Avgrsx.exe is the Resident Shield component of the AVG 8.0 Antivirus program that safeguards your computer from Internet security threats.
Purpose
This program is an essential component of AVG Internet security software and its main job is to provide real-time protection against malware.
This program scans your files as you open, copy, move, or save them. When it detects a threat, it issues a pop-up alert asking you what you want to do with the files. The alert is not displayed if you have configured your AVG Antivirus program to automatically move all detected threats to the virus vault.
Startup Information
By default, this program is scheduled to run automatically every time you power on your computer.
File Information
The file is located in a subfolder of %Programfiles%. The most common size of this file in Windows XP is 287,000 bytes. Other known sizes of this file are – 311,576, 503,576, 484,120, 486,680, 508,184, 486,168, and 485,144 bytes.
Note: %Programfiles% is a variable and points to your Program Files folder. By default, the path in Windows XP/Vista/7 is C:\Program Files.
The most vehement criticism of this program is its habit of consuming a large amount of CPU resources when Windows starts, when you open, save, copy, or move large files, and when AVG is running a scan on your computer.
Before we discuss the high CPU usage issue of this process in detail, let’s address the common doubts surrounding this file.
Is This File Malware?
No, avgrsx.exe is a safe file and has not been reported to be used by malware.
Is It Safe To Remove This Process?
As this program is an essential part of your AVG security tool, one that provides real-time protection, it is recommended that you don’t remove or disable this program.
Is It Safe To Remove The Process From Startup?
No it is not safe to remove this program from startup. This process is an essential startup program for AVG Antivirus program and you must not disable it.
High CPU Usage Issue
Issue 1 – Avgrsx.exe delays the startup process of my computer.
This issue occurs when AVG Antivirus program scans your files for infection when you start Windows. It is normal for this program to consume high system resources when you load Windows (to enable it to scan your files) and cause a slight delay in the Windows boot process.
To counter this problem, you may disable the startup scan of the computer. However, make sure that you schedule the virus scan to run after some time when your computer has booted up and you have completed your initial tasks.
Issue 2 – My computer takes a lot of time when I open large files. Upon checking the Task Manager, I find the culprit is avgrsx.exe.
As discussed above, the process scans your files as you open/move/copy/save them. For smaller files, the scan time is less, and so, you don’t notice a tangible delay as you open them. However, for larger files, this program has to scan large data. This, in turn, causes the delay.
You can configure the settings of your AVG antivirus program to avoid scanning of certain files. However, please note that if you do so, AVG will not report any infection in case the files you asked AVG not to monitor are infected.
If you are 100% sure that certain folders or files are safe from infection then you may configure the AVG not to monitor them. In truth, an infection can occur anywhere on your PC. That is why, if you decide to take this route, then at the least scan the files you have listed in the ‘not-to-scan’ list manually once in a month.
To prevent the AVG software from scanning certain files, click the “manage exceptions†button in the AVG interface, then add the path of the files or folders you don’t want AVG to scan.
Issue 3 – Avgrsx.exe reports high CPU usage (sometimes even 100% CPU usage) whenever AVG is running a scan.
To workaround this problem, you can schedule scans late at night, or at a time when you don’t require your computer.
AVG 8.0 is a good security software and provides all around protection to your computer. However, as there is no permanent fix for the avgrsx.exe high CPU usage, this is one issue you have to live with when you install the AVG protection software. In case avgrsx.exe is causing a lot of trouble, it may be a good idea for you to switch to a lighter antivirus software – one which aptly protects your computer from malware, but does not drain your system resources.