Akamai Netsession: Is It Capable of Enhancing My System’s Performance?

If you are looking into your system’s files, you probably find one with the name of “Akamai Netsession.”

Or this might be the scenario that a notification pops out on your system screen, which says “Are you okay to grant access to Akamai Netsession client to communicate with the private and public network.

akamai-netsession-client

Moreover, this may keep you in confusion what might be “Akamai Netsession” is? Is it any malware or virus? Or kind of data mining software that will eat your system’s performance?

Well to answer all your queries regarding what Akamai Netsession, I write this blog to understand what this tool does and whether it is safe to have in your system or not.

What is Akamai Netsession?

Akamai Netsession is a download manager software that enhances the online download speed.

According to testing, it has the potential to provide you faster media and data downloads from a large number of sources.

Akamai Netsession Interface is also used by sources from where you can download files and videos. It means it helps both receiver and sender to download the file rapidly.

It is not necessary that you need to download this tool separately on your system. Sometimes the resources or website from where you download the content also installed this tool on your PC.

And sometimes, your system gets BIOS update with Akamai Netsession software. In short, Akamai Netsession is a software that offers the following features:

  • Speedy downloads.
  • Offers secure and reliable sources to download.
  • Has the potential to download a large quantity of downloads in minimum time.
  • Supports SSL security and HTTPS

What is Akamai Netsession Client According to Wikipedia?

According to Wikipedia, Akamai Netsession Client is a software that offers a service to send content from other end users’ systems. This software operates through peer-to-peer technology.

So when a user requests to download any content from a source that runs Akamai Netsession, the pop-up immediately appears on the screen to install “Akamai Netsession” on your system.

Once you install this Akamai software, it works for you as a download manager. It helps you to download quality downloads in minimal time.

This download manager does not only works as a download manager but also works as a peer-to-peer client server. This means sending content cached on the user’s systems to other users’ systems.

Is Akamai Netsession Installed in My PC Automatically?

Usually, Akamai Netsession already installed in your system, since there is various software also use it.

Most of the times this Akamai tool comes with games you install on your systems.

But sometimes you do not notice when it gets installed with other software as you hurry and click on agree on terms and condition without reading it.

Other Features of Akamai Netsession Client

Akamai Netsession not only serves as a download manager that uses peer-to-peer servers to enhance the speed of downloads and quality but also it offers some other worth mention features too.

Following are some key features, and it works offer by Akamai Netsession software:

Offers Content Delivery Process

Akamai netsession client offers a content sending feature that starts when a user is submitting a request on the browser.

Once you type a URL, a DNS appeal is active, and an IP address is retrieved. With the IP address, the browser you are using can be then able to communicate with the web server directly.

In the process of sending content, the website name of the URL translates by the mapping system within the IP address of an edge server to provide you a content.

Akamai sends content with the help of its server by intelligently mirroring elements such as CSS, HTML, software, streaming content and downloads from clients’ servers.

The most phenomenal thing about Akamai server is that it automatically detects nearest location to download the content upon your request.

In this way, getting the download from closest server leads to a faster and high-quality download.

Akamai claims to provide better download patterns to download your favorite content by avoiding the middle-mile bottleneck of the internet.

The Download Delivery product line includes HTTP downloads for large downloadable objects.

A customizable application for consumers and analytics tools with metrics that monitor and report on the download process.

Peer-to-Peer Networking Severs

Another Akamai netsession is most significant feature that it uses its servers. This speedy server sends content from end users’ systems, with the help of peer-to-peer networking.

So when you send a request to download large files by the system that already have Akamai, it requests you to download “Akamai Netsession Interface,” to minimize downloading time and increase quality.

The server does not only works as a download manager, like sending content from the internet. But also works as a peer-to-peer server, sending content on your system to other users systems.

Offers State of the Internet Feature

Akamai netsession provides state of the internet feature. This means it NOCC (Network Operation Command Centre has the potential of offering tracking, web traffic and troubleshooting all its servers.

In this way, the netsession redirects your request to the server where the traffic is low so that you can download your desired content rapidly.

Offers Visualizing the Internet

Akamai netsession client “data visualization” feature provides a live picture of how data is moving across the internet in real time.

It means you can see overall internet statistics, anonymous attack on web traffic and connection speed.

Also, the net usage indices monitor global news consumption, industry-specific traffic, and mobile trends.

Akamai also offers the Internet Visualization application, which allows users to view real-time data on their mobile device.

