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Learn how to protect your Windows PC from malware and other threats.Application Control
Control your PC apps and their behaviors.What’s that .exe?
Is that executable safe, or a threat?SpyShelter PC Protection
Learn how to protect your PC from bad apps.Registry Protection
Protect your Windows Registry from harm.How to prevent Screenshots
Learn how to prevent unauthorized Screenshots.Executable Directory
Our ultimate directory of Windows PC executables.If you encounter xperf.exe on your system with the publisher listed as "JetBrains Xperf Fake Process," it's likely a placeholder or mock process used within JetBrains development tools, such as dotTrace. JetBrains may utilize such naming conventions to simulate or represent performance tracing activities without invoking the actual xperf.exe from Microsoft's Windows Performance Toolkit.
This approach allows developers to test or demonstrate profiling features without relying on the actual Windows Performance Toolkit components. It's a common practice in software development to use mock processes or placeholders for testing and demonstration purposes.
If you have JetBrains development tools installed, especially those related to performance profiling, the presence of this mock xperf.exe is expected and not a cause for concern.
Below are 4 simple steps you can take to see if the xperf.exe process is safe or malware.
Researched by Carl @ SpyShelter Labs
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 threatsWe’ve found JetBrains s.r.o. should be the publisher of xperf.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.
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.
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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