What is the startup program "Adobe Reader and Arcrobat Manager - AdobeARM.exe" on my Windows 8 computer? Can I remove it to speedup my computer and reduce security risk?

"Adobe Reader and Arcrobat Manager - AdobeARM.exe" is a startup program associated with Adobe Reader for viewing PDF files.

You will see "Adobe Reader and Arcrobat Manager" listed on the Startup tab of Task Manager screen as:

Name: Adobe Reader and Acrobat Manager
Command: C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\ARM\1.0
   \AdobeARM.exe
Location: Common Startup

Program file information about "AdobeARM.exe":

Launching method: System Startup - Adobe Reader and Acrobat Manager
Directory: C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\ARM\1.0
File name: AdobeARM.exe
Description: Adobe Reader and Acrobat Manager
Size: 936 KB (958,576 bytes)
Date: Saturday, May 11, 2013, 5:37:26 AM
Version: 1.7.4.0
Company name: Adobe
System essential: No
Virus/Spyware/Adware: No

"Adobe Reader and Arcrobat Manager" is most likely installed as part of Adobe Reader installation.

It is recommended to disable "Adobe Reader and Arcrobat Manager" as a startup program. You don't need it to run Adobe Reader.

⇒ "Microsoft Office Launch Helper - OSA.exe" Startup Program

⇐ Application Startup Programs on Windows 8

⇑ Application Startup Programs on Windows 8

⇑⇑ Windows 8 Startup Programs