Default_directory.exe Virus (Coin Miner Trojan) Removal

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

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

List of the typical coin miner symptoms

Microsoft Defender is stopped;

CPU and GPU is loaded at 80-90% exactly after the system start

Cooling fans are running at high speed and create a lot of noise

A single process in Task Manager consumes all CPU and GPU power

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

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

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.