The genuine WinRAR.exe file is a software component of WinRAR by Alexander Roshal. WinRAR is a file archiver and compression tool used to create (pack) compressed files in the RAR and ZIP file formats. WinRAR.exe launches the WinRAR program. This is not an essential Windows process and can be disabled if known to create problems.
WinRAR is features optional encryption for packed archives using the AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) with a 256-bit key, the ability to create split archives, self-extracting files, support for advanced NTFS file system options, file deduplication, and more. The program can also unpack ACE, ARJ, BZIP2, CAB, EXE, GZ, ISO, JAR, LHA, RAR, TAR, UUE, XZ, Z, ZIP, ZIPX, and 7z archives.
The popular RAR format was developed by Eugene Roshal, a Russian software programmer. RAR stands for 'Roshal Archive'. His brother, Alexander Roshal, owns the copyright to the RAR format. WinRAR is currently offered as a trial version.
WinRAR stands for WinRAR Archiver 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 WinRAR.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: WinRAR.exe is not essential for the Windows OS and causes relatively few problems. WinRAR.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files" or sometimes in a subfolder of Windows folder for temporary files—mostly C:\Program Files\WinRAR\.
Known file sizes on Windows 10/11/7 are 1,500,048 bytes (4% of all occurrences), 1,551,248 bytes and 57 more variants.
WinRAR.exe is not a Windows core file. WinRAR.exe is digitally signed.
Therefore the technical security rating is 20% dangerous; however you should also read the user reviews.
Uninstalling this variant:
If problems with WinRAR or Compresor WinRAR come up, you can look for help from the software company Win-rar or uninstall it from your computer using the Control Panel applet Uninstall a Program.
If WinRAR.exe is located in the Windows folder for temporary files, the security rating is 74% dangerous. The file size is 116,224 bytes.
It is not a Windows core file. The program has no visible window. There is no description of the program. The software is loaded during the Windows boot process (see Registry key: Run, TaskScheduler, MACHINE\Run).
WinRAR.exe appears to be a compressed file.
If WinRAR.exe is located in a subfolder of C:\Windows, the security rating is 60% dangerous. The file size is 68,384 bytes.
The file has a digital signature. The file is a file with no information about its developer. The program is not visible. It is not a Windows core file.
Uninstalling this variant:
If problems with Avast! Antivirus come up, you can look for help on the www.avast.com website or uninstall it from your computer using the Control Panel applet Uninstall a Program.
If WinRAR.exe is located in a subfolder of the user's profile folder, the security rating is 64% dangerous. The file size is 1,541,632 bytes.
External information from Paul Collins: There are different files with the same name:
"quicken" definitely not required. CoolWebSearch parasite variant. Note - this is not the file zipping utility also known as WinRAR!
"winrar" definitely not required. CoolWebSearch parasite variant. Note - this is not the file zipping utility also known as WinRAR and it's located in C:\Winnt or C:\Windows
Important: Some malware camouflages itself as WinRAR.exe, particularly when located in the C:\Windows or C:\Windows\System32 folder, for example TROJ_SPNR.06KK12 or TROJ_SPNR.06FD13 (detected by TrendMicro), and Trojan.MSIL.Agent.aopm or Trojan.MSIL.Disfa.akgi (detected by Kaspersky). Therefore, you should check the WinRAR.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
ungefährlich, Entpackungsprogramm ähnlich Winzip Dennis
Is not dangerous, Winrar archiver / Aucun danger, c'est winrar ;) systeme de compression & décompression. NHZ
Not dangerous, excellent archiver for all compressed files.
WINRAR = good archiver. Nothing more :P
Absolutely not dangerous Mauri
WinRAR the Best.. Kushtrim
WinRAR archiver, Helps Windows archive compressed files. Toboe10
i deleted all of the files of winRAR and finally i removed it
legit appliaction but there are spywares masking under this name, check out the site nelchoc (further information)
The issue is the process remains even AFTER the program is closed. Similarly, for the trial version, WINRAR will secretly open IExplorer processes behind the scene, again, even after the program has been closed.All these "left over" processes runs in the background and takes us resources, again, even after the program has been closed! Hgaddy
Summary: Average user rating of WinRAR.exe:
based on 16 votes with 10 user comments.
10 users think WinRAR.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application.
2 users think it's probably harmless.
One user thinks it's neither essential nor dangerous.
One user suspects danger.
2 users think WinRAR.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it.
2 users don't grade WinRAR.exe ("not sure about it").
Best practices for resolving WinRAR issues
A clean and tidy computer is the key requirement for avoiding problems with WinRAR. 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 WinRAR.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
Dennis
NHZ
Mauri
Kushtrim
Toboe10
nelchoc (further information)
Hgaddy
Summary: Average user rating of WinRAR.exe: based on 16 votes with 10 user comments. 10 users think WinRAR.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application. 2 users think it's probably harmless. One user thinks it's neither essential nor dangerous. One user suspects danger. 2 users think WinRAR.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it. 2 users don't grade WinRAR.exe ("not sure about it").