Icacls.exe utility is a deprecated command-line editor of directory and file security descriptors in Windows NT. But more often Icacls process is related to a malevolent application that can properly be defined as a coin miner trojan virus. That malware type uses your PC components to mine cryptocurrencies, generally – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your personal computer roughly nonfunctional as a result of high CPU use.
What is Icacls.exe process?
Icacls.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
As I have mentioned before, Icacls.exe is a coin miner trojan virus. The names of the executive file may be diverse, but the impacts are generally identical. Because coin miners focus on cryptocurrency mining, they use all possible hardware power of your personal computer to conduct this process. This malware does not take note of the fact that you probably need to make use of your PC for other activities – it will continuously use over 80% of your CPU power.
Icacls.exe – Extremely 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 case, you will likely struggle also to see the mouse cursor moving – GPU is usually utilized on 100%. It is not as crucial as the processor for system work, so Icacls.exe coin miner viruses do not waste time on trifles and utilize it all. It often may result in bad effects.
Shortly about cryptocurrency mining
Cryptocurrency mining means the activity of calculating the transaction block hash. That is an integral part of anything based on blockchain technology. Since this action takes a lot of calculations, a high-end PC is required. Exactly, the video card is better for this purpose, because they have more cores available. Cryptomining farms usually consist of tens and hundreds of video cards to complete their task efficiently. Such systems are not usable for “normal” purposes, like gaming or web browsing. Fraudsters who gain money via this coin miner use someones’ computers instead, even if they are used for regular activity.2
List of the typical coin miner symptoms
How dangerous is the Icacls.exe miner?
Coin miners does not deal damage to your files. However, they make a lot of unpleasant things with the whole system
Firstly, Icacls.exe virus makes your computer overloaded. It is not able to run your applications anymore, since all CPU power is used by a virus. That malware does not care for your wants, all it focuses on is making money on you. Even if you are patient, and you waited until web browser is open, you will likely suffer from extremely slow performance. Pages will open for years, any sort of logins will likely take about a minute – just a horror story for a person that does a job online.
Icacls.exe Technical Summary.
| File Name | Icacls.exe |
| Type | Trojan Coin Miner |
| Detection Name | Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner |
| Distribution Method | Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc. |
| Similar behavior | Wsappx.exe, Displayhelp.exe, Pup.optional |
| Removal | Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Icacls.exe removal. |
“Visible” damage is not a solitary bad activity coin miners perform to your computer. Icacls.exe coin miner also deals damage to your operating system. To conduct all malicious operations correctly, it wrecks the security mechanisms of your system. You will likely see your Microsoft Defender disabled – malware stops it to prevent recognition. If you open the HOSTS file, you will likely see a ton of new entries – they are brought in by this trojan miner to connect your system to a malicious mining network. All these changes shall be thrown back to the original in the process of system recovery.
Hardware effects of coin miner activity
Besides decreasing your system’s performance, running at peak level for a long period of time may cause damage to your machine as well as raise power expenses. PC components are created to easily deal with high load, but they can do so only in case when they are in a good shape.
Little and covered processor fan is hard to damage. Meanwhile, GPUs have big and easy-to-access rotors, which can be easily broken if touched while running, for instance, by the user much before the virus injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the unusually high load caused by Icacls.exe malware can easily lead to graphic processing unit failure3. Graphic cards are also prone to have increased wearing when used for crypto mining. It is surely an unwanted case when the performance of your video card plunges 20-30% only after several weeks of being exploited in such a way.
How did I get Icacls.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 common malicious programs among “major” malware. Adware frequently functions as a carrier for Icacls.exe malware infiltration: it shows you the banners, which have a link to malware downloading. Sure, this abstract “malware” can belong to any type – yet another adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. But the statistics say that about 30% of all viruses spread with the malevolent banners are coin miners – and Icacls.exe is just among them.4
The example of malicious banners you can see in the Internet
Another way you could get this item on your PC is by downloading it from the suspicious site as a part of a program. Users who spread hacked versions of favored programs (which do not require the license key) have small chances to earn money. Hence, there is a very big temptation to add malware to the final package of the hacked application and receive a coin for every installation. Before blaming these individuals for hacking and also malware spreading, ask yourself – is it okay to avoid paying for the program in such a way? It is much cheaper 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 Icacls.exe miner from my PC?
The best way to get rid of this coin miner virus is to use anti-malware software
Eliminating such a virus requires making use of special software. Effective antivirus should have high efficiency at scanning and be lightweight – in order to create no problems with usage even on weak systems. In addition, it is better to have on-run security in your protection solution – to halt the virus even before it starts. Microsoft Defender lacks these functions for different reasons. That’s why I’d advise you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that objective. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is an ideal option that fits each of the discussed characteristics.5
Before the virus removal, it is important to reboot your Windows into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Icacls.exe miner consumes a lot of CPU capacity, 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.
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 computer is in Safe Mode, all third-party software, along with the majority of non-crucial operating system components, are not started with the system start. That gives you the ability to clean the system without dealing with high CPU usage of the coin miner.
Remove Icacls.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 Icacls.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner
Name: Icacls.exe
Description: The Icacls.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Icacls.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 crypto mining work.
- About unwanted effects for GPUs in the process of crypto mining.
- Read more about various malware type on Cybersecurity Glossary.
- Our review on GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
