The genuine wget.exe file is a software component of GNU Wget by GNU Project.
GNU Wget is utility to retrieve files from the Internet using the HTTP and FTP protocols. Wget.exe runs the GNU Wget program. This is not an essential Windows process and can be disabled if known to create problems.
GNU Wget, or simply, Wget, is a free tool for file retrieval from the World Wide Web. The program can be used to make mirrors of archives and home pages, and can be programmed to scan the Internet as a bot. Wget can work on unstable or firewalled connections with a socks style gateway, making sure all retrievals are time-stamped. It can use this information to automatically retrieve newer versions of files.
GNU is an operating system that is based on the principles of free software, which means it adheres to the four essential freedoms, i.e. the freedom to run the program as desired; the freedom to study and edit the source code; the freedom to redistribute copies of the source code or program; the freedom to improve the program, and release improvements to the public. The GNU Project started out in January 1984, started by Richard Stallman and named after the abbreviation for 'GNU's Not Unix'.
Wget stands for GNU Wget Launcher
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 wget.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 Wget: retrieve files from the WWW belongs to software Wget by Beeline or Jernej Simoncic (www.gimp.org) or GnuWin32 http://gnuwin32.sourceforge.net or Ledi OOO.
Description: Wget.exe is not essential for Windows and will often cause problems. Wget.exe is located in a subfolder of the user's profile folder—for example C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Beeline Network Manager\updater\bin\.
Known file sizes on Windows 10/11/7 are 327,182 bytes (54% of all occurrences), 233,984 bytes, 332,800 bytes, 401,408 bytes or 693,232 bytes.
There is no file information. The program is not visible. Wget.exe is not a Windows system file. The program uses ports to connect to or from a LAN or the Internet.
Therefore the technical security rating is 84% dangerous, however you should also read the user reviews.
Recommended: Identify wget.exe related errors
Important: Some malware also uses the file name wget.exe, for example ML.Attribute.HighConfidence (detected by Symantec), and Mal/Generic-S (detected by Sophos). Therefore, you should check the wget.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 wget. 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 wget.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.
hosts-bho.dll aimp.exe tphksvc.exe wget.exe opera_plugin_wrapper.exe tposdsvc.exe ucservice.exe shellexecutehook.dll lxddamon.exe logiappbroker.exe cssguard32.dll [all]
Score
User Comments
Timothy L. Gott (further information)
MacGruber (further information)
Johan (further information)
Mike
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Walti (further information)
Summary: Average user rating of wget.exe: based on 7 votes with 7 user comments. 2 users think wget.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application. 2 users think it's probably harmless. 2 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous. One user suspects danger.