Appchecks.exe Virus ⛏️ (Coin Miner Trojan) Removal

Originally AppChecks.exe was the main executable file for the AppCheck software, an anti-ransomware program developed by CheckMAL, which shouldn’t be a problem.

However, it could also be an executable file related to a malicious program that can be recognized as a coin miner trojan. In that case, it will have abnormally high CPU consumption. That malware form utilizes your hardware to mine cryptocurrencies, primarily – Monero or DarkCoin. It makes your system pretty much unfunctional due to high CPU usage.

It is better to prevent, than repair and repent!

When we talk about the intrusion of unfamiliar programs into your computer’s work, the proverb “Forewarned is forearmed” describes the situation as accurately as possible. Gridinsoft Anti-Malware is exactly the tool that is always useful to have in your armory: fast, efficient, up-to-date. It is appropriate to use it as an emergency help at the slightest suspicion of infection.

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What is Appchecks.exe process?

Appchecks.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus

As I have specified in the introduction, The AppChecks.exe file is the primary executable for AppCheck software. This program, developed by CheckMAL, is an anti-ransomware tool that protects your computer from potential attacks. However, Appchecks.exe may be a malicious file. You can figure out its malignancy by several factors. First, the original file is located in the C:\Program Files\CheckMAL\AppCheck directory. You can see the location of the file by going into Task Manager and right-clicking on the process you are interested in.

Appchecks.exe – Really high CPU and GPU use

Another major sign of malicious origins is a high CPU load, which is not characteristic of the original file. Because coin miners focus on cryptocurrency mining, they utilize all possible hardware power of your personal computer to run this operation. This malware doesn’t take note of the fact that you probably need to make use of your machine for other tasks – it will consistently consume over 80% of your CPU power.

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 computer is required. Exactly, the graphic card is better for this task, because they have more cores available. Cryptocurrency mining farms are usually constructed of dozens of GPUs to conduct their activity effectively. Such systems are not usable for “general” purposes, like gaming or browsing the Web. Fraudsters who gain money via this coin miner use someones’ PCs instead, even if they are used for the regular activity.

List of the typical coin miner symptoms

• Extremely bad performance
• CPU/GPU cooler fan creates a lot of noise
• High temperature of the device (for laptops)
• 80-90% consumption of CPU/GPU resources by an unknown process
• Microsoft Defender is not working

How dangerous is the Appchecks.exe miner?

Coin miners does not deal damage to your files. However, they make a lot of unpleasant things with the whole system

First of all, Appchecks.exe malware makes your PC overloaded. It is not able to run your applications anymore, since all processor power is used by a virus. That malware does not care for your wants, all it focuses on is generating profits on you. Even if you are patient, and you waited until web browser is open, you will likely suffer from extremely sluggish performance. Pages will open up for years, any type of logins will likely take about a minute – just a nightmare for a person who works online.

Appchecks.exe Technical Summary.

“Visible” harm is not a solitary unpleasant thing coin miners do to your computer. Appchecks.exe coin miner additionally deals damage to your operating system. To perform all malevolent operations successfully, it ruins the security mechanisms of your system. You will likely see your Microsoft Defender disabled – malware halts it to prevent recognition. If you check the HOSTS file, you will likely see a ton of new entries – they are added by this trojan miner to connect your computer to a malicious cryptomining network. All these adjustments shall be gone back to the initial state in the process of computer recovery.

Hardware effects of coin miner activity

Besides slowing down your computer, performing at peak power for long times may trigger damage to your machine as well as raise power expenses. PC components are designed to easily deal with high load, but they are good with it only in case when they are in a good shape.

Tiny and covered processor cooling system is quite hard to broke. Meanwhile, GPUs have large and easy-to-access fans, which can be easily cracked if affected while working, for instance, by the user much earlier before the coin-miner injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the very high load caused by Appchecks.exe malware can easily lead to GPU failure¹. Graphic cards are also tend to have increased wearing when used for cryptocurrency mining. It is surely an unwanted situation when your GPU’s performance decreases on 20-30% only after several weeks of being exploited in such a way.

How did I get Appchecks.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 malicious programs among “severe” malware. Adware often serves as a carrier for Appchecks.exe malware infiltration: it shows you the banners, which include a link to malware downloading. Yes, this abstract “malware” may belong to any kind – yet another adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. However, the statistics show that around 30% of all viruses spread through the malevolent banners are coin miners – and Appchecks.exe is right with them.

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 unreliable web page as a part of a program. People who spread hacked variants of well-known programs (which do not demand the license key) have small chances to get paid. Thus, there is a huge temptation to add malware to the final package of the hacked app and acquire a coin for every installation. Prior to blaming these people for hacking and also malware distribution, ask yourself – is it alright to avoid paying for 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 Appchecks.exe miner from my PC?

The best way to get rid of this coin miner virus is to use anti-malware software

Getting rid of such a virus requires using special program. Proper anti-malware program should have high efficiency at scanning and also be lightweight – in order to make no problems with utilization even on weak systems. Furthermore, it is better to have proactive security in your protection tool – to halt the virus even before it starts. Microsoft Defender does not have these functions for various factors. That’s why I’d suggest you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that purpose. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is a superb option that fits each of the discussed qualities.²

Before the malware removal, it is important to reboot your system into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Appchecks.exe miner takes a lot of processor 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 PC is in Safe Mode, all third-party apps, just like the majority of non-crucial Windows components, are not launched with the system start. That allows you to clean the system without dealing with high CPU usage of the coin miner.

Remove Appchecks.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.

1. About unwanted effects for GPUs in the process of cryptomining.
2. Our review on GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

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