What is acs.exe? Is acs.exe spyware or a virus?

How to fix acs.exe related problems?
1. Run Security Task Manager to check your acs process
2. Run SpeedUpMyPC to fix related speed issues
3. Run Spyware Doctor to remove persistent malware


As the name suggests, the Atheros Configuration Service is a program that allows users to access the configuration options for Atheros wireless LAN devices. This program is normally installed along with the drivers for these hardware products, and it may already be running on a new PC if Atheros hardware comes preinstalled.http://www.neuber.com/taskmanager/process/acs.exe.html 

If you want a detailed security rating about your acs.exe (and all other running background processes) read the following user opinions, and download the free trial version of Security Task Manager.

Note: Any malware can be named anything - so you should check where the files of the running processes are located on your disk. If a "non-Microsoft" .exe file is located in the C:\Windows or C:\Windows\System32 folder, then there is a high risk for a virus, spyware, trojan or worm infection! Check it out!


Click to Run a Free Scan for acs.exe speed issues.


Users Opinions

Average user rating of acs.exe: 4.5 based on 160 votes. Read also the 146 reviews.

6200 users ask for this file. 113 users rated it as not dangerous. 9 users rated it as not so dangerous. 25 users rated it as neutral. 6 users rated it as little bit dangerous. 7 users rated it as dangerous. 10 users didn't rate it ("don't know").


