Evteng.exe is a legitimate executable file that belongs to Intel ProSet/Wireless WiFi Software. This process enables Intel-made Wi-Fi chips to provide seamless usage, which is common in high-end laptops and some PC builds. However, coin miner malware sometimes utilizes this process by adopting its name.
By default, evteng.exe does not consume a significant share of your CPU power. However, if it is a malicious copy, you will likely observe a CPU load of 80% or more caused solely by this process. Additionally, the directory of the executable file differs. Most users will not suspect much when they see a process that appears legitimate in the Task Manager.
What is Evteng.exe process?
Evteng.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
As mentioned earlier, Evteng.exe has the potential to be a coin miner trojan. The clearest indication of its malicious nature is the high CPU load, typically exceeding 80%. A legitimate version of this process does not require such a significant amount of CPU power, even on weak systems.
Evteng.exe – Very high CPU/GPU use
In addition to CPU usage, you can determine if the process is malicious by checking its .exe file location. The genuine instance of evteng.exe can be found at C:\Program Files\Intel\WiFi or C:\Program Files (x86)\Intel\Wireless. To verify the file location of the process, right-click on it in the Task Manager and select the “Open file location” button in the dialog box. If the file is located in any other directory than the one mentioned, it indicates malicious origins.
Shortly about cryptocurrency mining
Crypto mining means the activity of calculating the transaction block hash. That is a basic element of any project based on the blockchain technology. Since this operation takes a lot of calculations, a high-end computer is required. Exactly, the video card is better for this task, because they have more cores available. Cryptomining farms usually consist of tens and hundreds of video cards to conduct their activity effectively. Such systems are not usable for “normal” purposes, like gaming or browsing the Web. Fraudsters who make profit via this coin miner use someones’ hardware instead, even if they are used for the regular activity.1
List of the typical coin miner symptoms
How dangerous is the Evteng.exe miner?
Coin miners does not deal damage to your files. However, they make a lot of unpleasant things with the whole system
First, Evteng.exe virus makes your PC overloaded. It is unable to run your applications now, because all CPU power is used by a virus. That malware does not care for your needs, all it pays attention to is generating income on you. Even if you are patient, and you waited until browser is open, you will likely suffer from extremely sluggish efficiency. Pages will open for years, any type of logins will likely take about a minute – just a nightmare for a person who works online.
Evteng.exe Technical Summary.
| File Name | Evteng.exe |
| Type | Trojan Coin Miner |
| Detection Name | Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner |
| Distribution Method | Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc. |
| Similar behavior | Regsrvc.exe, Networkcap.exe, Sysinfocap.exe |
| Removal | Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Evteng.exe removal. |
“Visible” damage is not a single bad activity coin miners do to your system. Evteng.exe coin miner likewise deals damage to your OS. To carry out all malicious functions properly, it wrecks the protection components of your system. You will likely see your Microsoft Defender disabled – malware stops it to prevent recognition. If you check the HOSTS file, you will likely see a number of new notes – they are added by this coin miner to connect your computer to a malicious mining network. All these adjustments are about to be thrown back to the original in the process of computer recovery.
Hardware effects of coin miner activity
Besides making your computer slow, performing at peak power for a long period of time can trigger damage to your device as well as raise power bills. PC elements are designed 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 broke. Meanwhile, GPUs have large and easy-to-access fans, which can be easily broke if touched while spinning, for example, by the user much earlier before the coin-miner injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the really high load caused by Evteng.exe virus can easily lead to graphic processing unit failure2. Video cards are also prone to have very fast wearing when used for crypto mining. It is surely a bad situation when your GPU’s performance plunges 20-30% just after 1-2 weeks of being used in such a way.
How did I get Evteng.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 prevalent malicious programs among “serious” malware. Adware often functions as a carrier for Evteng.exe malware injection: 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. However, the statistics say that about 30% of all malware spread with the malevolent banners are coin miners – and Evteng.exe is just among them.
The example of malicious banners you can see in the Internet
An additional way you could get this item on your computer is by downloading it from the untrustworthy site as a part of a program. Users that spread hacked versions of favored programs (which do not demand the license key) have small chances to get paid. Therefore, there is a huge temptation to include malware to the final package of the hacked application and get a coin for every setup. Prior to criticizing these guys for hacking and also malware spreading, ask yourself – is it alright to avoid paying for the program in such a way? It is much cheaper to pay $20-$30 one time than to pay a much greater sum for antivirus software as well as new parts for your PC.
How to remove the Evteng.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 system is in Safe Mode, all third-party apps, just like the majority of non-critical system components, are not started with the system start. That gives you the ability to clean the system without dealing with high processor usage of the coin miner.
References
- Detailed explanation of how does cryptomining work.
- About unwanted effects for GPUs in the process of cryptomining.
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