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What’s dialer.exe (Microsoft Windows Phone Dialer)? Is it safe or a virus?

Dialer.exe is a legitimate file that is part of Microsoft Windows operating system. It's a part of the Windows Dial-up Application, which is responsible for managing dial-up connections. Dial-up connections were commonly used in the past to connect to the internet before the widespread adoption of broadband.

I checked the PCs in our SpyShelter Cybersecurity Lab, and found they all have dialer.exe installed. I launched Dialer, and found that it gave an error that says it was unable to find a telephone device or modem.

The interface is like a telephone, that allows you to enter a phone number and dial it (as you might expect). If you ever used a modem, then this .exe is a blast from the past. :)

Researched by Carl @ SpyShelter Labs

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A Trojan is a harmful software that pretends to be a legitimate program or file to deceive users into downloading it. It can steal personal information, damage files, or give hackers control over the infected device.

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More about dialer.exe on WINDOWS

Who makes dialer.exe (Microsoft Windows Phone Dialer)?

We’ve found Microsoft Windows should be the publisher of dialer.exe.

How do we know? Our SpyShelter cybersecurity labs focuses on monitoring different types of Windows PC executables and their behaviors for our popular SpyShelter Antispyware software. Learn more about us, and how our cybersecurity team studies Windows PC executables/processes.

What does it mean if someone is the publisher of a PC .exe (executable or process)?

The publisher of an executable is the entity responsible for its distribution and authenticity. Most processes/executables on your PC should be signed. The signature on the executable should have been verified through a third party whose job it is to make sure the entity is who it says it is. Find an unsigned executable? You should consider scanning any completely unsigned .exe on your PC.

Last updated: March 19, 2024

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Why should you trust us?

Our team at SpyShelter has been studying Windows PC executables for over 15 years, to help fight against spyware, malware, and other threats. SpyShelter has been featured in publications like The Register, PC Magazine, and many others. Now we’re working to share free, actionable, and easy to understand information about Windows executables (processes) with the world, to help as many people as possible keep their devices safe. Learn more about us on our "About SpyShelter” page.

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