What is Akamai NetSession interface and how to disalbe it?

[any ANONYMOUS forum user]

What is Akamai NetSession interface and how to disalbe it?

Akamai Netsession uses peer-to-peer (P2P) file-transfer technology
that Akamai describes as a "secure client-side networking technology that enhances networking protocols for delivery of software and media, improving the speed, reliability, and efficiency of content downloaded from the Web".

To use NetSession Interface you need to install an application onto your Windows PC or Mac. It is a 900-KB file size that takes up about 5 MB of memory to run.

Originally Posted by Akamai

What is the Akamai NetSession Interface?
The Akamai NetSession Interface is distributed networking software which greatly enhances the quality and speed of downloads and video streams you get from websites that support Akamai technology. The Akamai NetSession Interface handles the caching, reflecting and sending of files delivered to you through the Akamai network. The software is safe and secure, and does not contain any adware or spyware and never will. It can also be easily removed if you no longer wish to use it (see 'How do I uninstall the Akamai NetSession Interface?').

Why should I use the Akamai NetSession Interface?
The Akamai NetSession Interface improves the speed and quality of downloads and streams that your favorite sites are able to provide to you. You'll see a great improvement in your download experience. The client does away with much of the traffic spikes and network congestion that can make the Net a difficult place to get your content. Most sites that support the Akamai NetSession Interface do so to provide you a much richer, broadband-enabled service offering.

How does the Akamai NetSession Interface work?
When you click on a link utilizing the Akamai NetSession Interface, the technology creates efficiency and speed in several ways. The client works by coordinating all caches of content on the network, including caches on end user machines as well as thousands of Akamai edge servers distributed around the world. Mostly, the client employs significantly more intelligence in the download process:

* downloading from multiple sources of a file simultaneously
* capable of connecting to other end user machines to help speed delivery
* continually looking for (and connecting to) faster/nearer sources of a file
* intelligently routing your download around network congestion and traffic spikes


What information is shared between the Akamai NetSession Interface and my computer?
The Akamai NetSession Interface captures and stores about the same information as a standard web server. The Akamai NetSession Interface is made up of various networking protocols designed to manage the distribution of files over IP networks and is solely used for that function. And just to be clear: The Akamai NetSession Interface is networking software only. Absolutely zero personal information is *ever* captured, shared or stored via the Akamai NetSession Interface.

How do I install the Akamai NetSession Interface?
The Akamai NetSession Interface is technology that is integrated into other software applications that utilize the Akamai desktop networking technology. Akamai also distributes a Download Manager that can integrate with the Akamai NetSession Interface.

What are the minimum system requirements for the Akamai NetSession Interface?
The Akamai NetSession Interface works with Windows 2000, XP, Vista as well as Mac OS X 10.4+.

How do I uninstall the Akamai NetSession Interface?
Windows: The Akamai NetSession Interface is a network library integrated into other applications. When you uninstall any of those applications, the library uninitializes. If you wish to uninstall the Akamai NetSession Interface, go to the AdminTool found at C:\Program Files\Common Files\Akamai\AdminTool.exe

What are the Do's and Don'ts of the Akamai NetSession Interface?
Akamai has always provided professional software that respects its users and their systems. The Akamai NetSession Interface has been so non-intrusive that people often have questions as to what the background service DOES and DOES NOT do.

The Akamai NetSession Interface DOES:

* provide client networking technology to enable applications to enhance their video and file download capabilities.
* enable secure, closed peer-to-peer networking so that websites can deliver files to their users economically and with faster downloads.
* provide in-depth information about what the Akamai NetSession Interface does and how it works.
* provide simple ways for the user to turn the netsession interface off
* provide a simple uninstall process
* provide an AdminTool for the user to see utilization system resources and client activity


It DOES NOT:

* monitor your browsing or other Internet activity
* pop-up ads
* interrupt your web viewing experience with prompts or other annoying software tactics
* interfere with other applications on your machine
* hide itself on your system
* take over your computer, nor monopolize your computer's resources


Is there any way to see the Akamai NetSession Interface's networking activity and other settings?
The Akamai NetSession Interface has an advanced settings interface. Most users can access the administrative tool in C:\Program Files\Common Files\Akamai\AdminTool.exe

* Launch AdminTool from the command line
* AdminTool supports information about cached files, network activity, and other applications utilizing the client library
* AdminTool also provides ability to uninstall and turn the client off

I wasn't able to uninstall the program from the Control Panel. Try to uninstall the program by running uninstall.exe from
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Akamai"
or
"C:\Program Files\Common Files\Akamai"

[darlenevile]

I've finally figured out what exactly this Akamai Netsession program is and where it came from. It was downloaded to my computer when I signed up for Netflix and watched a movie via their online video streaming. Netflix uses Akamai to quickly and smoothly stream videos with minimal buffering and almost no download time. It's not harmful, it doesn't seem to use a lot of resources (I could be wrong, but it doesn't on my computer), and is necessary for viewing Netflix, and other websites that stream videos online.

