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What’s nasl.exe? Is it safe or a virus?

nasl.exe, developed by Tenable, Inc., is an executable program associated with the Nessus Attack Scripting Language (NASL), forming a core part of the Nessus vulnerability scanning tool. It is used to execute NASL scripts, which identify vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, or weaknesses in network systems and applications. These scripts enable the automation of security checks, such as identifying outdated software, misapplied patches, or exposed services. nasl.exe operates by analyzing systems for potential exploits and reporting findings for remediation. It is an integral component in security assessments and network protection, helping organizations proactively address cybersecurity risks.

The official website says that nasl contains "vulnerability information, a simplified set of remediation actions and the algorithm to test for the presence of the security issue."

Researched by Carl @ SpyShelter Labs

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More about nasl.exe on WINDOWS

Who makes nasl.exe?

We’ve found TENABLE, INC. should be the publisher of nasl.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 13, 2025

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Why should you trust us?

Our team at SpyShelter has been studying Windows PC executables for over 15 years, to help fight against spyware, malware, and other threats. SpyShelter has been featured in publications like The Register, PC Magazine, and many others. Now we’re working to share free, actionable, and easy to understand information about Windows executables (processes) with the world, to help as many people as possible keep their devices safe. Learn more about us on our "About SpyShelter” page.

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