Gamesdk.exe Virus ⛏️ (Coin Miner Trojan) Removal

Written by Robert Bailey
Gamesdk.exe executable file belongs to a malicious program that can properly be defined as a coin miner trojan. That malware type uses your PC components to mine cryptocurrencies, primarily – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your personal computer almost unfunctional as a result of high CPU utilization.
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What is Gamesdk.exe process?

Gamesdk.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus

As I have pointed out previously, Gamesdk.exe is a coin miner trojan. The names of the executive file may be diverse, but the consequences are usually the identical. Since coin miners aim at cryptocurrency mining, they use all possible hardware capacity of your desktop to conduct this procedure. This virus does not take note of the fact that you probably need to make use of your device for other activities – it will always use over 80% of your CPU power.

Gamesdk.exe Windows Process

Gamesdk.exe – Very high CPU/GPU usage

Besides CPU consumption, some of the coin miners additionally utilize GPU power for their operations. In that instance, you will struggle also to see the mouse cursor moving – GPU is often utilized on 100%. It is not as critical as CPU for system work, so Gamesdk.exe coin miner viruses don’t waste time on trifles and utilize all of it. It often can result in unhappy effects.

Shortly about cryptocurrency mining

Crypto mining is a term that means the activity of calculating the transaction block hash. That is a integral element of anything based on the blockchain technology. Since this operation takes a lot of calculations, a very powerful machine is needed. Exactly, the graphic card is better for this task, because they have more cores available. Cryptomining farms usually consist of tens and hundreds of GPUs to complete their task efficiently. Such computer systems are not usable for “normal” purposes, like gaming or browsing the Web. Fraudsters who gain money via this coin miner use someones’ computers instead, even if they are used for the regular activity.2

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 Gamesdk.exe miner?

    Coin miners does not deal damage to your files. However, they make a lot of unpleasant things with the whole system

    Initially, Gamesdk.exe malware makes your PC overloaded. It is not able to run your applications now, as all processor power is consumed by a virus. That malware does not care for your wants, all it focuses on is generating profits on you. Even if you are patient, and you waited until browser is open, you will likely suffer from incredibly sluggish performance. Pages can open up for years, any type of logins will take about a minute – just a headache for a person that does a job online.

    Gamesdk.exe Technical Summary.

    File NameGamesdk.exe
    TypeTrojan Coin Miner
    Detection NameTrojan:Win32/CoinMiner
    Distribution MethodSoftware bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc.
    Similar behaviorAssysctrlservice.exe, Auepdu.exe, Amdfendrsr.exe
    RemovalDownload and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Gamesdk.exe removal.

    “Visible” harm is not a single unpleasant thing coin miners perform to your PC. Gamesdk.exe coin miner additionally deals damage to your operating system. To conduct all malicious 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 load of new entries – they are added by this coin miner to connect your computer to a malicious mining network. All these adjustments shall be thrown back to the initial state in the process of system recovery.

    Hardware effects of coin miner activity

    Besides decreasing your PC’s performance, running at peak level for long times may cause damage to your machine and raise electricity costs. Hardware components are created to easily get along with high load, but they are good with it only in case when they are in a good shape.

    Compact and covered processor fan is hard to crack. Meanwhile, GPUs have big and easy-to-access fans, which can be easily broke if affected while spinning, for example, by the user much before the malware injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the very high load caused by Gamesdk.exe virus can easily lead to graphic card failure3. Video cards are also tend to have fast wearing when used for crypto mining. It is surely an unwanted case when your GPU’s performance decreases on 20-30% just after several weeks of being used in such a way.

    How did I get Gamesdk.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 among “major” viruses. Adware sometimes functions as a carrier for Gamesdk.exe malware injection: it demonstrates you the banners, which have a link to malware downloading. Yes, this abstract “malware” may belong to any kind – another adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. However, the statistics show that around 30% of all malware spread with the malicious banners are coin miners – and Gamesdk.exe is right among them.4

    Unwanted banners adware

    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 suspicious site as a part of a program. People that spread hacked versions of favored programs (which do not need the license key) have small chances to make money. Hence, there is a very big temptation to include malware to the final package of the hacked application and acquire a coin for every installation. Before criticizing these people for hacking and also malware spreading, ask yourself – is it okay to avoid buying the program in such a way? It is more affordable to pay $20-$30 one time than to pay a much bigger figure for antivirus program and new parts for your computer.

    How to remove the Gamesdk.exe miner from my PC?

    The best way to get rid of this coin miner virus is to use anti-malware software

    Removing such a virus needs using special app. Proper security tool must have high capability at scanning and also be lightweight – in order to create no problems with usage even on weak PCs. In addition, it is better to have proactive security in your protection tool – to prevent the virus even before it launches. Microsoft Defender does not have these features for different factors. That’s why I’d suggest you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that objective. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is a superb option that fits each of the mentioned characteristics.5

    Before the malware removal, it is important to reboot your Windows into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Gamesdk.exe miner takes a lot of processor power, it is needed to halt 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.

    Boot into Windows Safe Mode

    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.

    windows safe mode boot option with command prompt

    When your computer is in Safe Mode, all third-party applications, just like the majority of non-critical Windows components, are not launched with the system start. That allows you to clean the computer without dealing with high CPU usage of the coin miner.

    Remove Gamesdk.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.

    GridinSoft Anti-Malware free trial

    After activating your free trial, start Full scan. It may last up to 10 minutes. You may use the PC as usual.

    Scanning in GridinSoft Anti-Malware

    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.

    GridinSoft Anti-Malware after the scan process

    Now, you are good to go. Reboot your PC into a normal Windows mode and use just as there was nothing malicious.

    Remove Gamesdk.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner

    Name: Gamesdk.exe

    Description: The Gamesdk.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Gamesdk.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

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    References

    1. Read about why Monero and DarkCoin are so popular amongst cybercriminals.
    2. Detailed explanation of how does cryptomining work.
    3. About unwanted effects for GPUs in the process of cryptomining.
    4. Read more about various malware type on Cybersecurity Glossary.
    5. Our review on GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

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    About the author

    Robert Bailey

    I'm Robert Bailey, a passionate Security Engineer with a deep fascination for all things related to malware, reverse engineering, and white hat ethical hacking.

    As a white hat hacker, I firmly believe in the power of ethical hacking to bolster security measures. By identifying vulnerabilities and providing solutions, I contribute to the proactive defense of digital infrastructures.

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