When you’re checking out the Task Manager on your Windows PC, you might spot a process called nessusd.exe. It’s natural to wonder about it. Is it a safe process? Why’s it eating up so much of your computer’s resources? Should you turn it off, and how do you do that? This guide will walk you through these questions with easy-to-understand explanations.
Also see: High CPU Usage After Windows 11/10 Update (Fix)
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What is nessusd.exe?
The nessusd.exe file is a crucial part of the Nessus Vulnerability Scanner software, a well-regarded security tool made by Tenable. This file serves as the server bit of Nessus, handling the heavy lifting for vulnerability scans. It teams up with the Nessus client or web interface to perform scans and cook up reports. You’ll usually find this file lounging in the C:\Program Files\Tenable\Nessus\ or C:\Program Files\Tenable\Nessus Agent\ folders.
How does nessusd.exe work?
The nessusd.exe process is like a diligent worker, running silently in the background of your computer. It uses a big database of known weak spots to run various scans, like checking networks, web apps, and making sure everything complies with standards. By using both up-close and far-reaching checks, the nessusd.exe process can give a pretty accurate picture of how secure your system is.
Useful guide: How to Know Which App is Using The Internet in Windows 11
Nessusd.exe causes high CPU, disk, and memory usage
Some folks on forums, including Reddit, have noticed nessusd.exe can get a bit greedy with the CPU on both Windows 11 and Windows 10. There are times when it can also hog the disk and memory. This happens because scanning for vulnerabilities is a big job that needs a lot of resources.
But, if you notice it’s really slowing your computer down with high and constant resource use, try restarting the nessusd.exe service. A quick restart can often shake free some resources and fix any glitches causing the high use.
To do this, peek at the next section for how to turn off the nessusd.exe service. But instead of turning it off, just hit “Restart”. If the problem doesn’t go away after a restart, you might need to dig a bit deeper.
Pro tip: How to Limit CPU Usage of a Process in Windows 11
How to disable nessusd.exe
If nessusd.exe is making your computer run slow, you might think about turning it off. Here’s a simple way to do it:
- Hit “Windows + R” to pop open the Run box.
- Write “services.msc” and hit enter to bring up the Services window.
- Look for the “Tenable Nessus” service in the list.
- Right-click on “Tenable Nessus” and pick “Properties”.
- There’s a “Startup type” menu in the properties window. Change it to “Disabled”.
- Hit the “Stop” button to stop the service right now.
- Click “OK” to save your changes.
Keep in mind, turning off nessusd.exe means your Nessus Vulnerability Scanner won’t work right. Consider this a last resort if it’s really causing trouble.
Related resource: How to Delete a Service in Windows 11 or 10 Using CMD
How to remove nessusd.exe
If you decide you don’t need the Nessus Vulnerability Scanner anymore, you can get rid of the nessusd.exe file by uninstalling the software. Just follow these steps:
- Go to “Control Panel” by searching for it in the Windows search bar.
- Click on “Programs and Features” in the Control Panel.
- Find “Tenable Nessus” or “Nessus” in the list of installed programs.
- Click on the software, then hit “Uninstall” at the top of the window.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to remove the software.
Doing this will take away the software and all its files, including nessusd.exe. But remember, the Nessus Vulnerability Scanner is a key security tool. Make sure you have another security solution ready so your system isn’t left exposed.
To put it simply
The nessusd.exe process is an important part of the Nessus Vulnerability Scanner by Tenable. While it’s known to use a lot of resources because of its important job, it usually doesn’t cause big performance problems.
If you keep running into issues with high CPU, disk, or memory use because of nessusd.exe, giving the service a quick restart can be a great first step. This simple action can often fix short-term problems and help your system run smoother.
Lastly, if you no longer use the Nessus Vulnerability Scanner software or you’re switching to another security solution instead, you can uninstall it so the process won’t run anymore.
