What’s devgen.exe (Microsoft Device Generator - Tool to create software and root enumerated devices.)? Is it safe or a virus?

DevGen.exe is a command-line tool included with Microsoft Visual Studio, an integrated development environment (IDE) widely utilized by software developers for building a variety of applications. Specifically designed for administrative use, DevGen.exe facilitates the creation of software devices and root-enumerated devices, serving a crucial role in testing environments.

This utility streamlines the testing phase of software development by allowing developers and administrators to simulate and generate necessary development files and metadata for software devices. Its functionality is tailored to support the efficient development, testing, and management of software projects, particularly focusing on the aspect of device simulation for thorough testing. Although the features of DevGen.exe can differ based on the version of Visual Studio, its core objective remains to enhance the process of building and testing software projects by providing essential tools for device creation and management.

Below are 4 simple steps you can take to see if the devgen.exe process is safe or malware.

Researched by Carl @ SpyShelter Labs

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Who makes devgen.exe (Microsoft Device Generator - Tool to create software and root enumerated devices.)?

We’ve found Microsoft Corporation should be the publisher of devgen.exe.

How do we know? Our SpyShelter cybersecurity labs focuses on monitoring different types of Windows PC executables and their behaviors for our popular SpyShelter Antispyware software. Learn more about us, and how our cybersecurity team studies Windows PC executables/processes.

What does it mean if someone is the publisher of a PC .exe (executable or process)?

The publisher of an executable is the entity responsible for its distribution and authenticity. Most processes/executables on your PC should be signed. The signature on the executable should have been verified through a third party whose job it is to make sure the entity is who it says it is. Find an unsigned executable? You should consider scanning any completely unsigned .exe on your PC.

Last updated: March 14, 2024

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