Cr_auto.exe process belongs to a malevolent program that can correctly be defined as a coin miner virus. That malware type uses your PC components to mine cryptocurrencies, primarily – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your personal computer pretty much unusable due to high CPU usage.
What is Cr_auto.exe process?
Cr_auto.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
As I have actually pointed out before, Cr_auto.exe is a coin miner trojan virus. The names of the .exe file can be different, however, the effects are almost always the same. Because coin miners aim at cryptocurrency mining, they utilize all available hardware power of your PC to run this operation. This virus does not take note of the fact that you may want to make use of your system for other tasks – it will continuously use over 80% of your CPU power.
Cr_auto.exe – Really high CPU as well as GPU usage
Besides CPU usage, some of the coin miners additionally utilize GPU power for their tasks. In that situation, you will struggle also to see the mouse cursor moving – GPU is usually utilized on 100%. It is not as important as CPU for system work, so Cr_auto.exe coin miner viruses don’t waste time on trifles and utilize it all. It often may lead to unhappy consequences.
Shortly about cryptocurrency mining
Cryptocurrency mining means the operation of calculating the transaction block hash. That is a integral element of any project based on the blockchain technology. Since this action takes a lot of calculations, a very strong 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 tens and hundreds of GPUs to complete their task efficiently. Such systems are not usable for “classic” purposes, like gaming or browsing the Web. Crooks who gain money 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 Cr_auto.exe miner?
Coin miners does not deal damage to your files. However, they make a lot of unpleasant things with the whole system
First, Cr_auto.exe malware makes your PC overloaded. It is unable to run your applications now, since all CPU power is consumed by a malware. That malware does not care for your demands, all it focuses on is making money on you. Even if you are patient, and you waited until web browser is open, you will likely experience exceptionally sluggish efficiency. Pages can open up for years, any kind of logins will take about a minute – just a nightmare for a person who works online.
Cr_auto.exe Technical Summary.
| File Name | Cr_auto.exe |
| Type | Trojan Coin Miner |
| Detection Name | Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner |
| Distribution Method | Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc. |
| Similar behavior | Settingsapp.exe, Canicscatibu.exe, Googlevssagent.exe |
| Removal | Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Cr_auto.exe removal. |
“Visible” damage is not a single bad thing coin miners perform to your PC. Cr_auto.exe coin miner likewise deals damage to your OS. To execute all malevolent functions correctly, it wrecks the security features of your system. You will likely see your Microsoft Defender disabled – malware halts it to prevent detection. If you open the HOSTS file, you will likely see a load of new notes – they are added by this coin miner to connect your computer to a malicious mining network. All these changes are about to be gone back to the original in the process of PC recovery.
Hardware effects of coin miner activity
Besides slowing down your PC, running at peak power for a long period of time may trigger damage to your device as well as increase power expenses. PC components are designed to easily deal with high load, but they are good with it only in case when they are in a good shape.
Compact and covered processor cooling system is quite hard to damage. Meanwhile, GPUs have big and easy-to-access rotors, which can be easily broke if affected while spinning, for example, by the user much before the coin-miner injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the very high load caused by Cr_auto.exe malware can easily lead to graphic card failure3. Video cards are also prone to have very fast wearing when used for crypto mining. It is likely an unwanted situation when the performance of your video card plunges 20-30% just after several weeks of being used in such a way.
How did I get Cr_auto.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 through “severe” viruses. Adware often functions as a carrier for Cr_auto.exe malware infiltration: it shows you the banners, which include a link to malware downloading. Sure, this abstract “malware” can belong to any type – another adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. But the statistics show that about 30% of all malware spread with the malicious banners are coin miners – and Cr_auto.exe is right with them.4
The example of malicious banners you can see in the Internet
One more way you could get this thing on your computer is by downloading it from the suspicious site as a part of a program. People who spread hacked versions of well-known programs (which do not need the license key) have small chances to earn money. Therefore, there is a huge lure to add in malware to the final package of the hacked app and acquire a coin for each setup. Before blaming these individuals for hacking and malware spreading, ask yourself – is it alright to avoid purchasing the program in this manner? It is more affordable to pay $20-$30 one time than to pay a much bigger figure for antivirus software and new parts for your PC.
How to remove the Cr_auto.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 requires using special tool. Appropriate anti-malware program should have high efficiency at scanning and also be lightweight – in order to make no problems with utilization even on weak systems. Furthermore, it is better to have on-run security in your protection solution – to prevent the virus even before it starts. Microsoft Defender does not have these elements for different reasons. That’s why I’d suggest you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that reason. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is a perfect choice that fits each of the mentioned qualities.5
Before the virus removal, it is important to reboot your Windows into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Cr_auto.exe miner takes a lot of CPU 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 computer is in Safe Mode, all third-party programs, just like the majority of non-critical system components, are not started with the system start. That gives you the ability to clean the computer without dealing with high processor usage of the coin miner.
Remove Cr_auto.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 Cr_auto.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner
Name: Cr_auto.exe
Description: The Cr_auto.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Cr_auto.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.
- Read more about various malware type on Cybersecurity Glossary.
- Our review on GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
