AUEPUF.exe Virus ⛏️ (Coin Miner Trojan) Removal

Written by Robert Bailey
Auepuf.exe is an executable exe file which belongs to the Windows process AMD User Experience Program User Session Info Collector which comes with the Sofware developed by AMD. But in some cases, AUEPUF.exe is an executable file that comes from a malicious program that can correctly be identified as a coin miner virus. That malware type utilizes your PC components to mine cryptocurrencies, basically – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your personal computer almost unusable as a result of high CPU use.
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What is Auepuf.exe process?

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

As I have actually specified before, Auepuf.exe is a coin miner trojan virus. The names of the executive file can be diverse, but the consequences are almost always identical. Considering that coin miners aim at cryptocurrency mining, they utilize all available hardware power of your desktop to conduct this process. This virus doesn’t care about the fact that you probably want to use your desktop for other activities – it will always take over 80% of your CPU power.

Auepuf.exe Windows Process

Auepuf.exe – Very high CPU as well as GPU use

Besides CPU usage, some of the coin miners additionally use GPU power for their operations. In that situation, you will likely struggle also to see the mouse cursor moving – GPU is often used on 100%. It is not as critical as CPU for system work, so Auepuf.exe coin miner viruses do not waste time on trifles and utilize it all. It often can lead to sad consequences.

Shortly about cryptocurrency mining

Cryptocurrency mining means the action of calculating the transaction block hash. That is a integral part of anything based on the blockchain technology. Since this action takes a lot of calculations, a high-end machine is needed. Exactly, the graphic card is better for this purpose, because they have more cores available. Cryptocurrency mining farms are usually constructed of dozens of GPUs to complete their task efficiently. Such computer systems are not usable for “general” purposes, like gaming or browsing the Web. Fraudsters who gain money via this coin miner use someones’ hardware instead, even if they are used for the regular activity.2

List of the typical coin miner symptoms

  • Your device overheats (system unit/laptop body is very hot)
  • You are not able to open your apps or they are opening for ages
  • Unknown process is running in the background and consumes your PC resources
  • Windows Defender does not respond
  • How dangerous is the Auepuf.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, Auepuf.exe virus makes your system overloaded. It is not able to run your applications now, as all processor power is consumed by a virus. That malware does not care for your necessities, all it pays attention to 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 for years, any sort of logins will take about a minute – just a nightmare for a person who works online.

    Auepuf.exe Technical Summary.

    File Name Auepuf.exe
    Type Trojan Coin Miner
    Detection Name Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner
    Distribution Method Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc.
    Similar behavior Cefsharp.browsersubprocess, Wdscore.exe, Microsoft.edge
    Removal Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Auepuf.exe removal.

    “Visible” harm is not a single unpleasant thing coin miners perform to your personal computer. Auepuf.exe coin miner likewise deals damage to your operating system. To perform all malicious operations successfully, 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 number of new notes – they are brought in by this coin miner to connect your PC to a malicious cryptomining network. All these changes are about to be thrown back to the initial state in the process of computer recovery.

    Hardware effects of coin miner activity

    Besides slowing down your PC, performing at peak power for long times may trigger damage to your machine as well as raise power bills. PC components are created to easily deal with high load, but they can do so only when they are in a good shape.

    Little and well-protected CPU fan is not very easy to damage. Meanwhile, GPUs have large and easy-to-access fans, which can be easily broke if affected while running, for instance, by the user much earlier before the malware injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the very high load caused by Auepuf.exe malware can easily lead to graphic card failure3. GPUs are also prone to have very fast wearing when utilized for cryptocurrency mining. It is surely an undesirable situation when your GPU’s performance plunges 20-30% only after several weeks of being used in such a way.

    How did I get Auepuf.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 among “major” viruses. Adware sometimes works as a carrier for Auepuf.exe malware infiltration: it shows you the banners, which include a link to malware downloading. Yes, 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 through the malevolent banners are coin miners – and Auepuf.exe is just with them.4

    Unwanted banners adware

    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 dubious website as a part of a program. Users that spread hacked versions of well-known programs (which do not demand the license key) have small chances to get paid. Thus, there is a huge lure to add in malware to the final package of the hacked app and receive a coin for each setup. Prior to criticizing these guys for hacking and malware distribution, ask yourself – is it okay to avoid buying the program in this manner? It is much cheaper to pay $20-$30 one time than to pay a much bigger figure for antivirus software as well as new parts for your PC.

    How to remove the Auepuf.exe miner from my PC?

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

    Eliminating such a virus requires using specific software. Proper anti-malware program should have high capability at scanning and be lightweight – in order to make no problems with usage also on weak PCs. Additionally, it is better to have on-run protection in your security tool – to halt the virus even before it launches. Microsoft Defender does not have these features for different factors. That’s why I’d advise you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that purpose. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is a perfect choice that fits all of the discussed characteristics.5

    Prior to the malware removal, it is important to boot your operating system into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Auepuf.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.

    Boot into Windows Safe Mode

    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.

    windows safe mode boot option with command prompt

    When your system is in Safe Mode, all third-party programs, just like the majority of non-critical system 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 Auepuf.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.

    GridinSoft Anti-Malware free trial

    After activating your free trial, start Full scan. It may last up to 10 minutes. You may use the PC as usual.

    Scanning in GridinSoft Anti-Malware

    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.

    GridinSoft Anti-Malware after the scan process

    Now, you are good to go. Reboot your PC into a normal Windows mode and use just as there was nothing malicious.

    Remove Auepuf.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner

    Name: Auepuf.exe

    Description: The Auepuf.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Auepuf.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

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    References

    1. Read about why Monero and DarkCoin are so popular amongst cybercriminals.
    2. Detailed explanation of how does cryptomining work.
    3. About unwanted effects for GPUs in the process of cryptomining.
    4. Read more about various malware type on Cybersecurity Glossary.
    5. Our review on GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

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    About the author

    Robert Bailey

    I'm Robert Bailey, a passionate Security Engineer with a deep fascination for all things related to malware, reverse engineering, and white hat ethical hacking.

    As a white hat hacker, I firmly believe in the power of ethical hacking to bolster security measures. By identifying vulnerabilities and providing solutions, I contribute to the proactive defense of digital infrastructures.

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