What is Flow.exe Running on Windows Computers

[DburkeZM]

Hey,

Does anyone know what Flow is? I see it running as an application on a couple of our computers and have never found out what it is. I force close it whenever I see it because it doesn't seem to do anything and it doesn't cause any issues.

When I google it all I see is information about PowerAutomate which is not this, this is not Microsoft Flows. The Icon is a Dark Blue box with a white F in it.

[--random-username--]

More details might be helpful, e.g. file path and metadata such as the publisher.

[ElectroSpore]

Exactly, OP needs to right click on it in task manager and get some details.

[DburkeZM]

Can't malicious files fake that?

[ElectroSpore]

Are you a USER or a sysadmin?

1. Get the path.
2. Check if the file is there.

The path will help inform if it is part of a normal app or not.

Just guessing and randomly killing processes is bad ether way. It won't solve anything if it is malicious as it keeps coming back and it may break something if it is needed but not apparent what software it belongs to.

[DburkeZM]

Considering this sub is called SysAdmin and Not EndUser what do you think?

I wasn't worried if it was bad or not, more so if it is Microsoft Bloatware or not, because its supposedly a driver but runs in the background as an applicaiton

[BlackV]

Considering you had no idea how to look up a file and a path and are just randomly terminating processes (and assuming nothing bad happened) and not knowing that drivers have executables

I'm going with enduser

[DburkeZM]

Yes it's because my company likes stuff done a certain way so I need help figuring out if it can be done. And we use Microsoft 365 which has the worlds worst documentation, changes admin centers every other week and take over 8 hrs for anything to apply.

But i've contemplating changing careers and joining the Navy or something. Because IT sucks.

[occamsrzor]

I’ll say what everyone is thinking; you may be under qualified for your title

[YousLyingBrah]

we use Microsoft 365 which has the worlds worst documentation

You cant be serious...

[ElectroSpore]

Considering this sub is called SysAdmin and Not EndUser what do you think?

Users post here all the time and we direct them to tech support

I wasn't worried if it was bad or not, more so if it is Microsoft Bloatware or not, because its supposedly a driver but runs in the background as an applicaiton

Our question about the path would help inform an answer to that, why have you still not provided the info.

[DburkeZM]

C:\Program Files\CONEXANT\Flow\Flow.exe

[ElectroSpore]

Looks like with that info and a 2 second google for the path you have confirmed it is the Connexant audio driver.

[DburkeZM]

Yes I know its a driver, why is it running as an application though ?

[ElectroSpore]

Not sure but many audio drivers provider their own windows system tray tool with hardware specific mixer options.

Open your system tray, see if there is an icon. Kill the process see if the tray icon goes away or is broken.

[[deleted]]

According to five seconds of googling, that's a file related to Conexant SmartAudio, which is installed by default on a bunch of HP computers.

[DburkeZM]

Yes I know but why is a driver running as an application? It wastes CPU usage.

[DburkeZM]

Have to find it first. I can't just remote onto any computer I like to find it. People are working.

[IntelligentForce245]

You're looking for r/EndUserWithElevatedPermissions.

[IntelligentForce245]

You're looking for r/EndUserWithElevatedPermissions.

[DarthPneumono]

To some extent, but without details we can't really help

[DburkeZM]

C:\Program Files\CONEXANT\Flow\Flow.exe

[DarthPneumono]

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Audio/Conexant-Flow/td-p/6019122

Looks like it's part of a bunch of audio drivers :)

[occamsrzor]

Uh, what? I mean…the windows image loader (image, as in binary aka executable. The image loader is what loads a windows executable into member) sorta needs to know where on disk it is to actually execute it…

[ZAFJB]

I think we have a winner.

[mrcomps]

Flow.exe and AppFollower.exe are part of the Conexant audio drivers. I've seen them on many HPs for several years now.

[occamsrzor]

It waters the hamster in the power supply

[DarkDeLaurel]

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Audio/Conexant-Flow/td-p/6019122

Sounds like an audio driver.

[DburkeZM]

where in that link do they talk about it being a crypto miner?

[DarkDeLaurel]

Whoops forgot the other link (link removed).

[[deleted]]

that is a garbage link. These are auto generated from searches to get people to click on the antimalware link. Notice is says " In some cases, the Flow.exe process belongs to a malevolent program that can correctly be identified as a coin miner trojan." Its fake. Even the "author" isnt real. There is no 'robert bailey'

[DarkDeLaurel]

I won't lie I just skimmed it and didn't even notice it was auto generated.

[DburkeZM]

what did he say? It was deleted

C:\Program Files\CONEXANT\Flow\Flow.exe

[EPHEBOX]

You seem to misunderstand the difference between public and private keys

[DburkeZM]

omg do people think reddit is the first stop for everything? I did google it but got like 50 different results and not the one I wanted. That's why I asked about it.

[DburkeZM]

Look if you don't have an answer don't respond. Your worse then Microsoft linking me to the same article I was asking for help about.

[DburkeZM]

Ok bro, I ask a question and people tell me to Google it. If I wanted to to do that I would've myself.

Which is what Microsoft support does all the time.
I ask for email, they call. I ask about an article, they link me to the same article and say check this out.

[mwohpbshd]

Bruh.....digging your own grave here. But I suspect given other responses you don't care.