All comments about acs.exe:
rate3 Depends where it is located, Its not a windows sined .exe it dosent belong in c:/windows/system32/...... del it if you want but may be assoaited with freewere or paywere or choclatewere be careful save a backup just in case.   LOW_RAM
rate1 D-LINK wi-fi or Atheros based chips   Justin C.
rate1 ACU Configuration Service Atheros Configuration Service  See also: Link   John Brodeur
rate1 Atheros chipset configuration used in D-Link wireless LAN  See also: Link   Eric
rate1 Atheros Configuration Service  See also: Link   Boton
rate1 needed for my atheros wlan   thinkpaduser
rate1 Atheros Configuration Service, software for a lancom pci adaptor  See also: Link   ken collins
rate1 related to atheros wireless lan   rick h.
rate3 D-Link Wireless Access WLAN   Berry O.
rate3 may be dangerous (W32.Kelvir.W MSNM worm) or not, check link for information how to check if it is.   Daniel Jars
rate1 Part of the DLink AirPlus wireless card drivers install   Renee
rate1 Possibly it is Cisco Secure Access Connectivity Server (Secure ACS)   S Donkers
rate1 Wi-Fi application   Spooner
rate1 Atheros configuration util   Andrew
rate0 Used for D-Link Wireless Card   IcyJ
rate3 Run by SYSTEM. Uses 60 MB RAM and 220 MB pagefile. Can't be tha "Atheros" conf util!   Simon Hoff Kunze
rate1 Atheros Configuration service   Krimo
rate1 Atheros Configuration Service   Jonatj
rate1 Service for D-Link wireless   Luis S.
rate1 d-link atheros wireless lan   Frank
rate3 atheros wlan   mjv
rate1 Used for Wi-Fi application.Needed to connect via 802.11b/g.The file in my system is dated 12.07.2004 21:06 and has been installed with the driver of a PCMCIA Wi-Fi card   Luca
rate1 Atheros Configuration Service -- used by the software that came with my D-Link DWL-G650 wireless networking PCMCIA card   T. Mark Gibson
rate1 I don't have a D-Link product, but I do have a Netgear one, must be used with that as well   Tom
rate1 it's a pain on my win 2000 machine, it's a d-link program   Michael
rate0 Part of the DLink AirPlus wireless card drivers install   MonarKc
rate1 Configuration Service for Atheros Wireless Chipset  See also: Link   Liam
rate1 DLink Airplus Extreme Wireless card driver   Frank
rate1 Atheros Configuration Service  
rate1 Wireless card on laptop   Teresa
rate1 D-Link Wireless Card   Mike
rate5 acs.exe is a worm W32.Kelvir.W.  See also: Link   cheryl higgins
rate3 It appears after install D-link wireless card  
rate3 Once removed , connection lost   Dave
rate3 Startup program for Atheros Client Utility [Wireless]   Jessie
rate2 Atheros Configuration /Service file Uses network connection   Jody
rate1 Atheros Configuration Service   Asher
rate1 D-Link needed   Helen M.
rate1 It is part of my wireless netgear controller software. It disappeared when I removed it from add/remove programs and moved the device to different computer.   Daniel Dykstra
rate1 Flagged after installing netgear wireless card. Evidently needed by or bundled with wireless os.   bertoray
rate1 Atheros Configuration service   ohm
rate1 D-Link Wireless Lan process, Buffulo Wireless LAN. Slim network cards, comes with the driver disk.  See also: Link   M. Singletary
rate1 It is the Atheros Configuration Service although there is no publisher info!!   Jay H.
rate1 It is service for WLAN cards with Atheros chipsets; example for Planet WL-8310 or D-Link card (US version)   Voltar
rate1 Part of the DLink AirPlus wireless card drivers install   Kenny
rate1 It's a driver file for wireless chipsets, often used by Atheros and Dlink.   Darren
rate1 D-Link Wifi thingie.. harmless   Raven
rate2 D-Link (Atheros Chipset) wireless PCMCIA card utility (~36Kb in Windows directory only; other locations may be a trojan that exploits this name)   Sam
rate1 its from my dlink g520M wireless network card. //copied to x:/wincows/systems32   scott
rate1 ACS.exe is a process installed alongside Atheros Wireless LAN and provides additional configuration options for these devices. This program is non-essential process to the running of the system, but should not be terminated unless suspected to be causing problems.   Julia
rate0 I have an SMC wireless card and I still have this file on my computer   Jonathan
rate1 atheros chipset wireless card configuration service either d-link or netgear   Tom
rate1 Wireless NIC service also used by SMC   Joe
rate1 acs.exe is the D-Link wireless executable. Nothing to worry about, people.  
rate1 installs with my Atheros chipset wifi card  
rate1 Needed for WLAN Configuration - Has a memory leak that slows down computers. Stop/Start in Service control Mgr to regain memory.   JEG
rate3 Disabled and Atheros card still works fine   Adam
rate1 its the chip on the pc card used in netgear and dlink wireless cards made by atheros   miguel
