What’s trace-agent.exe (Datadog Trace Agent)? Is it safe or a virus?

The trace-agent.exe file is a legitimate component of the Datadog Agent—specifically, it’s the APM Trace Agent that collects distributed tracing data (like spans and request timing) from your applications and forwards it to Datadog’s backend.

If you're using Datadog to monitor application performance or microservices in your environment, trace-agent.exe is doing its job as part of that setup.

Below are 4 simple steps you can take to see if the trace-agent.exe process is safe or malware.

Researched by Carl @ SpyShelter Labs

Recently Detected Threats

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.

Download SpyShelter to see detailed safety information about every .exe on your PC.

Check your PC for threats

More about trace-agent.exe on WINDOWS

Who makes trace-agent.exe (Datadog Trace Agent)?

We’ve found Datadog, Inc should be the publisher of trace-agent.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: July 2, 2025

Curious about other processes on your PC?
Try SpyShelter or search below.

Or browse the process directory by name:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #

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.

Have any questions? Please join our free public SpyShelter PC Security Forum and talk cybersecurity with our USA-based team. We love talking about PC Security and we’d like to get to know you.

Join our PC security forum →