Autorun.exe executable file comes from a malicious application that can properly be identified as a coin miner virus. That malware form uses your PC components to mine cryptocurrencies, basically – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your computer roughly unfunctional as a result of high CPU usage.
What is Autorun.exe process?
Autorun.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
As I have actually specified in the previous paragraph, Autorun.exe is a coin miner virus. The names of the executive file can be different, but the effects are usually the same. Because coin miners aim at cryptocurrency mining, they utilize all possible hardware capacity of your PC to perform this process. This virus doesn’t pay attention to the fact that you may want to make use of your system for other tasks – it will consistently consume over 80% of your CPU power.
Autorun.exe – Extremely high CPU/GPU usage
Besides CPU usage, some of the coin miners also use GPU power for their operations. In that instance, 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 Autorun.exe coin miner viruses do not waste time on trifles and utilize all of it. It sometimes can lead to unhappy results.
Shortly about cryptocurrency mining
Crypto mining is a term that means the operation of calculating the transaction block hash. That is a basic part of any project based on the blockchain technology. Since this operation takes a lot of calculations, a strong PC is needed. Exactly, the GPU 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 “usual” purposes, like gaming or browsing the Web. 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 Autorun.exe miner?
Coin miners does not deal damage to your files. However, they make a lot of unpleasant things with the whole system
Initially, Autorun.exe virus makes your computer overloaded. It is unable to run your applications now, as all processor power is consumed by a virus. That malware does not care for your needs, all it pays attention to is making money on you. Even if you are patient, and you waited until browser is open, you will likely suffer from exceptionally sluggish efficiency. Pages will open for years, any type of logins will likely take about a minute – just a horror story for a person who does a job online.
Autorun.exe Technical Summary.
| File Name | Autorun.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 Autorun.exe removal. |
“Visible” damage is not a single bad activity coin miners perform to your PC. Autorun.exe coin miner also deals damage to your OS. To conduct all malevolent operations properly, it wrecks the security mechanisms of your system. You will likely see your Microsoft Defender disabled – malware stops it to prevent detection. If you check the HOSTS file, you will likely see a load of new notes – they are brought in by this trojan miner to connect your PC to a malicious mining network. All these adjustments shall be reverted to the original in the process of system recovery.
Hardware effects of coin miner activity
Besides making your computer slow, running at peak power for long times can trigger damage to your machine and increase power bills. PC elements are designed to easily get along with high load, but they can do so only when they are in a good shape.
Compact and covered processor cooling system is hard to crack. Meanwhile, graphic cards have big and easy-to-access fans, which can be easily cracked if affected while working, for example, by the user much before the virus injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the really high load caused by Autorun.exe malware can easily lead to graphic card failure3. Graphic cards are also tend to have increased wearing when utilized for cryptocurrency mining. It is likely an unwanted case when your GPU’s performance decreases on 20-30% just after several weeks of being exploited in such a way.
How did I get Autorun.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 malevolent programs through “severe” malware. Adware often works as a carrier for Autorun.exe malware injection: it shows you the banners, which contain a link to malware downloading. Sure, this abstract “malware” can belong to any type – yet another adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. But the statistics show that approximately 30% of all malware spread with the malevolent banners are coin miners – and Autorun.exe is right with them.
The example of malicious banners you can see in the Internet
One more way you could get this item on your computer is by downloading it from the unreliable website as a part of a program. Users that spread hacked variants of well-known programs (which do not need the license key) have small chances to earn 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 installation. Before criticizing these people for hacking and malware spreading, ask yourself – is it OK to avoid purchasing 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 PC.
How to remove the Autorun.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 demands the use of special tool. Proper antivirus must have high capability at scanning and be lightweight – in order to create no problems with usage also on weak computers. Additionally, it is better to have on-run protection in your protection solution – to halt the virus even before it launches. Microsoft Defender does not have these elements for different factors. That’s why I’d recommend you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that reason. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is a perfect choice that fits each of the discussed features.4
Before the virus removal, it is important to reboot your Windows into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Autorun.exe miner takes a lot of processor capacity, 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 PC is in Safe Mode, all third-party software, along with the majority of non-critical Windows components, are not started with the system start. That gives you the ability to clean the computer without dealing with high CPU usage of the coin miner.
Remove Autorun.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 Autorun.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner
Name: Autorun.exe
Description: The Autorun.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Autorun.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.
