How to deal with waol.exe
Reader Question:
“Hi Wally, Is waol.exe a threat to my computer.”
- April M., USA
Before addressing any computer issue, I always recommend scanning and repairing any underlying problems affecting your PC health and performance:
- Step 1 : Download PC Repair & Optimizer Tool (WinThruster for Win 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP and 2000 – Microsoft Gold Certified).
- Step 2 : Click “Start Scan” to find Windows registry issues that could be causing PC problems.
- Step 3 : Click “Repair All” to fix all issues.
Setting up weekly (or daily) automatic scans will help prevent system problems and keep your PC running fast and trouble-free.
Wally’s Answer: Waol.exe is usually regarded as a safe process. It is part of the AOL client software, so it should normally appear if you have AOL software installed on your computer. Although, in some cases it could be malware.
What is waol.exe
Waol.exe is a process that is found in software made by America Online or AOL. It is usually located where the America Online software is installed in Program Files. It may be located in “C:\Program Files\America Online 9.0\“. This program is used to connect to a LAN or the Internet. It is part of the AOL client program, and should appear when the AOL client is running in the Task Bar.
Is waol.exe a threat?
The waol.exe file is safe. It is not a Windows file. It belongs to Verisign, which means that it is certified by a trustworthy company. This program is able to record input and monitor applications. Since it comes packaged with AOL software, it is not a malicious threat.
How to check if waol.exe is a threat
You might have installed the AOL software on your computer or the software may have come pre-installed ion your computer when you bought it. In any case you should check the location of the file to see if it is running from where it should be running. You can see the path of the waol.exe file in the Task Manager window.
To bring-up the Task manager in Windows 7, press Ctrl+Alt+Delete on your keyboard, and press the button labeled ”Start Task Manager“. Be sure to check the spelling of its name “waol.exe.” In the Processes tab right-click waol.exe and click Properties. If it is in c:\windows or c:\windows\system32 then it might be a malicious program. It should be located in c:\program files\American Online 9.0\waol.exe or similar path with a different number for the version of AOL.
Deceptive Malware
If you are not using AOL software on your computer or you have already un-installed it but you still see the waol.exe process in the Task Manager then it might be malware disguised as waol.exe. Especially, if it is located in c:\windows or c:\windows\system32 folder. The Coolwebsearch spyware is known to have imitated waol.exe. If this is the case then scan your computer with Anti-spyware. Some Anti-spyware software include Spybot – Search & Destroy, and WinThruster.
I Hope You Liked This Blog Article! If You Need Additional Support on This Issue Then Please Don’t Hesitate To Contact Me On Facebook.
Is Your PC Healthy?
I always recommend to my readers to regularly use a trusted registry cleaner and optimizer such as WinThruster or CCleaner. Many problems that you encounter can be attributed to a corrupt and bloated registry.
Happy Computing! 
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About the Author
Wally PhillipsWindows Wally is a helpful guy. It’s just in his nature. It’s why he started a blog in the first place. He heard over and over how hard it was to find simple, plain-English solutions to Windows troubleshooting problems on the Internet. Enter: Windows Wally. Ask away, and he will answer.
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