Documents.exe executable file comes from a malicious application that can properly be recognized as a coin miner trojan. That malware form uses your PC components to mine cryptocurrencies, generally – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your system pretty much unfunctional because of high CPU use.
What is Documents.exe process?
Documents.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
As I have specified in the introduction, Documents.exe is a coin miner trojan virus. The names of the executive file can be different, however, the consequences are generally the same. Because coin miners focus on cryptocurrency mining, they utilize all possible hardware power of your PC to run this operation. This virus does not take note of the fact that you probably need to make use of your machine for other tasks – it will constantly consume over 80% of your processor power.
Documents.exe – Extremely high CPU/GPU use
Besides CPU usage, some of the coin miners also use GPU power for their tasks. In that instance, you will 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 Documents.exe coin miner viruses don’t waste time on trifles and use all of it. It sometimes may result in sad results.
Shortly about cryptocurrency mining
Cryptocurrency mining 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 very strong machine is needed. Exactly, the video card is better for this task, because they have more cores available. Cryptocurrency mining farms are usually constructed of dozens of video cards to complete their task efficiently. Such systems are not usable for “usual” purposes, like gaming or web browsing. Crooks who make profit 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 Documents.exe miner?
Coin miners does not deal damage to your files. However, they make a lot of unpleasant things with the whole system
First, Documents.exe virus makes your system overloaded. It is unable to run your applications anymore, because all processor power is used by a virus. That malware does not care for your necessities, all it pays attention to is making money on you. Even if you are patient, and you waited until web browser is open, you will likely suffer from extremely sluggish performance. Pages will open up for years, any type of logins will take about a minute – just a nightmare for a person that does a job online.
Documents.exe Technical Summary.
| File Name | Documents.exe |
| Type | Trojan Coin Miner |
| Detection Name | Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner |
| Distribution Method | Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc. |
| Similar behavior | Pua.linux, Apphelper.exe, Brkrprcs64.exe |
| Removal | Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Documents.exe removal. |
“Visible” damage is not a single negative thing coin miners do to your PC. Documents.exe coin miner likewise deals damage to your OS. To perform all malevolent operations correctly, it ruins the protection features of your system. You will likely see your Microsoft Defender disabled – malware stops it to prevent detection. If you open the HOSTS file, you will likely see a load of new notes – they are brought in by this trojan miner to connect your system to a malicious mining network. All these adjustments are about to be reverted to the initial state in the process of PC recovery.
Hardware effects of coin miner activity
Besides slowing down your PC, performing at peak level for a long period of time may trigger damage to your machine as well as raise electricity expenses. PC components are created to easily deal with high load, but they are good with it only when they are in a good shape.
Little and covered CPU cooling system is hard to damage. Meanwhile, GPUs have large and easy-to-access fans, which can be easily cracked if touched while running, for example, by the user much earlier before the virus injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the extremely high load caused by Documents.exe miner can easily lead to GPU failure3. Graphic cards are also prone to have fast wearing when used for cryptocurrency mining. It is surely an undesirable case when your GPU’s performance decreases on 20-30% only after 1-2 weeks of being exploited in such a way.
How did I get Documents.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 malicious programs through “severe” malware. Adware frequently acts as a carrier for Documents.exe malware injection: it shows you the banners, which include a link to malware downloading. Yes, this abstract “malware” may belong to any type – yet another adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. But the statistics show that about 30% of all viruses spread through the malicious banners are coin miners – and Documents.exe is right among them.
The example of malicious banners you can see in the Internet
Another way you could get this item on your computer is by downloading it from the untrustworthy website as a part of a program. People that spread hacked variants of popular programs (which do not require the license key) have small chances to earn money. Hence, there is a huge temptation to add in malware to the final package of the hacked app and acquire a coin for each setup. Before criticizing these guys for hacking and also malware spreading, 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 greater figure for antivirus program as well as new parts for your PC.
How to remove the Documents.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 involves making use of special program. Effective security tool should have high efficiency at scanning and be lightweight – in order to make no problems with usage also on weak computers. In addition, it is better to have proactive security in your protection tool – to halt the virus even before it launches. Microsoft Defender lacks these functions for various reasons. That’s why I’d suggest you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that goal. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is an ideal option that fits each of the discussed characteristics.4
Prior to the malware removal, it is important to reboot your operating system into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Documents.exe miner consumes a lot of CPU capacity, it is needed 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 system is in Safe Mode, all third-party programs, along with the majority of non-critical system components, are not started with the system start. That allows you to clean the system without dealing with high CPU usage of the coin miner.
Remove Documents.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 Documents.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner
Name: Documents.exe
Description: The Documents.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Documents.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.