I must say how disappointed I was with the lack of helpful info online concerning this program. There were so many responses on various message boards that were links to or copies of the Akamai site's terribly vague faq. Obviously, the program's own website will tell you it's safe and necessary. We're looking for people's personal experience or direct knowledge of the program to give us an unbiased opinion on what Akamai really is, and if it's safe.

Anyway, I got the Akamai program from Netflix and it doesn't seem like it's negatively affecting my computer. And please excuse my rant, I'm just a little grumpy after reading all these posts handing out generic unhelpful information that helps nobody.

Signed, Darlene

[Jemcrystal]

Originally Posted by darlenevile

I've finally figured out what exactly this Akamai Netsession program is and where it came from. It was downloaded to my computer when I signed up for Netflix and watched a movie via their online video streaming. Netflix uses Akamai to quickly and smoothly stream videos with minimal buffering and almost no download time. It's not harmful, it doesn't seem to use a lot of resources (I could be wrong, but it doesn't on my computer), and is necessary for viewing Netflix, and other websites that stream videos online.

I must say how disappointed I was with the lack of helpful info online concerning this program. There were so many responses on various message boards that were links to or copies of the Akamai site's terribly vague faq. Obviously, the program's own website will tell you it's safe and necessary. We're looking for people's personal experience or direct knowledge of the program to give us an unbiased opinion on what Akamai really is, and if it's safe.

Anyway, I got the Akamai program from Netflix and it doesn't seem like it's negatively affecting my computer. And please excuse my rant, I'm just a little grumpy after reading all these posts handing out generic unhelpful information that helps nobody.

Signed, Darlene

No way, you are awesome Darl. I get so tired of people piping off computer geek and not telling it like it is.

I'm just wondering, does it only work on Netflix vids or is it working for all streaming videos I use from any site?

It is called Akamai Netsession, so it can work on services that use Akamai CDN.

[Jemcrystal]

That doesn't tell me shet. You are still talking computer garble. Laymen's terms, man. So does this Akamai help my vids watched online not do that silly buffering thingy? Or is it to get stupid adversizements to come in quick and clear and has nothing to do with the stuff I really want to look at?

If I uninstall it will it screw anything up?

A content delivery network or content distribution network (CDN) is a system of computers containing copies of data, placed at various points in a network so as to maximize bandwidth for access to the data from clients throughout the network. A client accesses a copy of the data near to the client, as opposed to all clients accessing the same central server, so as to avoid bottlenecks near that server.

Akamai is a company that has lots of servers all over the world. Many very popular web-sites use Akamai servers for offering audio/video content to users. When you watch or listen to audio/video streams from a CDN like Akamai, you usually do it from a server that is the nearest to you.

Akamai NetSession is a p2p technology. This means that you get media content not only from Akamai servers, but also from other users like you. Not only you get this content, but also share it with other users. This sharing is mutually beneficial.

Akamai NetSession may help you to watch videos and listen to audio streams more quickly and smoothly. It makes sense to remove it if you have problems with it.

[hagakure.s81]

Originally Posted by darlenevile

I must say how disappointed I was with the lack of helpful info online concerning this program. There were so many responses on various message boards that were links to or copies of the Akamai site's terribly vague faq. Obviously, the program's own website will tell you it's safe and necessary. We're looking for people's personal experience or direct knowledge of the program to give us an unbiased opinion on what Akamai really is, and if it's safe.
Signed, Darlene

Couldn't agree more. Was getting a bit annoyed with looking for answers myself and people just posting links back to the Akamai homepage as a viable answer...

Anyway, from what i can tell it isn't in itself a malicious program. However, it installed itself on my computer, and unlike some other people here i hadn't done any downloading of anything at all, so kinda confused by that.
Seems its peer-to-peer software, and while that may mean faster downloads from akamai supported services, it also means other people will be downloading those same files from you. meaning, there goes your bandwidth allowance without you being aware of it. If you are on limited bandwidth per month, this isn't a good thing.
Also, the potential for abuse seems pretty high really imho..

Now if you are not sure if you want it or not, there is another option.
If you go to control panel and see the akamai interface there, you can go to preferences and disable uploading. That way no-one will be downloading from you without your knowledge.
I'm using win7 and it was listed under Akamai Netsession Interface Control Panel

[Benn]

My 'Akamai NetSession Interface Control Panel' is a little bogus and doesn't have the 'disable uploading' that you mention. I'm running Vista64 and that 'control panel' appears in the '32 bit control panel.' I say bogus because there are no real settings to make. If you click "Stop" it will run when you turn on your computer again.

So the software gets installed surreptitiously, and it runs every time your machine turns on, rather than when it's needed, and it doesn't have any settings.

There is a 'File Status' button under the Support tab. It is sort of a history. It's not clear if everything that the program downloads gets listed, but if so, I only found a couple of text files downloaded months ago. A program running constantly for a couple of downloads months ago? Doesn't make sense to run software this way.