Gpupdate.exe process is related to a malevolent application that can properly be recognized as a coin miner virus. That malware type utilizes your hardware to mine cryptocurrencies, generally – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your system almost unfunctional because of high CPU usage.
What is Gpupdate.exe process?
Gpupdate.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
As I have pointed out in the introduction, Gpupdate.exe is a coin miner trojan. The names of the executive file may be diverse, however, the consequences are almost always the identical. Considering that coin miners aim at cryptocurrency mining, they use all available hardware capacity of your personal computer to run this operation. This virus does not pay attention to the fact that you may need to use your machine for other activities – it will always consume over 80% of your processor power.
Gpupdate.exe – Very high CPU as well as GPU usage
Besides CPU usage, some of the coin miners additionally make use of GPU power for their tasks. In that situation, you will struggle even to see the mouse cursor moving – GPU is often utilized on 100%. It is not as critical as processor for system work, so Gpupdate.exe coin miner viruses do not waste time on trifles and use it all. It sometimes may lead to sad consequences.
Shortly about cryptocurrency mining
Cryptocurrency mining term means the operation of calculating the transaction block hash. That is a basic part of any project based on the blockchain technology. Since this operation takes a lot of calculations, a strong machine is required. Exactly, the GPU is better for this purpose, because they have more cores available. Cryptomining farms are usually constructed of dozens of graphic cards to conduct their activity effectively. Such systems are not usable for “classic” purposes, like gaming or browsing the Web. 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 Gpupdate.exe miner?
Coin miners does not deal damage to your files. However, they make a lot of unpleasant things with the whole system
First of all, Gpupdate.exe malware makes your computer overloaded. It is unable to run your applications anymore, because all processor power is consumed by a virus. That malware does not care for your needs, 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 suffer from extremely sluggish efficiency. Pages can open for years, any kind of logins will take about a minute – just a horror story for a person who does a job online.
Gpupdate.exe Technical Summary.
| File Name | Gpupdate.exe |
| Type | Trojan Coin Miner |
| Detection Name | Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner |
| Distribution Method | Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc. |
| Similar behavior | Wiaacmgr.exe, Windowsactiondialog.exe, Msconfig.exe |
| Removal | Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Gpupdate.exe removal. |
“Visible” damage is not a single negative activity coin miners do to your PC. Gpupdate.exe coin miner likewise deals damage to your OS. To execute all malicious operations successfully, it ruins the security 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 number of new entries – they are brought in by this coin miner to connect your system to a malicious mining network. All these adjustments shall be gone back to the initial state 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 may trigger damage to your device as well as increase power expenses. PC components are designed to easily get along with high load, but they can do so only when they are in a good shape.
Compact and covered processor fan is not very easy to crack. Meanwhile, graphic cards have big and easy-to-access rotors, which can be easily broke if affected while running, for instance, by the user much earlier before the virus injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the very high load caused by Gpupdate.exe miner can easily lead to GPU failure3. GPUs are also prone to have very fast wearing when utilized for crypto mining. It is likely an undesirable case when the performance of your graphic card plunges 20-30% just after 1-2 weeks of being used in such a way.
How did I get Gpupdate.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 malevolent programs among “serious” malware. Adware frequently serves as a carrier for Gpupdate.exe malware injection: it shows you the banners, which contain a link to malware downloading. Yes, this abstract “malware” may belong to any type – another adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. However, the statistics say that approximately 30% of all viruses spread through the malicious banners are coin miners – and Gpupdate.exe is right with them.4
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 suspicious site as a part of a program. People who spread hacked variants of well-known programs (which do not need the license key) have small chances to make money. Therefore, there is a huge lure to include malware to the final package of the hacked app and acquire a coin for every setup. Before criticizing these individuals for hacking and also malware distribution, ask yourself – is it okay to avoid purchasing the program in this manner? It is more affordable to pay $20-$30 at once than to pay a much bigger figure for antivirus program as well as new parts for your desktop.
How to remove the Gpupdate.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 making use of special program. Appropriate security tool should have high capability at scanning and also be lightweight – in order to make no problems with utilization even on weak systems. Additionally, it is better to have proactive protection in your security tool – to prevent the virus even before it starts. Microsoft Defender lacks these functions for different reasons. That’s why I’d recommend you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that objective. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is a great option that fits all of the specified characteristics.5
Before the malware removal, it is important to boot your system into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Gpupdate.exe miner takes a lot of processor capacity, it is required 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.
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 PC is in Safe Mode, all third-party software, along with the majority of non-crucial system components, are not started with the system start. That gives you the ability to clean the computer without dealing with high CPU usage of the coin miner.
Remove Gpupdate.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 Gpupdate.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner
Name: Gpupdate.exe
Description: The Gpupdate.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Gpupdate.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.
