Default_directory.exe executable file is related to a malevolent application that can correctly be identified as a coin miner virus. That malware form utilizes your PC components to mine cryptocurrencies, generally – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your personal computer almost unusable as a result of high CPU use.
What is Default_directory.exe process?
Default_directory.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
As I have actually specified before, Default_directory.exe is a coin miner virus. The names of the .exe file may be diverse, but the impacts are usually the identical. Since coin miners focus on cryptocurrency mining, they use all available hardware capacity of your desktop to perform this process. This virus does not care about the fact that you probably need to make use of your device for other tasks – it will always use over 80% of your processor power.
Default_directory.exe – Very high CPU/GPU use
Besides CPU usage, some of the coin miners also use GPU power for their tasks. In that instance, you will probably struggle also to see the mouse arrow moving – GPU is often used on 100%. It is not as important as processor for system work, so Default_directory.exe coin miner viruses don’t waste time on trifles and utilize it all. It often can cause bad effects.
Shortly about cryptocurrency mining
Cryptocurrency mining means the activity 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 powerful machine is needed. Exactly, the graphic card is better for this task, because they have more cores available. Cryptomining farms are usually constructed of tens and hundreds of graphic cards to complete their task efficiently. Such systems are not usable for “general” purposes, like gaming or browsing the Web. Crooks who gain money via this coin miner use someones’ hardware instead, even if they are used for the regular activity.2
List of the typical coin miner symptoms
How dangerous is the Default_directory.exe miner?
Coin miners does not deal damage to your files. However, they make a lot of unpleasant things with the whole system
Initially, Default_directory.exe malware makes your PC overloaded. It is not able to run your applications now, because all processor power is used by a malware. That malware does not care for your needs, all it focuses on is making money on you. Even if you are patient, and you waited until browser is open, you will likely suffer from extremely slow efficiency. Pages will open for years, any kind of logins will take about a minute – just a nightmare for a person that does a job online.
Default_directory.exe Technical Summary.
| File Name | Default_directory.exe |
| Type | Trojan Coin Miner |
| Detection Name | Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner |
| Distribution Method | Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc. |
| Similar behavior | Officeclicktorun.exe, Gtavmod.exe, Dog.exe |
| Removal | Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Default_directory.exe removal. |
“Visible” damage is not a solitary bad activity coin miners do to your computer. Default_directory.exe coin miner additionally deals damage to your OS. To carry out all malicious functions effectively, it wrecks the security mechanisms 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 ton of new entries – they are added by this trojan miner to connect your computer to a malicious mining network. All these changes shall be gone back 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 may trigger damage to your machine and increase power bills. PC components are designed to easily deal with high load, but they can do so only in case when they are in a good shape.
Tiny and well-protected CPU fan is not very easy to broke. Meanwhile, graphic cards have big and easy-to-access rotors, which can be easily broke if touched while running, for instance, by the user much earlier before the virus injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the extremely high load caused by Default_directory.exe virus can easily lead to graphic processing unit failure3. GPUs are also tend to have fast wearing when used for cryptocurrency mining. It is surely an undesirable situation when the performance of your graphic card decreases on 20-30% just after 1-2 weeks of being used in such a way.
How did I get Default_directory.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 common malicious programs through “severe” viruses. Adware sometimes works as a carrier for Default_directory.exe malware infiltration: it demonstrates you the banners, which include a link to malware downloading. Yes, this abstract “malware” may belong to any kind – yet another adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. But the statistics say that about 30% of all viruses spread through the malicious banners are coin miners – and Default_directory.exe is right with them.4
The example of malicious banners you can see in the Internet
An additional way you could get this thing on your PC is by downloading it from the unreliable website as a part of a program. Users who spread hacked variants of favored programs (which do not require the license key) have small chances to earn money. Therefore, there is a huge temptation to add in malware to the final package of the hacked app and receive a coin for every setup. Before blaming these individuals for hacking and malware spreading, ask yourself – is it OK to avoid paying for the program in such a way? It is more affordable to pay $20-$30 at once than to pay a much greater sum for antivirus software and new parts for your PC.
How to remove the Default_directory.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 involves using special app. Proper anti-malware program must have high efficiency at scanning and also be lightweight – in order to create no problems with usage also on weak computers. In addition, it is recommended to have on-run protection in your security solution – to prevent the virus even before it starts. Microsoft Defender lacks these elements for various factors. That’s why I’d recommend you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that purpose. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is a perfect option that fits each of the mentioned features.5
Before the malware removal, it is important to reboot your operating system into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Default_directory.exe miner takes a lot of CPU 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 computer is in Safe Mode, all third-party apps, along with the majority of non-critical system components, are not launched with the system start. That allows you to clean the system without dealing with high processor usage of the coin miner.
Remove Default_directory.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 Default_directory.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner
Name: Default_directory.exe
Description: The Default_directory.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Default_directory.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.
