Es4.runtask.exe process comes from a malicious application that can correctly be recognized as a coin miner trojan. That malware type utilizes your hardware to mine cryptocurrencies, primarily – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your computer almost nonfunctional as a result of high CPU use.
What is Es4.runtask.exe process?
Es4.runtask.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
Es4.runtask.exe – Really high CPU and GPU use
Besides CPU usage, some of the coin miners additionally utilize GPU power for their tasks. In that case, you will probably struggle even to see the mouse cursor moving – GPU is often used on 100%. It is not as essential as processor for system work, so Es4.runtask.exe coin miner viruses don’t waste time on trifles and use it all. It sometimes can lead to sad effects.
Shortly about cryptocurrency mining
List of the typical coin miner symptoms
How dangerous is the Es4.runtask.exe miner?
Coin miners does not deal damage to your files. However, they make a lot of unpleasant things with the whole system
Firstly, Es4.runtask.exe malware makes your PC overloaded. It is unable to run your applications now, as all processor power is used 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 experience extremely slow performance. Pages can open for years, any kind of logins will take about a minute – just a horror story for a person who works online.
Es4.runtask.exe Technical Summary.
| File Name | Es4.runtask.exe |
| Type | Trojan Coin Miner |
| Detection Name | Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner |
| Distribution Method | Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc. |
| Similar behavior | Videos.exe, Setup2.exe, Wifitask.exe |
| Removal | Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Es4.runtask.exe removal. |
“Visible” damage is not a solitary bad thing coin miners do to your system. Es4.runtask.exe coin miner also deals damage to your OS. To execute all malevolent functions properly, it ruins the security features of your system. You will likely see your Microsoft Defender disabled – malware halts it to prevent recognition. If you check the HOSTS file, you will likely see a ton of new entries – they are added by this coin miner to connect your PC to a malicious mining network. All these changes are about to be gone back to the original in the process of computer recovery.
Hardware effects of coin miner activity
Besides making your computer slow, running at peak level for a long period of time can trigger damage to your machine as well as raise electricity costs. PC components are designed to easily get along with high load, but they can do so only in case when they are in a good shape.
Little and well-protected CPU fan is not very easy to damage. Meanwhile, graphic cards have large and easy-to-access fans, which can be easily broke if touched while running, for instance, by the user much before the virus injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the very high load caused by Es4.runtask.exe can easily lead to graphic processing unit failure3. Graphic cards are also prone to have very fast wearing when used for cryptocurrency mining. It is likely an unwanted case when your GPU’s performance plunges 20-30% just after 1-2 weeks of being used in such a way.
How did I get Es4.runtask.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 item on your PC is by downloading it from the dubious site as a part of a program. Users that spread hacked variants of well-known programs (which do not need the license key) have small chances to get paid. Therefore, there is a very big temptation to include malware to the final package of the hacked app and receive a coin for each installation. Before criticizing these people for hacking and also malware distribution, ask yourself – is it OK to avoid purchasing the program in this manner? It is more affordable 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 Es4.runtask.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 software, just like the majority of non-critical Windows components, are not started with the system start. That allows you to clean the computer without dealing with high CPU usage of the coin miner.
References
- Read about why Monero and DarkCoin are so popular amongst cybercriminals.
- About unwanted effects for GPUs in the process of cryptomining.
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