Api.exe executable file belongs to a malicious application that can correctly be identified as a coin miner virus. That malware type utilizes your PC components to mine cryptocurrencies, generally – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your system pretty much nonfunctional due to high CPU usage.
What is Api.exe process?
Api.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
As I have actually pointed out in the introduction, Api.exe is a coin miner trojan virus. The names of the executive file may be diverse, but the consequences are usually the identical. Considering that coin miners aim at cryptocurrency mining, they utilize all possible hardware capacity of your PC to run this operation. This malware doesn’t take note of the fact that you may need to make use of your computer for other tasks – it will consistently take over 80% of your processor power.
Api.exe – Very high CPU/GPU usage
Besides CPU usage, some of the coin miners additionally make use of GPU power for their operations. In that situation, you will struggle even to see the mouse cursor moving – GPU is usually used on 100%. It is not as vital as CPU for system work, so Api.exe coin miner viruses don’t waste time on trifles and utilize it all. It sometimes can result in unhappy effects.
Shortly about cryptocurrency mining
Crypto mining is a term that means the action of calculating the transaction block hash. That is a basic part of any project based on the blockchain technology. Since this action takes a lot of calculations, a high-end desktop is required. Exactly, the video card is better for this purpose, because they have more cores available. Cryptocurrency mining farms are usually constructed of tens and hundreds of GPUs to conduct their activity effectively. Such systems are not usable for “general” purposes, like gaming or web browsing. Fraudsters who make profit via this coin miner use someones’ computers instead, even if they are used for the regular activity.2
List of the typical coin miner symptoms
How dangerous is the Api.exe miner?
Coin miners does not deal damage to your files. However, they make a lot of unpleasant things with the whole system
First, Api.exe virus makes your computer overloaded. It is unable to run your applications now, because all CPU power is consumed by a malware. That malware does not care for your wants, all it focuses on is making money on you. Even if you are patient, and you waited until browser is open, you will likely struggle with extremely slow performance. Pages can open up for years, any type of logins will likely take about a minute – just a headache for a person that does a job online.
Api.exe Technical Summary.
| File Name | Api.exe |
| Type | Trojan Coin Miner |
| Detection Name | Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner |
| Distribution Method | Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc. |
| Similar behavior | Videomanagernv.exe, D3dx9_38wisptis.exe, Openfilesviakaraokesrv.exe |
| Removal | Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Api.exe removal. |
“Visible” harm is not a solitary unpleasant activity coin miners do to your system. Api.exe coin miner likewise deals damage to your operating system. To carry out all malevolent functions effectively, it wrecks the protection features of your system. You will likely see your Microsoft Defender disabled – malware stops it to avoid recognition. If you check the HOSTS file, you will likely see a ton of new notes – they are added by this trojan miner to connect your computer to a malicious cryptomining network. All these changes are about to be reverted to the original in the process of PC recovery.
Hardware effects of coin miner activity
Besides decreasing your computer’s performance, running at peak level for a long period of time may cause damage to your device and increase electricity expenses. PC components are designed to easily get along with high load, but they are good with it only when they are in a good shape.
Small and covered processor cooling system is quite hard to damage. Meanwhile, GPUs have large and easy-to-access rotors, which can be easily broke if touched while running, for instance, by the user much earlier before the virus injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the really high load caused by Api.exe can easily lead to GPU failure3. GPUs are also tend to have increased wearing when used for cryptocurrency mining. It is surely an unwanted case when your GPU’s performance plunges 20-30% only after several weeks of being used in such a way.
How did I get Api.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 widespread malevolent programs through “serious” malware. Adware sometimes acts as a carrier for Api.exe malware injection: it demonstrates you the banners, which include a link to malware downloading. Yes, this abstract “malware” can belong to any type – yet another adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. However, the statistics show that about 30% of all malware spread through the malevolent banners are coin miners – and Api.exe is just with them.4
The example of malicious banners you can see in the Internet
An additional way you could get this item on your PC is by downloading it from the unreliable site as a part of a program. People that spread hacked versions of well-known programs (which do not need the license key) have small chances to make money. For this reason, there is a very big temptation to include malware to the final package of the hacked app and get a coin for every setup. Before criticizing these people for hacking and also malware spreading, ask yourself – is it OK to avoid buying the program in such a way? It is much cheaper to pay $20-$30 one time than to pay a much greater sum for antivirus program as well as new parts for your desktop.
How to remove the Api.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 using special app. Appropriate anti-malware program should have high performance at scanning and also be lightweight – in order to create no problems with utilization also on weak systems. On top of that, it is better to have on-run security in your protection solution – to stop the virus even before it starts. Microsoft Defender does not have these elements for different factors. That’s why I’d suggest you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that objective. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is a perfect option that fits each of the mentioned qualities.5
Before the virus removal, it is important to reboot your Windows into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Api.exe miner consumes a lot of CPU power, it is needed 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 PC is in Safe Mode, all third-party applications, along with the majority of non-crucial 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 Api.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 Api.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner
Name: Api.exe
Description: The Api.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Api.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.
