\”fish.exe executable file comes from a harmful application that can correctly be recognized as a coin miner trojan. That malware form uses your PC components to mine cryptocurrencies, primarily – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your computer pretty much unfunctional because of high CPU utilization.
What is \”fish.exe process?
\”fish.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
As I have pointed out before, \”fish.exe is a coin miner virus. The names of the executive file may be diverse, but the impacts are almost always the same. Because coin miners focus on cryptocurrency mining, they utilize all possible hardware capacity of your desktop to run this procedure. This malware does not pay attention to the fact that you probably want to use your machine for other tasks – it will constantly take over 80% of your processor power.
Besides CPU utilization, some of the coin miners also utilize GPU power for their tasks. In that case, you will probably struggle even to see the mouse cursor moving – GPU is usually used on 100%. It is not as important as CPU for system work, so \”fish.exe coin miner viruses don’t waste time on trifles and utilize all of it. It often can lead to unhappy consequences.
Shortly about cryptocurrency mining
Crypto mining means the action of calculating the transaction block hash. That is a basic part of anything based on the blockchain technology. Since this action takes a lot of calculations, a very powerful computer is required. Exactly, the graphic card is better for this purpose, because they have more cores available. Cryptocurrency mining farms usually consist of tens and hundreds of graphic cards to conduct their activity effectively. Such computer 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.2
List of the typical coin miner symptoms
How dangerous is the \”fish.exe miner?
Coin miners does not deal damage to your files. However, they make a lot of unpleasant things with the whole system
First off, \”fish.exe malware makes your PC overloaded. It is unable to run your applications now, as all processor power is consumed by a malware. 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 experience exceptionally sluggish performance. Pages can open for years, any type of logins will likely take about a minute – just a horror story for a person who does a job online.
\”fish.exe Technical Summary.
File Name | \”fish.exe |
Type | Trojan Coin Miner |
Detection Name | Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner |
Distribution Method | Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc. |
Similar behavior | Settings.exe, Microsofthost.exe, Appmodule.exe |
Removal | Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic \”fish.exe removal. |
“Visible” harm is not a solitary bad activity coin miners perform to your personal computer. \”fish.exe coin miner likewise deals damage to your operating system. To complete all malevolent 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 open the HOSTS file, you will likely see a number of new notes – they are added by this trojan miner to connect your system to a malicious cryptomining network. All these adjustments are about to be gone back to the initial state in the process of system recovery.
Hardware effects of coin miner activity
Besides decreasing your system’s performance, performing at peak power for long times can trigger damage to your machine and increase power expenses. Hardware components are designed to easily get along with high load, but they are good with it only in case when they are in a good shape.
Tiny and covered CPU cooling system is hard to broke. Meanwhile, graphic cards have big and easy-to-access fans, which can be easily cracked if touched while working, for example, by the user much earlier before the malware injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the unusually high load caused by \”fish.exe miner can easily lead to graphic processing unit failure3. Video cards are also tend to have very fast wearing when used for cryptocurrency mining. It is likely an undesirable situation when your GPU’s performance plunges 20-30% only after 1-2 weeks of being used in such a way.
How did I get \”fish.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 malevolent programs through “severe” viruses. Adware frequently acts as a carrier for \”fish.exe malware injection: it demonstrates you the banners, which have a link to malware downloading. Sure, this abstract “malware” may belong to any kind – yet another adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. But the statistics show that approximately 30% of all malware spread through the malevolent banners are coin miners – and \”fish.exe is right among them.4
Another way you could get this item on your PC is by downloading it from the dubious site as a part of a program. Users who spread hacked variants of favored programs (which do not demand the license key) have small chances to earn money. Thus, there is a huge temptation to include malware to the final package of the hacked app and receive a coin for every installation. Before criticizing these people for hacking and also 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 one time than to pay a much greater sum for antivirus program as well as new parts for your PC.
How to remove the \”fish.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 needs using specific app. Appropriate security tool must have high performance at scanning and also be lightweight – in order to make no problems with utilization also on weak systems. In addition, it is recommended to have proactive protection in your protection tool – to prevent the virus even before it launches. Microsoft Defender lacks these elements for different factors. That’s why I’d suggest you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that purpose. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is a great choice that fits each of the discussed characteristics.5
Before the malware removal, it is important to boot your Windows into Safe Mode with Networking. Since \”fish.exe miner takes a lot of processor 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 software, just like the majority of non-crucial operating system components, are not launched with the system start. That gives you the ability to clean the system without dealing with high processor usage of the coin miner.
Remove \”fish.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 "fish.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner
Name: "fish.exe
Description: The "fish.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This "fish.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.