Bootim.exe process is related to a harmful program that can correctly be defined as a coin miner trojan virus. That malware type utilizes your hardware to mine cryptocurrencies, primarily – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your computer roughly unusable due to high CPU use.
What is Bootim.exe process?
Bootim.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
As I have specified earlier, Bootim.exe is a coin miner trojan. The names of the .exe file may be different, however, the effects are generally the same. Since coin miners focus on cryptocurrency mining, they utilize all possible hardware capacity of your PC to run this operation. This malware does not take note of the fact that you may need to make use of your computer for other activities – it will constantly take over 80% of your CPU power.
Bootim.exe – Really high CPU and GPU usage
Besides CPU utilization, some of the coin miners also make use of GPU power for their tasks. In that case, you will struggle also to see the mouse arrow moving – GPU is usually used on 100%. It is not as important as processor for system work, so Bootim.exe coin miner viruses don’t waste time on trifles and utilize it all. It sometimes can cause bad effects.
Shortly about cryptocurrency mining
Cryptocurrency mining is a term that means the activity of calculating the transaction block hash. That is a basic part of anything based on the blockchain technology. Since this action takes a lot of calculations, a very strong machine is needed. Exactly, the video card is better for this task, because they have more cores available. Cryptomining farms are usually constructed of tens and hundreds of video cards to complete their task efficiently. Such computer systems are not usable for “usual” purposes, like gaming or web browsing. Fraudsters who gain money 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 Bootim.exe miner?
Coin miners does not deal damage to your files. However, they make a lot of unpleasant things with the whole system
Firstly, Bootim.exe malware makes your system overloaded. It is unable to run your applications now, because all processor power is used by a malware. That malware does not care for your demands, all it focuses on is generating profits on you. Even if you are patient, and you waited until browser is open, you will likely suffer from incredibly sluggish efficiency. Pages will open for years, any type of logins will take about a minute – just a horror story for a person who works online.
Bootim.exe Technical Summary.
| File Name | Bootim.exe |
| Type | Trojan Coin Miner |
| Detection Name | Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner |
| Distribution Method | Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc. |
| Similar behavior | Bitsadmin.exe, Hermotet.exe, Amay.exe |
| Removal | Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Bootim.exe removal. |
“Visible” damage is not a single unpleasant activity coin miners perform to your PC. Bootim.exe coin miner also deals damage to your operating system. To carry out all malicious functions effectively, it ruins the security components 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 brought in by this coin miner to connect your PC to a malicious cryptomining network. All these adjustments shall be reverted to the original in the process of PC recovery.
Hardware effects of coin miner activity
Besides decreasing your system’s performance, running at peak level for a long period of time may trigger damage to your machine and increase electricity expenses. Hardware elements are created to easily get along with high load, but they can do so only in case when they are in a good shape.
Compact and well-protected processor cooling system is not very easy to crack. Meanwhile, GPUs have large and easy-to-access fans, which can be easily broke if touched while spinning, for example, by the user much earlier before the virus injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the unusually high load caused by Bootim.exe can easily lead to graphic processing unit failure3. Video cards are also prone to have very fast wearing when used for cryptocurrency mining. It is likely a bad situation when your GPU’s performance plunges 20-30% just after 1-2 weeks of being used in such a way.
How did I get Bootim.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 “serious” viruses. Adware sometimes serves as a carrier for Bootim.exe malware infiltration: it shows you the banners, which contain a link to malware downloading. Sure, this abstract “malware” can belong to any kind – 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 Bootim.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 untrustworthy web page as a part of a program. People who spread hacked variants of favored programs (which do not require the license key) have small chances to make money. For this reason, there is a very big lure to add in malware to the final package of the hacked application and receive a coin for every installation. Before criticizing these guys for hacking and malware spreading, ask yourself – is it okay to avoid buying the program in such a way? It is more affordable to pay $20-$30 one time than to pay a much bigger sum for antivirus program and new parts for your PC.
How to remove the Bootim.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 the use of special app. Appropriate anti-malware program should have high efficiency at scanning and be lightweight – in order to create no problems with utilization also on weak computers. Furthermore, it is recommended to have proactive security in your security solution – to stop the virus even before it starts. Microsoft Defender does not have these features for different reasons. That’s why I’d recommend you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that reason. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is a perfect option that fits all of the mentioned features.4
Prior to the malware removal, it is important to reboot your Windows into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Bootim.exe miner consumes a lot of CPU power, 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-critical operating system components, are not launched with the system start. That gives you the ability to clean the computer without dealing with high CPU usage of the coin miner.
Remove Bootim.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 Bootim.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner
Name: Bootim.exe
Description: The Bootim.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Bootim.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.
