What is WatchDog.exe?

The genuine WatchDog.exe file is a software component of Motorola Phone Tools by Motorola.
Motorola Phone Tools is a utility software for managing Motorola phones through a PC. Watchdog.exe runs a process that detects when a phone is connected to the computer using a USB port. This is not an essential Windows process and can be disabled if known to create problems. Motorola Phone Tools lets users transfer photos, videos, documents and contacts between the phone and PC, or from phone to phone. The program can be also used to create ringtones, download drivers, updates, and help troubleshoot Motorola phones. Motorola Phone Tools is available for the Windows platform. Motorola was an American telecommunications corporation that began in Chicago, Illinois as Galvin Manufacturing Corporation in 1928. In 1943, the company went public and the name was changed to Motorola in 1947. At this time, Motorola's primary business was manufacturing and selling televisions and radios. With Explorer 1, Motorola began providing radio equipment for NASA for decades including during the 1969 moon landing. In 2011, Motorola split into two separate companies, Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions, after having lost $4.3 Billion from 2007 to 2009.
Watchdog stands for Motorola Phone Tools Watchdog
The .exe extension on a filename indicates an executable file. Executable files may, in some cases, harm your computer. Therefore, please read below to decide for yourself whether the WatchDog.exe on your computer is a Trojan that you should remove, or whether it is a file belonging to the Windows operating system or to a trusted application.
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WatchDog.exe file information

WatchDog.exe process in Windows Task Manager The process known as WindowsService1 or kwatchdog Application or NVMS1000 belongs to software mobile PhoneTools or KACE Management Appliance or WindowsService1 or NVMS1000 by Dell (www.dell.com) or PrintMIB or Acer (www.acer.com).
Description: WatchDog.exe is not essential for the Windows OS and causes relatively few problems. WatchDog.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files (x86)"in most cases C:\Program Files (x86)\mobile PhoneTools\ or C:\Program Files (x86)\Greatis\RegRunSuite\. Known file sizes on Windows 10/8/7/XP are 36,864 bytes (22% of all occurrences), 1,521,560 bytes and 10 more variants.
It is a service (WB13WatchDog) running invisible in the background.
WatchDog.exe is not a Windows core file. There is no description of the program. The program has no visible window. WatchDog.exe is able to monitor applications, record keyboard and mouse inputs, connect to the Internet and manipulate other programs. Therefore the technical security rating is 39% dangerous, but you should also take into account the user reviews.
Uninstalling this variant: If you encounter difficulties with WatchDog.exe, you may want to safely remove the program using the uninstall program of RegRun Security Suite Platinum or mobile PhoneTools (Control Panel ⇒ Uninstall a Program), search the support area on the Regrun website or update the program.
Recommended: Identify WatchDog.exe related errors
If WatchDog.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files\Common Files", the security rating is 47% dangerous. The file size is 77,824 bytes (20% of all occurrences), 51,712 bytes and 7 more variants. The program is not visible. The file is not a Windows system file.
If WatchDog.exe is located in a subfolder of the user's profile folder, the security rating is 68% dangerous. The file size is 23,040 bytes (66% of all occurrences) or 85,504 bytes. The program has no visible window. WatchDog.exe is not a Windows system file. There is no description of the program. The process starts when Windows starts (see Registry key: MACHINE\Run, User Shell Folders, TaskScheduler). WatchDog.exe is able to monitor applications.
External information from Paul Collins:

There are different files with the same name:

  • "Regrun2" must run at start up. Greatis Software's RegRun 3 Security Suite which amongst other things replaces MSCONFIG. The WatchDog check for registry changes caused by trojan's, viruses, etc
  • "Watch Dog Program" is not required to run at start up. For Compaq PC's. Associated with Compaq's internet services. Not required if you don't use services provided by them and may not be required even if you do
  • "Watchdog" is not required to run at start up. Definitely part of the Mustek scanner drivers and software (for 600 III EP Plus and maybe others), launches from the Startup folder in the Start Menu, but not required as they give instructions on removing it on their webpage
  • "WatchDog": Part of Motorola "Mobile Phone Tools" v3 - in a "Mobiile Phone Tools" sub-directory of Program Files


Important: Some malware camouflages itself as WatchDog.exe, particularly when located in the C:\Windows or C:\Windows\System32 folder, for example Trojan.Gen or Trojan.Gen.2 (detected by Symantec), and UDS:DangerousObject.Multi.Generic or Trojan-Downloader.MSIL.Agent.vic (detected by Kaspersky). Therefore, you should check the WatchDog.exe process on your PC to see if it is a threat. We recommend Security Task Manager for verifying your computer's security. This was one of the Top Download Picks of The Washington Post and PC World.