Google Chrome is undoubtedly the most used browser in the world, with more than 60% of the market share. The ease of use and amazing features are the main reasons for such popularity. However, there are some features of this browser that are more of a bane than boon. One such feature is the Google Chrome Software Reporter Tool, which protects the users from malicious and harmful extensions. But this hidden tool seems to cause more damage than benefit as it consumes a lot of CPU resources and affects performance.
If you are facing computer performance issues, then I suggest you take a look at the CPU performance meter from the Taskbar Performance and check if the Google Chrome Software Reporter Tool in Windows 7 is disabled or consuming your CPU resources. The next step would be to use Google Chrome but disable Software Reporter Tool permanently and increase the number of available CPU resources.
Also Read: How To Use Chrome Components Updates To Enhance Browsing Experience?
Why Was Google Chrome Software Reporter Tool Installed In The First Place?
Not all of us ae Tech Savvy, which means although we know how to use the computer for the generic purpose (Games, Watching Movies, Email and Shopping), but we cannot distinguish between trustable and malicious content (websites, audio, video and text files). This means there is always a 50-50 chance that each time we access the internet, we might click on the wrong link, download malware or install a spyware extension. And, if this happens then not only, our operating systems get infected, but also there is a fat chance that individual applications get corrupted as well.
To ensure Chrome’s safety, Google decided to include a sort of antivirus scanner and remover with its browser, known as Google Chrome Software Reporter Tool. This tool makes sure that the user’s search engine does not get changed automatically, scans for malicious and unwanted toolbars, and keeps a check on the suspicious ads that appear out of nowhere. All the scanning done by Google Chrome Software Reporter Tool is to ensure that the Chrome browser works flawlessly, which does not seem to be a problem.
However, reports started flowing all over the internet about Google Chrome Software Reporter Tool running continuously as a background process and consuming a large of CPU resources and thus compromising the performance. The only logical explanation for a small browser scanner consuming a large number of resources would only mean that this tool is carrying tasks other than it was intended to. Further reports stated that at least 50% of the resources were consumed by this tool even there was no application running and the PC was in idle state. Also, some reports included that the Google Chrome Software Reporter Tool reported some files in the Pictures folder to be malicious. This drove a conclusion that the Google Chrome Software Reporter Tool was scanning the entire Hard Disk of a Chrome user, including the registry and all personal files which resulted in a spike in the CPU usage.
Also Read: How to Fix Google Chrome Goes Black Problem
How To Disable Google Chrome Software Reporter Tool?
Notice how the Google Chrome Software Reporter Tool is consuming the CPU resources.
Now that we know what task the Google Chrome Software Reporter Tool is carrying out in our computer, there is nothing to worry about. Scanning through the computer and removing suspicious or confirmed malware is a beneficial task, but what exactly is the concern?
The concern is that the Google Chrome Software Reporter Tool is consuming our CPU resources affecting the overall performance of the computer. Also, the scanning of the computer is already done by Windows Defender or any third party Antivirus/Antimalware that we might have installed. So there is no reason to duplicate the task as it would seem unnecessary. Thus, to disable the Google Chrome Software Reporter Tool, we can use either of the two methods described below.
Note: Before disabling the Google Chrome Software Reporter Tool, check the Task Manager in your computer and determine if this tool is the real reason for your computer acting slow.
To check the Performance status, Right-click on any empty portion of the taskbar and select task manager from the contextual menu. Check the list of Processes running in your computer and identify the number of resources this tool is consuming.
Now you can see that after reducing the number of events of Google Chrome Software Reporter Tool the CPU usage has reduced drastically from 97% to 40%.
Also Read: How to Fix Chrome Crashing on Windows 10
How To Disable Google Chrome Software Reporter Tool By Removing Permissions?
The first method to use Google Chrome but disable Software Reporter Tool is by isolation the Software Reporter folder and cutting all ties with the Chrome browser. Without being able to access the executable file, the Chrome browser would not be able to run the Google Chrome Software Reporter folder, and this would resolve our issue. The steps to achieve this are:
Step 1. Open the File Explorer in your computer and then open the C drive.
Step 2. On the ribbon located on the top, click on the tab labelled as View and locate Hidden Items. Place a tick in the checkbox next to it to view all the hidden folders on your computer.
Step 3. Next, click on the Users folder and select the folder with the computer’s current user name.
Step 4. Once you have entered your User Folder, follow the path below until you reach the User Data folder.
AppData -> Local -> Google -> Chrome -> User Data
Step 5. Once you enter the User Data folder, look for a folder namedSwReporter. All the folders are arranged alphabetically so it should be easy to find this one.
Step 6. Make a right-click on this folder and click on Properties. A new dialog box will open up.
Step 7. In the new dialog box, click the Security tab on the top and locate Advanced Button after this tab loads.
Step 8. After you click on the Advanced button, a new window will further open. Locate Disable Inheritancebutton here and click on it,
Step 9. A new prompt box will appear asking you to choose between two options. Click on the second option that is labelled as Remove all inherited permissions from this object.
Step 10. Finally, click on Apply button first and then only click on OK button.
That was the last step for Google Chrome Software Reporter Tool in Windows 7 disabled
Also Read: How To Enable Chrome Kiosk Mode In Your Computer?
How To Disable Google Chrome Software Reporter Tool By Modifying Registry?
The second method to use Google Chrome but disable Software Reporter Tool is a bit more technical and involves making changes in the registry of the computer. A registry is nothing but a hierarchical database of every function, app, tool, feature etc. in your computer. A change in the registry is always recommended as it is a one-time sure shot permanent change. The steps for this method are:
Before going forward, first, take a backup of registry entries to ensure that you can restore it to its previous state. To do that open Registry Editor and click File->Export. Save the .reg file in an accessible location on your computer.
Step 1. Press the Windows + R to open the run box and type “Regedit” in the text box and click on OK.
Step2. Copy the path mentioned below and paste it in the address bar on the top. This will help you to reach the required folder instantly.
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Google\Chrome
Step 3. Right-click on the right side of the Registry Pane, in the Chrome folder and select NEW. Then click on “DWORD (32-bit) Value”.
Step 4. Once a file is created, rename it as ChromeCleanupEnabled.Double click on it and check if Value Data is 0 else remove whatever is typed there and type 0.
Step 5. Repeat Step 3 and this time rename the newly created file as ChromeCleanupReportingEnabled and then repeat Step 4.
Step 6. Once both the files are created, and the value data is set to zero for both of them. Close the registry and restart the computer.
The first file created, “ChromeCleanupEnabled” prevents Google Chrome Software Reporter Tool in Windows 7 and disabled from carrying out any scan on your computer.
The second file created, “ChromeCleanupReportingEnabled” will make sure that the Google Chrome Software Reporter Tool will not be able to send any scan result report to Google.
Also read: How To Remove Adware From Chrome.
Did You Disable The Google Chrome Software Reporter Tool On Your Computer?
Before you disable Google Chrome Software Reporter Tool from your computer, make sure by checking the task manager performance report to analyse the number of resources being consumed by this tool. If the percentage is high, then you can follow any of the two methods described above to disable the Google Chrome Software Reporter Tool.
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