Bitsadmin.exe as Tool For Mine Coins

Written by Robert Bailey
Bitsadmin.exe is a command-line tool included in Microsoft Windows operating systems that are used to manage Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) jobs. BITS is a Windows service that transfers files (downloads or uploads) between a client and server in the background with minimal impact on network bandwidth.

Bitsadmin.exe allows users to create, monitor, and manage BITS jobs from the command line, enabling automation and integration with scripts or other programs. Some common uses of Bitsadmin.exe include downloading or uploading large files, monitoring transfer progress, and managing BITS-related network traffic.

Overall, Bitsadmin.exe can be a helpful tool for managing BITS jobs on Windows systems, particularly in situations where command-line automation or integration is desired. But hackers can use the Bitsadmin.exe tool to mine coins on a compromised PC. This could occur if an attacker gains unauthorized access to a Windows system and then uses the Bitsadmin.exe tool to execute a command that launches a coin mining program, which could run in the background using the resources of the compromised system.

However, it is essential to note that Bitsadmin.exe itself is not a Trojan or malware. It is a legitimate tool included with Windows and used for managing BITS jobs. Suppose you suspect your system is being used for malicious coin mining activity. In that case, conducting a thorough malware scan and taking appropriate steps to remove any detected threats is vital. Additionally, you should ensure that your system is adequately secured and up-to-date with the latest security patches to reduce the risk of future attacks.

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What is Bitsadmin.exe process?

Bitsadmin.exe used to manage Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) jobs

As specified in the previous paragraph, Bitsadmin.exe can be used as a coin miner trojan. It can utilize all available hardware capacity of your computer to perform this procedure. This malware doesn’t note that you probably want to use your device for other tasks – it will constantly consume over 80% of your processor power.

Bitsadmin.exe Windows Process

Bitsadmin.exe – Very high CPU/GPU use

Some coin miners utilize GPU power besides CPU utilization. In that instance, you will probably struggle to see the mouse cursor moving – GPU is usually utilized 100%. It is not as important as a processor for system work, so Bitsadmin.exe coin miner viruses don’t waste time on trifles and use it all. It sometimes may lead to sad consequences.

Shortly about cryptocurrency mining

Cryptocurrency mining is a term that means calculating the transaction block hash. That is an integral part of anything based on blockchain technology. Since this operation requires many calculations, a high-end PC is required. The video card is better for this purpose because more cores are available. Cryptomining farms are usually constructed of tens and hundreds of GPUs to complete their task efficiently. Such computer systems are useless for “usual” gaming or web browsing. Fraudsters who gain money via this coin miner use someone’s hardware instead, even if they are used for regular activity.1

List of the typical coin miner symptoms

  • Your device overheats (system unit/laptop body is scorching)
  • 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 Bitsadmin.exe miner?

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

    First of all, Bitsadmin.exe malware makes your PC overloaded. It is unable to run your applications anymore, as all processor power is consumed by malware. That malware does not care for your demands; it only focuses on making money for you. Even if you are patient and wait until the browser is open, you will likely suffer from extremely slow efficiency. Pages will open up for years. Any login will take about a minute – just a horror story for someone who works online.

    Bitsadmin.exe Technical Summary.

    File Name Bitsadmin.exe
    Type Trojan Coin Miner
    Detection Name Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner
    Distribution Method Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites, etc.
    Similar behavior Hermotet.exe, Amay.exe, Agsservice.exe
    Removal Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Bitsadmin.exe removal.

    “Visible” damage is not a single negative activity coin miners perform on your personal computer. Bitsadmin.exe coin miner likewise deals damage to your OS. To complete all malicious functions effectively, it ruins the protection components 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 load of new notes – this trojan miner adds them to connect your PC to a malicious mining network. All these changes are about to be reverted to the original in the process of PC recovery.

    Hardware effects of coin miner activity

    Besides slowing down your computer, running at peak level for long times can cause damage to your device and raise electricity bills. Hardware elements are created to deal with high load easily, but they can do so only when they are in good shape.

    Tiny and covered processor fan is hard to crack. Meanwhile, GPUs have large and easy-to-access fans, which can be easily broken if touched while working, for example, by the user much before the virus injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the unusually high load caused by Bitsadmin.exe miner can easily lead to GPU failure2. Video cards also tend to have increased wearing when utilized for crypto mining. It is surely a bad 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 the Bitsadmin.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 widespread malevolent programs through “major” viruses. Adware often acts as a carrier for Bitsadmin.exe malware infiltration: it shows you the banners containing a link to malware downloading. Sure, this abstract “malware” may belong to any type – yet another adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. But the statistics show that about 30% of all malware spread with the malevolent banners are coin miners – and Bitsadmin.exe is right one of them.

    Unwanted banners adware

    The example of malicious banners you can see in the Internet

    Another way you could get this thing on your PC is by downloading it from the suspicious web page as a part of a program. Users that spread hacked versions of popular programs (which do not demand the license key) have small chances of getting paid. Thus, there is a huge lure to include malware in the final package of the hacked application and receive a coin for every installation. Before blaming these individuals for hacking and malware distribution, ask yourself – is it OK to avoid purchasing the program this way? It is more affordable to pay $20-$30 at once than to pay a much greater sum for antivirus software as well as new parts for your PC.

    How to remove the Bitsadmin.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 demands using special software. Appropriate anti-malware programs must have high performance at scanning and be lightweight – to create no problems with utilization, even on weak computers. On top of that, it is better to have proactive protection in your protection tool – to prevent 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 goal. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is a great choice that fits all of the mentioned qualities.3

    Before the virus removal, it is important to boot your Windows into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Bitsadmin.exe miner takes a lot of processor capacity, stopping it before launching the security program is necessary. 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, choose Power, and click 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 computer is in Safe Mode, all third-party programs, just like the majority of non-critical 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 Bitsadmin.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.

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    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 Bitsadmin.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner

    Name: Bitsadmin.exe

    Description: Bitsadmin.exe is a command-line tool included in Microsoft Windows operating systems that are used to manage Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) jobs. BITS is a Windows service that transfers files (downloads or uploads) between a client and server in the background with minimal impact on network bandwidth.

    Operating System: Windows

    Application Category: Trojan

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    References

    1. Detailed explanation of how does cryptomining work.
    2. About unwanted effects for GPUs in the process of crypto mining.
    3. 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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