Bitsadmin.exe is a legitimate executable file that is part of the Microsoft Windows operating system. This Windows process is called BITS administration utility. It is a command-line tool that can help you monitor progress and create download and upload jobs. With this tool, you can obtain arbitrary files from the internet.
The BITSAdmin tool is usually located in the C:\Program Files\ folder and has a known size of 193,024 bytes or 232448 bytes, but there are other variants.
Can Bitsadmin.exe Be Deleted?
There is a general question that most people who interact with this file often ask: Is bitsadmin.exe safe? Well, the answer to this question can be both yes and no. First, bitsadmin.exe, being a Windows file, means that it is safe, and there isn’t a need to disable it. Deleting it can be catastrophic. It is needed for programs to work correctly.
With that said, you shouldn’t also forget that malware can easily affect and corrupt executable files, causing system malfunctions. In fact, some experts are suspecting that this built-in tool could be a malware dropper. Hackers can gain access to your Windows-based server through a combination of missing execution prevention measures and weak upload sanity checks on the server. For this reason, you should know how to detect a malicious bitsadmin.exe. If it is faulty, you should fix it immediately.
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How to Detect Bitsadmin.exe?
As noted above, attackers can create malicious files that mimic the name of bitsadmin.exe. The main aim is to spread malware infection without being noticed. Thankfully, there are several ways to detect bitsadmin.exe malware:
1. Check for Common Symptoms
Here are some of them:
- Problems during PC startup
- Corrupted or missing driver files
- Conflict in the bitsadmin.exe process
- Damaged or missing system files
- Invalid Windows registry entries
- Problem during program startup
- Hardware malfunction
- Errors while executing specific functions
Among the errors that you may encounter while running this process include:
- bitsadmin.exe failed
- bitsadmin.exe is not running
- bitsadmin.exe Application Error
- bitsadmin.exe not found
These bitsadmin.exe errors can occur during the execution of its associate program, the startup or shutdown of Windows, the installation of a program, or even when installing the Windows OS.
2. Check the Location of Process from the Task Manager
Besides checking for the bitsadmin.exe malware symptoms, you also need to check the location of the bitsadmin.exe file. To do that, open the Task Manager and check for crucial details about this process:
- Press the Ctrl, Alt, and Delete keys simultaneously to open the Task Manager. Alternatively, right-click on Start, then choose Task Manager.
- Move to the Processes tab and then look for the bitsadmin.exe process.
- Right-click on it and open its file location.
A legitimate file path should look something like this: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Corporation\Windows 10/11 Operating System\bitsadmin.exe. If the file resides outside the C:\Programs Files folder, it is most likely to be a virus. In that case, you should scan your system using a professional antivirus program. We recommend you use the Outbyte Anti-Malware program for this task. It will help you find malicious objects from all corners of your PC, and then quarantine them for removal.
3. Use the Microsoft File Explorer
Another tool that can help you detect malicious processes is the Microsoft Process Explorer.
To use this tool:
- Launch it (it requires installation), and then navigate to Options and activate Check Legends.
- After that, click on View > Select Columns, and then add the Verified Signer column.
- With this setting, you will be able to check processes with a Verified Signature label. So, if the Verified Signerstatus of the bitsadmin.exe process is listed as Unable to Verify, that is a clear indication that it might be illegitimate. But note that not all legitimate Windows processes will have a Verified Signature label.
How to Remove Bitsadmin.exe from Windows?
If this executable file is causing you problems, and you have determined that the BITSAdmin tool is an illegitimate one, you can proceed to delete it. In other words, you have checked for common symptoms of the bitsadmin.exe malware and compared the file size and file location with the above facts. Be sure to scan your system with the right antivirus tool.
Sometimes, an illegitimate BITS administration utility may interfere with the deletion process. If that is the case, boot your computer into Safe Mode with Networking, then try to delete the program in this secure environment.
Usually, you need an uninstaller to delete bitsadmin.exe from your system. Alternatively, you can remove the program function in the Control Panel. But if that is not possible and you cannot find a suitable uninstaller, then you may need to uninstall the Windows operating system.
Additional Fixes
To avoid the most computer errors, perform regular malware scans and clean your hard disk. Keeping your computer clean means getting rid of programs you don’t need, deleting illegal registry entries, and deleting other junk files. For the best results, automate this process using a reliable PC Repair tool.
On top of this, define some recovery points and make regular backups of your crucial files. If the problem is severe, remember the last thing you did or installed before the issue.