rate1 Used for SMC wireless application   Winga
rate1 siemens gigaset pc wlan card 108  
rate3 Atheros wireless configuration device.   Wassup
rate1 Atheros Configuration Service   SMV
rate3 Used for WiFi systems but runs cygrunsrv.exe at 100%. Not good! Remove it and lose WiFi connection.   Slamlander
rate1 Also used by Lancom Airlancer Products (Atheros)   Totti
rate3 not part of D-Link.  
rate4 On startup, acs.exe changes my video settings to minimum values. I added a D-Link Air Plus card and software 6 moths ago.   R Smith
rate2 Appeared after DLink router/ card install   David Mann
rate1 Internal wireless card that came with my toshiba laptop.   Paul Bajaron-Nawlins
rate3 Its both a worm, W32.Kelvir.W., and a wireless application for D-link and Atheros. All i can recommend is that if it gives you errors when shutting windows down, try running an AVG and Xoftspy scan.  See also: Link   Nick
rate3 Its both a worm, W32.Kelvir.W., and a wireless application for D-link and Atheros. All i can recommend is that if it gives you errors when shutting windows down, try running an AVG and Xoftspy scan.   Nick
rate4 it takes 202 MB of my ram. but i didn't know what....   Amir
rate1 WLAN for SMC USBT 108 Mbps adapter client utility   Chris W PC TECH
rate1 It belongs to my Wireless-USB utility, which shows all details about connections. It has a systray-icon, which shows how good connection is. My USB-108M-Wireless adapter is TP-Link TL-WN620G-11G. When I stop the acs.exe-process, my indicator in the systray is gone and with it all information, configuration etc. BTW, a cheap but very good adapter, connection even through several walls is very good.  See also: Link   Hardy
rate2 is a d-link atheros connection executable(uses to much ram sometimes 110MB!!)   beomuex
rate1 WiFi chipser   Mike
rate4 When I performed a Norton Spyware scan it appears that acs.exe is infected with an spyware of medium risk. But the last time I've deleted it, when I start my notebook, it appears a message of error about Counter Spy (a software I've never installed), with a missing file SBFC.dat .... I've corrected it with a system restore point.   Dante
rate0 Got it with Bandridge USB WLAN adapter   Igor Farago
rate1 atheros wireless configuration utility   koyot
rate3 used also in TP-link PCMCIA wi-fi card. Sometimes takes even 300Mb in pagefile   Michael
rate1 ACS is a part of my Atheros Client Utility (wireless card)   denn
rate5 Virus! delete it  
rate1 it depends on location : it's a worm if located "under %ProgramFiles%\ACS-Style\acs.exe". It's a D-Link wireless PCMCIA card utility under %Windows%\System32   Sbreccius
rate3 Runs with belkin wireless hardware. no big deal to leave it.   rastafari
rate1 Comes with the wifi transmitter/receiver in Toshiba. May not be neccessary in some cases.   Alex
rate0 Really slows down my Win-ME system. Needed for D-Link wireless card. Havn't found a way around   Tony
rate1 Comes with D-Link wireless adapter located in C:\Program Files\D-Link\D-Link RangeBooster N DWA-542   Norman
rate1 installed along with the wireless router stuff  
rate1 Atheros configuration service   shultz
rate1 It came with my Level1 108Mbps Wireless card (WPC-0300 version 4). It's safe to have it.   Levimor
rate2 used for wlan  
rate5 its a worm, remove asap,   keith
rate1 With Vista it is a nuisance   Jerry
rate1 firewall outpost / agnitum client security service (windows vista)   jito
rate3 agnitum client service   bbking
rate1 "Agnitum Outpost Service" for Outpost Firewall Pro 2008.  See also: Link   Michael
rate1 Part of OutPost Firewall security agent  See also: Link   The swax
rate1 Atheros Configuration Service  
rate5 acs.exe is a worm W32.Kelvir.W.  See also: Link   loxare
rate1 It is a part of Agnitum Outpost firewall, takes small amount of CPU capacity and about 25 MB memory. Can't be terminated unles whole firewall is ended. Think it is harmless   Stoun
rate1 If you are using an Outpost Firewall Pro 2008, is the main firewall process, check the properties of the "Agnitum Client Security Services", in the services management console  See also: Link   Dark Entropy
rate1 It is Agnitum Outpost Firewall exe  See also: Link   John
rate3 Belongs to Outpost Pro firewall   George
rate1 Part of "Agnitum Outpost 6.0", it may stand for "Agnitum Complete Security" as far as I know. RAM use varies from45M to 130M.  See also: Link  
rate1 Agnitum Client Security Service. Used by Outpost Security Suite.   Vadim
rate1 Agnitum Client Security, part of Outpost Security Suite (Firewall)   Junior
rate1 it is the "Agnitum Client Security Service" from the Agnitum Firewall. just have a look under your Services list   nimrodi
rate1 acs.exe is also the main firewall component service (Agnitum Client Security Service) of Agnitum Outpost Firewall Pro 2008  
