It's legitimate (now owned by Intel). If it uses high CPU or causes disconnects, uninstall Killer Intelligence Center / Killer Control Center from Apps and keep only the Killer driver. The network card works fine without the extra software.

Why this happens

Killer adapters work with standard drivers. The extra service adds traffic shaping and statistics. Users frequently report high CPU, memory leaks or connection drops from the service, especially older versions.

Removing the suite while keeping (or updating) the driver keeps your Wi-Fi/Ethernet working normally.

What you'll see

  • Killer Network Service using noticeable CPU or memory.
  • Wi-Fi or Ethernet slowdowns and drops.
  • Killer Intelligence/Control Center app installed.

Common causes

  • Pre-installed Killer software suite.
  • Outdated suite versions with bugs.

How to fix it

  1. Confirm it's genuineCheck the file location (Program Files\Intel or Rivet Networks/Killer Networking) and the digital signature.
  2. Uninstall the suiteSettings → Apps → uninstall Killer Intelligence Center / Control Center and Killer Performance Suite.
  3. Install a driver-only packageDownload the driver-only package for your Killer adapter from Intel's site.
  4. Or just disable the serviceIn services.msc, set Killer Network Service to Disabled and stop it.
How to tell it worked: CPU usage normal and network stable after a restart.

Stop it happening again

Use driver-only packages for network adapters on gaming laptops.