Apntex.exe executable file is related to a malicious application that can accurately be defined as a coin miner trojan. That malware type uses your PC components to mine cryptocurrencies, basically – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your personal computer pretty much unfunctional as a result of high CPU usage.
What is Apntex.exe process?
Apntex.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
As I have pointed out in the introduction, Apntex.exe is a coin miner trojan virus. The names of the executive file can be different, however, the effects are almost always the identical. Since coin miners focus on cryptocurrency mining, they utilize all available hardware capacity of your personal computer to perform this procedure. This malware does not take note of the fact that you may want to use your machine for other activities – it will constantly use over 80% of your CPU power.
Apntex.exe – Extremely high CPU/GPU usage
Besides CPU usage, some of the coin miners also use GPU power for their tasks. In that situation, you will probably struggle also to see the mouse arrow moving – GPU is often used on 100%. It is not as critical as CPU for system work, so Apntex.exe coin miner viruses do not waste time on trifles and use it all. It often may cause bad results.
Shortly about cryptocurrency mining
Cryptocurrency mining term means the activity 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 machine is required. Exactly, the graphic card is better for this task, because they have more cores available. Cryptocurrency mining farms usually consist of dozens of graphic cards to complete their task efficiently. Such computer systems are not usable for “normal” purposes, like gaming or web browsing. Fraudsters who gain money 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 Apntex.exe miner?
Coin miners does not deal damage to your files. However, they make a lot of unpleasant things with the whole system
First, Apntex.exe malware makes your PC overloaded. It is unable to run your applications now, because all processor power is consumed by a malware. That malware does not care for your wants, all it focuses on is generating income on you. Even if you are patient, and you waited until web browser is open, you will likely suffer from exceptionally slow efficiency. Pages will open up for years, any type of logins will take about a minute – just a nightmare for a person who does a job online.
Apntex.exe Technical Summary.
| File Name | Apntex.exe |
| Type | Trojan Coin Miner |
| Detection Name | Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner |
| Distribution Method | Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc. |
| Similar behavior | Lenovoutilityservice.exe, Udclientservice.exe, Smartsense.exe |
| Removal | Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Apntex.exe removal. |
“Visible” harm is not a single unpleasant activity coin miners do to your personal computer. Apntex.exe coin miner likewise deals damage to your OS. To carry out all malevolent functions effectively, it wrecks the security features of your system. You will likely see your Microsoft Defender disabled – malware halts it to avoid recognition. If you open the HOSTS file, you will likely see a lot of new entries – they are brought in by this coin miner to connect your PC to a malicious mining network. All these changes are about to be gone back 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 long times may cause damage to your machine and raise electricity costs. PC components are created to easily deal with high load, but they are good with it only when they are in a good shape.
Small and covered processor fan is hard to crack. Meanwhile, GPUs have large and easy-to-access rotors, which can be easily cracked if affected while working, for example, by the user much earlier before the virus injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the extremely high load caused by Apntex.exe can easily lead to graphic card failure3. Video cards are also prone to have increased wearing when used for cryptocurrency mining. It is surely an unwanted case when your GPU’s performance plunges 20-30% just after 1-2 weeks of being used in such a way.
How did I get Apntex.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 one of the most prevalent malicious programs through “serious” viruses. Adware often acts as a carrier for Apntex.exe malware injection: it demonstrates you the banners, which contain a link to malware downloading. Yes, this abstract “malware” may belong to any kind – another adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. However, the statistics show that about 30% of all malware spread through the malicious banners are coin miners – and Apntex.exe is right one of them.
The example of malicious banners you can see in the Internet
One more way you could get this thing on your PC is by downloading it from the unreliable web page as a part of a program. Users who spread hacked versions of popular programs (which do not demand the license key) have small chances to make money. Therefore, there is a very big lure to add in malware to the final package of the hacked application and get a coin for each installation. Before blaming these people for hacking and malware spreading, ask yourself – is it alright to avoid buying the program in this manner? It is more affordable to pay $20-$30 one time than to pay a much greater figure for antivirus program as well as new parts for your desktop.
How to remove the Apntex.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 program. Proper security tool must have high performance at scanning and also be lightweight – in order to create no problems with usage even on weak computers. Furthermore, it is better to have on-run protection in your protection tool – to stop the virus even before it starts. Microsoft Defender does not have these functions for different factors. That’s why I’d recommend 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 characteristics.4
Before the malware removal, it is important to boot your operating system into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Apntex.exe miner takes a lot of processor 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 system is in Safe Mode, all third-party applications, along with the majority of non-crucial Windows components, are not launched with the system start. That gives you the ability to clean the system without dealing with high CPU usage of the coin miner.
Remove Apntex.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 Apntex.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner
Name: Apntex.exe
Description: The Apntex.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Apntex.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.
- Our review on GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