rate1 It is the Agnitum Client Security Service   David Simon
rate1 OUTPOST FIREWALL process  See also: Link   Tropik
rate1 agnitum outpost service/agnitum outpost firewall 2008   eemil
rate2 acs = Atheros Configuration Service for wireless device   kaimano
rate1 ACS process is installed when installing a new D-LINK PCMCIA Wireless card   Dave
rate1 Comes from Outpost Firewall Pro..installed last night is there now..seems to be fine.  See also: Link   Jordan Hunt
rate2 Its a Outpost Firewall process, and can take up to 30MB when idle. (Sourec:   Xylber
rate1 Was installed with Vodafone UTMS software   Patrick
rate1 Agnitum Client Security Service - acs.exe is the main firewall component service  See also: Link   audciz
rate1 On my machine, it is "Agnitum Client Security Service"...part of the Outpost Security Suite.   Des
rate0 Part of Outpost security suite 2008  
rate1 It is the Agnitum Outpost Firewall Pro 2009 process.   George
rate0 Part of the configuration program of OLITEC wifi cards   Chrysander
rate1 acs.exe works with a variety of wireless adapter cards. I am using it with Netgear 108 Mbs Wireless PCI WG311T. Recently, my wireless connection drops with strong signal level. Restarting acs.exe temporarilly restores the connection much faster and with better results than using "Repair" from Microsoft's "Wireless Network Connection" tray icon. I have not yet found the cause for intermittent signal loss. Please contact me at the link given if you have more information or want more information about what I find.  See also: Link   David Huett
rate1 Name: AtherosConfigService. Part of Outpost Firewall (by Agnitum)   Horst Gunter
rate1 acs.exe can also be an Outpost Security Suite process   Wasted
rate1 This file belongs to "Outpost Firewall Pro 2009" on my PC  See also: Link   Jamie
rate1 Outpost Firewall Pro  
rate0 Agnitum security!   paul mcbride
rate0 alot of people have said d-link i also have d-link so i dont think its a virus but mine is located in windows system32 so if it's located newere other than that its probly a virus   loom
rate3 Apparently it is both part of Outpost Firewall and Atheros for wireless configuration. If it is atheros and you don't need it, turn it off via msconfig services manager. Could be both, so if you have Outpost firewall don't disable it- it's the main firewall process...   Yeah
rate1 In my case it was installed with Outpost Firewall 2009. C:\PROGRA~1\Agnitum\OUTPOS~1\acs.exe and C:\WINDOWS\system32\   Pierre
rate3 These last days i had an issue regarding acs.exe. I blocked its access to the network and the OS seems to work better   Ob3
rate3 I have no WiFi on my comp, but I do have outpost. Only I do notic it sucks up about 60,000K of mem. Which makes it a bit of a nuisance.   Dreamorpheus
rate3 Running on a Thinkpad T60 when the computer is put to standby mode and then comes out of standby, I always get System Error on ACS.exe and that the process will be shut down with a note to send a message to Microsoft on the error. I've now renamed the acs.exe file to acs.exe.old in the Windows/system32 folder and the error had gone. Still checking to see if any another aps needed the file. Wireless is working fine.   Ron
rate4 agnitum outpost service   aashay
rate1 firewall agnitum outpost service  
rate1 ACS stands for Agnitum Client Security Service, part of Outpost Firewall Pro / Outpost Security Suite   Alex
rate1 Comes with Outpost Firewall, uses up some CPU time, can be annoying on low powered systems.   Unagichan
rate3 Atheros Configuration Service Associated with my wireless card.   Vani
rate0 I don't have any of the above applications or wireless cards but still have it running in my processes.   Funky
rate1 It is used by a TON of programs to check SOFTWARE LICENSES in a database. Look in your windows program (x86) folder, search for it, and you will find severl iterations. The more costly and more secure the software the more likely it has an ACS.exe program to check the license against the database created when installed. If you remove it, whatver program it was used by will no longer run. Good software will say "ACS SERVER NOT RUNNING" and quit.   SCO TRIPLE ACE
rate1 acs.exe is known to be an Outpost Security Suite process   Michael
rate1 wifi card - needed !  
rate1 Installed under Advanced System Care 4  
rate1 Agnitum Outpost Service (Outpost Firewall)  
rate1 It's a configuration service that is not related to any malicious program. Just like most ppl who posted here had said, it's AtherosConfigService. Part of the drivers set for WLAN cards, USB adapter's ect....In my case, it's a Belkin WLAN PCI card. It's harmless.  See also: Link   Jzee420
rate1 Used for NetGear N150 Wireless USB Adapter   Jeremy O
rate4 agnitum outpost firewall process  

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