What's this program for ?

I've got a question about a program, or more precicely an .exe, that seems to be part of the Crossfire-mod:
cfwd.exe
Almost every time the game chrashes, for several reasons (loss of server connection, program exit due to "getting stuck" )
there is STILL a lot of cpu activity after returning to desktop. ... Beside an "EXE2" folder, that has been created in the Freelancer directory.
(and that I deliberatly erase, as soo as I find it.)

And it's - in a way - sometimes blocking my windows at all:
on trying to restart or shut down the above mentioned program can't be closed by windows, even blocking teh shutdown of other programs.
Only after deactivating it in the taskmanager windows can preceed.

Therefore I'm curious what "cfwd.exe" is for, what it's doing on my pc and how I can avoid the above mentioned in furture.

Oh, for info: I'm still running good old XP (the windows OS not the smiley )

Never used anything else than FLMM1.31 (as always said to be required).

Sometimes it happens, that after a quick shutdown of FL/CF, even on the "regular" path,
that FL is still active, when I'm back to desktop.
After a while it "settles" - mostly with creating the additional "EXE2" folder.

But not if this cfwd.exe is also running.

AHA !

So, does it "harm" the launcher or the CF-installation, if I shut it down manually (taskmanager)
AFTER the game's ended and returned to desktop, when it still is running ("iddling"?) ?

THX OP !

Thx Cygna, as long as it doesn't bother me INGAME
and too much afterwards, I will leave it as it is.

TBH, I'm just too lazy to go through ALL the installation process again
with all the tools 'n stuff for FL I have set up additionally.

But I will consider it. ... when time has come and is available.