What is CCXProcess.exe? Should I remove it?

CCXProcess.exe – a part of Adobe Creative Cloud suite, which can cause PC performance problems

CCXProcess.exe is a process name that can be found running in the background of a Windows computer. It can be typically observed on the Task Manager and have several instances of cscript.exe or conhost.exe attached to it. The file is part of Adobe Creative Cloud – a set of applications that provide users access to video editing, web development, photography, and other features. So, the CCXProcess.exe process might belong to Premiere Pro, Lightroom Classic, After Effects, or other apps.

What most people have noticed is that the process is causing significant performance issues, as several instances are using a high amount of CPU or memory. This can indicate one of the following:

• Adobe software incompatibility with AVG security solutions
• Virus infection, also known as cryptojacker.^[1]

Users reported that CCXProcess.exe ran several child processes – sometimes even up to 200 instances. Without a doubt, such a number is not acceptable and immediately indicates that something is wrong. In other cases, users said that the process would lock everything that is connected to the internet (meaning, all the apps that are using bandwidth, for example, Google Chrome web browser) and freeze down the PC.

Such computer behavior immediately might make users suspicious, believing that CCXProcess.exe is a virus. However, it was reported by Adobe customer support technicians that there is a known bug when it comes to the interaction between AVG security software and all the Adobe apps. Since we do not recommend leaving your machine unprotected, you should install an alternative security program – we recommend SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes – and see if that solves your problem.

However, it is also important to note that any executable can be named as anything, which means that cybercriminals could launch a malicious process on your computer and call it CCXProcess.exe to prevent users from being suspicious. Background processes that use a high amount of CPU, GPU, or RAM can be related to crypto-mining malware.

These malicious programs abuse computer's resources to compute complicated mathematical algorithms, producing cryptocurrency in the process. It is immediately then transferred to the cybercriminals' crypto-wallets.

In such a case, CCXProcess.exe virus removal would be mandatory, as you could suffer significant financial losses, inability to operate the computer normally, and suffer additional malware attacks. Since a background process is running, it can enable the attackers to deliver additional payloads or modules, consequently stealing your login credentials, baking details, using your machine to send spam, encrypt your files, and much more.

All in all, here are several ways to remove CCXProcess.exe from your system – you either need to uninstall the Adobe application suite, apply the Windows registry fix, install another security software, or check for malware that could have been present on your computer. In any case, you should take action and solve the issue immediately. After that, we recommend checking the system with FortectIntego in order to ensure that the Windows machine is working without causing crashes, lag, or other issues post-infection (if such was present).

You can avoid malware infiltration by being attentive online

There are many processes that are running on your Windows computer – most of them can be viewed via the Task Manager. Most users do not know the purpose of each of these processes – and there is no need for that. The truth is, most malicious processes would run silently in the background without causing too many symptoms for regular users. Crypto-mining malware is easier to spot, however, as increased resource usage significantly reduces the performance of an infected computer, and it becomes almost impossible to operate (with CPU running as high as 90% – 100%).

You can always check what the process is for by searching it up on the internet if you are not sure. As previously mentioned, it is hard to tell whether the process is legitimate or not, as some malware use executables that are digitally signed – even security apps might be tricked by this. Nonetheless, it is always important to keep a reliable security application installed at all times and keep it updated.

There are several security experts' tips^[2] that could help you avoid malware:

• Never open suspicious email attachments or click on embedded hyperlinks/buttons;
• Do not download pirated programs or software cracks;
• Use a one-off password for each of your accounts, and make sure it is complex;
• Update your operating system and the installed programs on a regular basis;
• Do not get tricked by fake updates that might appear on random websites – Adobe Flash plugin scam is particularly common.^[3]

Deal with the CCXProcess.exe process issues or delete it if it is a part of malware

CCXProcess.exe removal is necessary if it is indeed a part of malware. First red flag is that it is present even if you do not have Adobe Creative Cloud installed. Therefore, you should immediately install SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner, Malwarebytes, or another powerful security tool and perform a full system scan. If malware was indeed found, we also recommend using FortectIntego to fix Windows registry issues and return your computer back to normal.

If you already have AVG installed and wish to fix the issue, there is no need to remove CCXProcess.exe from your machine. You can instead apply a registry fix, although keep in mind that this should only be performed by advanced users. If you are not confident, please uninstall either AVG or Adobe Creative Cloud. Otherwise, here's what to do:

• Type in regedit in Windows search and hit Enter
• Go to the following location: 
  

  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Adobe

• Right-click anywhere on the right pane, select New > Key, and name it “CCXWelcome”
• Under this key, create a value entry named “Disabled” (type DWORD(32-bit), value set to 0)
• Reboot your PC.

Warning: backup your registry first.