Reliable and Primary Domains

The company owns around 60 domains. Following are some primary domains offers by Akamai:

CorporateContent Domains & Networks DNS Servers
akamai.com – Akamai’s domainakamai.netakamaitech.net
akamaiedge.netakadns.net
akamaized.netakam.net
akamaihd.net, a content-delivery network used by companies like Ubisoft, Steam, Twitter, and Facebook to speed up their servicesakamaistream.net
edgesuite.netakamaiedge.net
edgekey.netakamaihd.net
srip.net[akamai.com
akamaitechnologies.com, a content-delivery network used by companies like Adobe
akamaitechnologies.fr

Is Akamai Netsession Safe?

According to the Akamai Netsession official website, the tool is safe and secure to use. This software may install automatically, or you can install it manually to enhance the download speed.

Although, I dig deeper to find out is Akamai Netsession safe or not.

For this, I went through different communities to find out users review who are using it that will help to answer regarding netsession safety.

Following findings reveal some significant concerns that are directly relevant to Akamai safety concerns:

  1. This person on Microsoft community raises some serious concerns regarding how Akamai Netsession monitors your activity. Moreover, how you can say the content you are downloading through Akamai server is free from malware or virus.Akamai Netsession2. Meanwhile, on the same forum, this person comes up with some impressive points regarding how Akamai netsession is fruitful for corporation and individuals by protecting their data:Akamai Netsession3.This user clearly says no to use Akamai Netsession and backed by logical points that convince me too to follow his/her recommendation:

Akamai Netsession

How to Uninstall Akamai Netsession

If you are not ready to risk your privacy by any means, following are the steps to uninstall Akamai Netsession:

Uninstall Akamai Netsession Using Uninstaller Program

Windows

Follow these steps to uninstall Akamai netsession client:

  1. First open your system > Now click on the “Type here to search” and search for “Control Panel”. Or if you are using previous version of Windows, look for Control Panel in Start Menu.
  2. Now when you click on the Control Panel > the list of menu will appear > click on Add or Remove Programs tool.
  3. Search for Akamai Netsession Interface > Select it and click on Change/Remove button
  4. Now click “Yes” to uninstall the Akamai netsession and wait for the process.
  5. After completing the process, restart your system so that changes can take effect.

Mac

  1. First open your MacBook > Now go to the finder tool and search for “Akamai Netsession Interface”
  2. Now click on the folder that contains netsession > from there you can find out uninstaller app.
  3. Now double click on the uninstaller app and follow the instruction to remove Akamai client.

Uninstall Akamai Netsession Using Command Prompt

If you are not able to uninstall Akamai netsession client by using uninstaller program, try to uninstall it by using command prompt:

Windows

  1. First open your system and click on the start menu or press “Windows” button from Keyboard.
  2. Now list of menu will appear > Click on search bar and type “Command Prompt” and press enter
  3. The Command Prompt will appear on the screen.
  4. Now you have to go to the NetSession installer folder using DOS commands
  5. Use the following commands
  6. NOTE: Hit Enter after each line and remember to change <user-name> with your account user name in Windows OS: (cd c cd Users\<user-name>\AppData\Local\Akamai)
  7. Type “admintool.exe uninstall –force” without quotes and press Enter on the keyboard
  8. It will take a few seconds to uninstall the Akamai tool from your computer

Mac

  1. Go to Applications
  2. Open Utilities Folder
  3. Double left-click Terminal
  4. Now you have to go to Akamai NetSession installation folder using the Terminal
  5. It’s usually located at ~/Applications/Akamai
  6. Now in the terminal, type the following command and press Return key (./admintool uninstall –force)
  7. Wait a few seconds for the process to complete

Conclusion

Majority of votes goes against Akamai Netsession due to serious privacy concerns like monitoring users activity, access to your system’s data, and might be using your system for data mining purposes.

If you depend on my opinion to answer the question that “Do I need Akamai Netsession,” my answer is NO.

The reason I will not recommend you for not using this tool is its collaboration with different online organizations.

There is a massive chance that the way Akamai Netsession works, it helps different online giants in proving users data.

Although, if you are okay with sharing your personal data with online companies, then you are good to use it and enjoy fast and quality downloads.

I try my best in explaining what Akamai Netsession is and is it safe to use or not. Let me know if this article helpful for you by commenting with “Yes” in the comment section below.

And if there is still any query, post your concerns, by shouting out your comment below. I would love to hear from you.

Salman Ahmed's Biography

Salman Ahmed Siddiqui is a passionate writer who loves to write about online privacy, crypto economy and trending technological developments. He loves to provide effective tips and guideline related to rising cyber challenges. When he is not writing, Salman watches Manchester United play and demonstrates his love for football with his mad FIFA skills.

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