Ahiwq.exe executable file comes from a malicious application that can properly be defined as a coin miner trojan. That malware type utilizes your hardware to mine cryptocurrencies, basically – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your computer almost nonfunctional due to high CPU use.
What is Ahiwq.exe process?
Ahiwq.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
As I have actually specified before, Ahiwq.exe is a coin miner virus. The names of the executive file can be different, but the effects are generally the same. Since coin miners aim at cryptocurrency mining, they utilize all available hardware capacity of your desktop to run this process. This malware does not take note of the fact that you may want to use your machine for other activities – it will continuously take over 80% of your CPU power.
Ahiwq.exe – Extremely high CPU and GPU usage
Besides CPU consumption, some of the coin miners additionally utilize GPU power for their operations. In that situation, you will struggle even to see the mouse cursor moving – GPU is often utilized on 100%. It is not as important as CPU for system work, so Ahiwq.exe coin miner viruses don’t waste time on trifles and utilize all of it. It often may cause unhappy effects.
Shortly about cryptocurrency mining
Crypto mining is a term that means the operation of calculating the transaction block hash. That is a basic element of anything based on the blockchain technology. Since this action takes a lot of calculations, a very powerful machine is required. Exactly, the graphic card is better for this purpose, because they have more cores available. Cryptocurrency mining farms are usually constructed of tens and hundreds of graphic cards to conduct their activity effectively. Such computer systems are not usable for “classic” purposes, like gaming or web browsing. Fraudsters who gain money via this coin miner use someones’ PCs instead, even if they are used for the regular activity.2
List of the typical coin miner symptoms
How dangerous is the Ahiwq.exe miner?
Coin miners does not deal damage to your files. However, they make a lot of unpleasant things with the whole system
First off, Ahiwq.exe virus makes your PC overloaded. It is unable to run your applications now, because all CPU power is used by a virus. That malware does not care for your demands, all it focuses on is making money on you. Even if you are patient, and you waited until browser is open, you will likely suffer from extremely slow efficiency. Pages can open for years, any type of logins will likely take about a minute – just a headache for a person who does a job online.
Ahiwq.exe Technical Summary.
| File Name | Ahiwq.exe |
| Type | Trojan Coin Miner |
| Detection Name | Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner |
| Distribution Method | Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc. |
| Similar behavior | Ground.exe, Adasdasdae.exe, Energy.exe |
| Removal | Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Ahiwq.exe removal. |
“Visible” damage is not a single negative activity coin miners do to your computer. Ahiwq.exe coin miner additionally deals damage to your OS. To carry out all malevolent operations effectively, it ruins the security components of your system. You will likely see your Microsoft Defender disabled – malware stops it to prevent detection. If you open the HOSTS file, you will likely see a lot of new entries – they are brought in by this trojan miner to connect your system to a malicious cryptomining network. All these adjustments are about to be thrown back to the original in the process of PC recovery.
Hardware effects of coin miner activity
Besides making your PC slow, running at peak power for a long period of time can cause damage to your machine and raise electricity costs. Hardware elements are created to easily deal with high load, but they are good with it only in case when they are in a good shape.
Small and covered CPU cooling system is not very easy to crack. Meanwhile, GPUs have big and easy-to-access fans, which can be easily cracked if affected while running, for example, by the user much earlier before the malware injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the extremely high load caused by Ahiwq.exe can easily lead to graphic processing unit failure3. Video cards are also prone to have fast wearing when used for cryptocurrency mining. It is surely a bad case when your GPU’s performance decreases on 20-30% just after 1-2 weeks of being exploited in such a way.
How did I get Ahiwq.exe coin miner virus?
Coin miners are spread through different ways, but their main sources are malicious banners and programs from dubious sources
Coin miners are the most prevalent malevolent programs among “serious” viruses. Adware sometimes acts as a carrier for Ahiwq.exe malware infiltration: it shows you the banners, which contain a link to malware downloading. Sure, this abstract “malware” may belong to any kind – another adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. But the statistics say that around 30% of all malware spread with the malicious banners are coin miners – and Ahiwq.exe is right with them.4
The example of malicious banners you can see in the Internet
Another way you could get this item on your PC is by downloading it from the dubious web page as a part of a program. People who spread hacked versions of popular programs (which do not require the license key) have small chances to make money. Thus, there is a very big lure to add in malware to the final package of the hacked app and receive a coin for every installation. Prior to criticizing these people for hacking and also malware spreading, ask yourself – is it okay to avoid purchasing the program in such a way? It is much cheaper to pay $20-$30 at once than to pay a much greater figure for antivirus program and new parts for your PC.
How to remove the Ahiwq.exe miner from my PC?
The best way to get rid of this coin miner virus is to use anti-malware software
Removing such a virus requires making use of specific app. Effective antivirus should have high efficiency at scanning and be lightweight – in order to create no problems with usage even on weak systems. On top of that, it is better to have proactive protection in your security tool – to stop the virus even before it launches. Microsoft Defender lacks these functions for various factors. That’s why I’d advise you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that purpose. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is a great choice that fits each of the specified features.5
Prior to the malware removal, it is important to boot your Windows into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Ahiwq.exe miner takes a lot of CPU capacity, it is required to halt it before launching the security program. Otherwise, your scan will last for years, even though the GridinSoft program is pretty lightweight.
Booting the PC into Safe Mode with Networking
Press the Start button, then choose Power, and click on Reboot while holding the Shift key on the keyboard.
Windows will reboot into recovery mode. In that mode, choose Troubleshoot→ Startup Settings→ Safe Mode with Networking. Press the corresponding button on your keyboard to choose that option.
When your computer is in Safe Mode, all third-party apps, along with the majority of non-crucial operating system components, are not launched with the system start. That allows you to clean the PC without dealing with high processor usage of the coin miner.
Remove Ahiwq.exe coin miner virus with GridinSoft Anti-Malware
Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware. You can use this anti-malware program for free during its 6-day trial period. In that term, all functions are available, and it takes no payments to remove malware from your system.
After activating your free trial, start Full scan. It may last up to 10 minutes. You may use the PC as usual.
When the scan is finished, press the Clean Now button to remove all detected elements from your system. This procedure takes less than a minute.
Now, you are good to go. Reboot your PC into a normal Windows mode and use just as there was nothing malicious.
Remove Ahiwq.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner
Name: Ahiwq.exe
Description: The Ahiwq.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Ahiwq.exe will create your CPU to go for very warm temperatures for prolonged periods of time, which could reduce the life of the CPU.
Operating System: Windows
Application Category: Trojan
User Review
( votes)References
- Read about why Monero and DarkCoin are so popular amongst cybercriminals.
- Detailed explanation of how does cryptomining work.
- About unwanted effects for GPUs in the process of cryptomining.
- Read more about various malware type on Cybersecurity Glossary.
- Our review on GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
