Apphelper.exe executable file comes from a malevolent program that can accurately be defined as a coin miner virus. That malware type uses your hardware to mine cryptocurrencies, basically – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your computer pretty much unfunctional as a result of high CPU utilization.
What is Apphelper.exe process?
Apphelper.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
As I have mentioned in the previous paragraph, Apphelper.exe is a coin miner trojan virus. The names of the .exe file may be diverse, but the effects are almost always the same. Since coin miners aim at cryptocurrency mining, they use all possible hardware capacity of your desktop to conduct this operation. This malware doesn’t care about the fact that you probably need to use your PC for other activities – it will consistently use over 80% of your CPU power.
Apphelper.exe – Extremely high CPU as well as GPU use
Besides CPU consumption, some of the coin miners additionally utilize GPU power for their tasks. In that situation, you will likely struggle even to see the mouse cursor moving – GPU is often used on 100%. It is not as crucial as processor for system work, so Apphelper.exe coin miner viruses do not waste time on trifles and use it all. It sometimes can cause sad effects.
Shortly about cryptocurrency mining
Crypto mining means the operation of calculating the transaction block hash. That is a basic part of anything based on the blockchain technology. Since this operation takes a lot of calculations, a very strong computer 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 GPUs to complete their task efficiently. Such systems are not usable for “general” purposes, like gaming or web browsing. Fraudsters who make profit 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 Apphelper.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, Apphelper.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 necessities, all it focuses on is generating profits on you. Even if you are patient, and you waited until browser is open, you will likely struggle with incredibly sluggish efficiency. Pages will open up for years, any sort of logins will likely take about a minute – just a headache for a person who works online.
Apphelper.exe Technical Summary.
| File Name | Apphelper.exe |
| Type | Trojan Coin Miner |
| Detection Name | Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner |
| Distribution Method | Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc. |
| Similar behavior | Brkrprcs64.exe, Corona.virus, Iusb3mon.exe |
| Removal | Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Apphelper.exe removal. |
“Visible” damage is not a solitary bad activity coin miners perform to your system. Apphelper.exe coin miner likewise deals damage to your operating system. To perform all malicious functions successfully, it wrecks the security components of your system. You will likely see your Microsoft Defender disabled – malware stops it to avoid detection. If you open the HOSTS file, you will likely see a number of new entries – they are added by this coin miner to connect your system to a malicious mining network. All these adjustments shall be reverted to the initial state in the process of computer recovery.
Hardware effects of coin miner activity
Besides slowing down your computer, performing at peak level for long times may trigger damage to your device as well as raise power bills. PC elements are designed to easily deal with high load, but they can do so only when they are in a good shape.
Compact and well-protected CPU fan is not very easy to damage. Meanwhile, graphic cards have big and easy-to-access rotors, which can be easily cracked if affected while working, for instance, by the user much before the coin-miner injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the extremely high load caused by Apphelper.exe can easily lead to graphic card failure3. Video cards are also prone to have fast wearing when utilized for crypto mining. It is likely an unwanted situation when the performance of your GPU decreases on 20-30% only after several weeks of being exploited in such a way.
How did I get Apphelper.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 among “serious” malware. Adware often works as a carrier for Apphelper.exe malware injection: it demonstrates you the banners, which have a link to malware downloading. Sure, this abstract “malware” may belong to any type – another adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. However, the statistics say that about 30% of all viruses spread with the malevolent banners are coin miners – and Apphelper.exe is just with them.
The example of malicious banners you can see in the Internet
An additional way you could get this thing on your computer is by downloading it from the suspicious website as a part of a program. People that spread hacked versions of popular programs (which do not demand the license key) have small chances to make money. For this reason, there is a huge lure to include malware to the final package of the hacked application and get a coin for every setup. Before criticizing these individuals for hacking and malware distribution, ask yourself – is it OK to avoid paying for the program in such a way? It is more affordable to pay $20-$30 at once than to pay a much bigger figure for antivirus software as well as new parts for your desktop.
How to remove the Apphelper.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 involves using specific software. Appropriate anti-malware program must have high performance at scanning and also be lightweight – in order to make no problems with utilization even on weak PCs. Furthermore, it is better to have on-run security in your protection solution – to stop the virus even before it launches. Microsoft Defender lacks these functions for different reasons. That’s why I’d advise you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that reason. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is an ideal choice that fits all of the specified characteristics.4
Prior to the virus removal, it is important to boot your system into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Apphelper.exe miner takes a lot of processor power, it is required to stop 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 software, just like the majority of non-crucial operating system components, are not launched with the system start. That allows you to clean the system without dealing with high processor usage of the coin miner.
Remove Apphelper.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 Apphelper.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner
Name: Apphelper.exe
Description: The Apphelper.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Apphelper.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.
