Dataserver2.exe Virus (Coin Miner Trojan) Removal

Dataserver2.exe executable file is related to a malicious application that can accurately be defined as a coin miner virus. That malware type uses your PC components to mine cryptocurrencies, basically – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your system roughly unusable as a result of high CPU utilization.

What is Dataserver2.exe process?

Dataserver2.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus

Dataserver2.exe Windows Process

Dataserver2.exe – Really high CPU as well as GPU usage

Besides CPU consumption, some of the coin miners also utilize GPU power for their operations. In that case, you will likely struggle even to see the mouse arrow moving – GPU is often used on 100%. It is not as essential as processor for system work, so Dataserver2.exe coin miner viruses don’t waste time on trifles and utilize all of it. It often can cause unhappy effects.

Shortly about cryptocurrency mining

Crypto mining term means the action of calculating the transaction block hash. That is a integral part of anything based on the blockchain technology. Since this operation takes a lot of calculations, a strong machine is needed. Exactly, the video card is better for this purpose, because they have more cores available. Cryptomining farms are usually constructed of tens and hundreds of GPUs to conduct their activity effectively. Such systems are not usable for “usual” purposes, like gaming or browsing the Web. Crooks who gain money via this coin miner use someones’ PCs instead, even if they are used for the regular activity.

List of the typical coin miner symptoms

  • Extremely bad performance
  • CPU/GPU cooler fan creates a lot of noise
  • High temperature of the device (for laptops)
  • 80-90% consumption of CPU/GPU resources by an unknown process
  • Microsoft Defender is not working
  • How dangerous is the Dataserver2.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, Dataserver2.exe virus makes your PC overloaded. It is not able to run your applications now, because all processor power is consumed by a virus. That malware does not care for your necessities, all it focuses on is generating profits on you. Even if you are patient, and you waited until web browser is open, you will likely suffer from exceptionally slow performance. Pages will open up for years, any type of logins will likely take about a minute – just a nightmare for a person who works online.

    Dataserver2.exe Technical Summary.

    File Name Dataserver2.exe
    Type Trojan Coin Miner
    Detection Name Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner
    Distribution Method Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc.
    Similar behavior Svshost.exe, Rxcs.exe, Aiapp.exe
    Removal Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Dataserver2.exe removal.

    “Visible” harm is not a single bad thing coin miners do to your PC. Dataserver2.exe coin miner likewise deals damage to your OS. To carry out all malicious 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 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 gone back to the initial state in the process of PC recovery.

    Hardware effects of coin miner activity

    Besides making your PC slow, performing at peak level for long times can cause damage to your machine as well as increase power expenses. Hardware components are designed to easily deal with high load, but they are good with it only when they are in a good shape.

    Compact and covered CPU fan is hard to crack. Meanwhile, graphic cards have large and easy-to-access fans, which can be easily cracked if affected while working, for example, by the user much earlier before the virus injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the unusually high load caused by Dataserver2.exe can easily lead to GPU failure. Video cards are also prone to have increased wearing when utilized for cryptocurrency mining. It is likely an undesirable case when your GPU’s performance decreases on 20-30% only after several weeks of being exploited in such a way.

    How did I get Dataserver2.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 common malevolent programs among “serious” malware. Adware often works as a carrier for Dataserver2.exe malware infiltration: it demonstrates you the banners, which contain a link to malware downloading. Sure, this abstract “malware” may belong to any type – yet another adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. But the statistics say that approximately 30% of all viruses spread with the malicious banners are coin miners – and Dataserver2.exe is just among them.

    Unwanted banners adware

    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 unreliable site as a part of a program. Users who spread hacked versions of well-known programs (which do not need the license key) have small chances to make money. For this reason, there is a huge temptation to include malware to the final package of the hacked application and acquire a coin for each installation. Before criticizing these individuals for hacking and malware distribution, 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 bigger sum for antivirus program and new parts for your desktop.

    How to remove the Dataserver2.exe miner from my PC?

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

    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 software, just like the majority of non-crucial Windows 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.

    References

    1. Read about why Monero and DarkCoin are so popular amongst cybercriminals.

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    About the author

    Robert Bailey

    Security engineer focused on malware behavior, removal workflows, and Windows hardening. Robert reviews threat articles for practical accuracy, checking detection names, symptoms, and cleanup steps before publication.

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