up window on start up: Configuration system failed to initialize / topleft "Another instance is running" When i close or click ok my pc shuts down. Terrence
My herdProtect anti-malware/spyware/ransomware detected that Web Companion was spyware. I prefer you should delete it. Scared101
WebCompanion.exe is a spyware and dangerous backdoor virus - delete and remove this software immediately WebCompanion.exe
I think this is not essential, but it's provide kind of security. so, it's working good without any errors for users pc. then it's fine. but it's getting issues, it's better to uninstall it. i just uninstalled it. Akshay Pandit
Summary: Average user rating of WebCompanion.exe:
based on 32 votes with 7 user comments.
One user thinks WebCompanion.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application.
4 users think it's probably harmless.
3 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous.
13 users suspect danger.
11 users think WebCompanion.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it.
7 users don't grade WebCompanion.exe ("not sure about it").
Best practices for resolving WebCompanion issues
A clean and tidy computer is the key requirement for avoiding problems with WebCompanion. 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 WebCompanion.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
irv post
Terrence
Scared101
Anks (further information)
WebCompanion.exe
Akshay Pandit
Summary: Average user rating of WebCompanion.exe: based on 32 votes with 7 user comments. One user thinks WebCompanion.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application. 4 users think it's probably harmless. 3 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous. 13 users suspect danger. 11 users think WebCompanion.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it. 7 users don't grade WebCompanion.exe ("not sure about it").