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
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
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

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
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.
References
- Read about why Monero and DarkCoin are so popular amongst cybercriminals.
- About unwanted effects for GPUs in the process of cryptomining.

Leave a Comment