Akamai NetSession Client: Is it Safe or a Virus?

There are many programs that come pre-installed on our system of which we are completely unaware. One such program that you might have come across is “Akamai NetSession client.” The software also comes along with significant number of other programs and applications, especially computer games. Many of the users have reported that Akamai NetSession Client asks permission to access your private and public networks. So is it safe? Should we give permission to Akamai NetSession Client for access? These are some questions that we all wonder, when we encounter this situation. So today we are going to discuss about Akamai NetSession client, and whether you should grant access to it?

Akamai NetSession client is usually blocked by the Windows Firewall and so we cannot see it. So when it asks permission from us we feel a little uncomfortable. Here is the complete guide to Akamai NetSession and should we keep it or uninstall it.

What is Akamai NetSession Client?

Akamai NetSession client is a software that probably comes installed when you get your computer or laptop. The tool helps you to enjoy faster and more reliable download of media, data and applications from different sources. But most of the time it is blocked by the Windows Firewall. The latter blocks any suspicious program that tries to get through your system’s firewall and access the Internet.

Many companies use the Akamai NetSession interface to deliver media files and documents to your desktop. And in order to do this, the company will ask you to grant permission to install Akamai NetSession client on your computer or laptop. So we can say that this tools helps you in the following ways-

  1. Reliable and secure downloads
  2. Faster downloads from specific companies
  3. Complete more downloads in less time and with convenience
  4. Supports HTTPS and SSL security

Is Akamai NetSession Client Virus? Is It Safe?

We may find Akamai NetSession’s activity as notorious as it enter your system’s private and public network, and seem to steal some information. Due to these reasons people are hesitant to grant permission to the program. In case you install this software through the company using the Akamai NetSession interface or as a part of the BIOS update, your Windows firewall will flag it as a spyware.

But do not worry, this is a false alarm.

Yes, as the tool is installed on your system with your permission, it is not malware. And you can uninstall it any time you want.

If we don’t pay attention to the dodgy intentions of this tool, then Akamai NetSession actually helps to check for the harmful and infected files on your system. They are not hazardous, rather they scan your device.

However, there are a large number of users that disapprove of their request. The users feel uncomfortable with the freedom that this tool has on your network. Lastly, it might just hog on to the data, and increase your Internet bill. And so you can completely relax and sit back, as Akamai NetSession client is not a virus.

Where is Akamai NetSession Installed on your System?

Akamai NetSession is a service that runs at the background of your computer. You can check this tool in the Control Panel of your Windows system. In case you are working on Mac, then you can visit the System Preference tab and check out the service over there.

How to Stop Akamai NetSession Client?

As we mentioned before Akamai NetSession is not a virus or pose any threat to your computer or laptop. And it also enhances your download speed. So if you want you can try to stop this interface from working, and know the difference it makes to the working.

Follow the steps given below, to stop the service-

Step 1: Click on the Start button. Then click on Control Panel.

Step 2: If you have Mac device, then go to System Preferences option.

Step 3: Now click on Preferences tab. Then locate the NetSession service.

Step 4: Just hit the Stop button and this will halt the service.

After stopping the service, in case you want to restart it, you can click on the Start button. The Stop button will be replaced by the Start button soon after you stop the Akamai NetSession service.

How to Uninstall Akamai NetSession Client on Windows?

In case you are fine with the working of your computer or laptop, without the NetSession client, then you can uninstall it. Here are the two methods by which you can uninstall the service.

Method 1- Use Uninstaller Program to Remove Akamai NetSession Client

You can make use of the Uninstaller Program for this process. Just follow the steps given below-

Step 1: Open the Control Panel of your Windows System. And then open the Add or Remove Programs tool.

Step 2: In the new window, locate Akamai NetSession Interface. Click on it and then select the Change/Remove button.

Step 3: The system will ask you permission for uninstall the software. Click on Yes option.

Step 4: Then follow the in-screen instructions/prompts and complete the process.

That’s it. Restart your computer and experience the effect of the changes made.

Method 2- Uninstall Akamai NetSession using Command Prompt

In case the first method doesn’t work for you, then here is another method that you can use. Here you will have to use the command prompt service.

Step 1: In the Search bar, type command prompt or cmd. And press Enter.

Step 2: Now open the Command Prompt application.

Step 3: Using the DOS commands, navigate to the NetSession installer folder. Here are the commands that you can use-

cd..

c:

cd Users/<user name>/App Data/Local/Akamai

Make sure you press the Enter tab, after each command.

Step 4: Now to uninstall the NetSession client, type- admintool.exe uninstall- force. Press Enter.

The Akamai tool will disappear from your computer in a few seconds.

Final Words

The Akamai NetSession Client is safe to reside in your system. We have tried to cover everything about the tool. And so, now it is your decision whether you want to keep the software on your computer or not. If you do not wish to complicate things, you can uninstall it as well. We hope that this post was helpful to you. If you have any doubts or suggestions, then share it with us in the comment section.