iCUEDevicePluginHost.exe File Is Legitimate Or Virus?

iCUEDevicePluginHost.exe is a process associated with the CORSAIR iCUE software. It is a component of the CORSAIR Utility Engine, which is a software suite designed for managing and controlling CORSAIR peripherals such as keyboards, mice, and RGB lighting.

The iCUEDevicePluginHost.exe process is responsible for handling device plugins and providing the necessary communication between the CORSAIR iCUE software and connected devices. It allows users to customize and configure their CORSAIR peripherals, including adjusting lighting effects, programming macros, and managing device settings.

Typically, iCUEDevicePluginHost.exe is located in the installation folder of the CORSAIR iCUE software, such as “C:\Program Files\Corsair\CORSAIR iCUE”. It is a legitimate file and is digitally signed by CORSAIR, ensuring its authenticity.

However, it’s important to note that malware or malicious programs can sometimes use similar names to disguise themselves. Therefore, it’s always recommended to verify the file’s location and digital signature to ensure its legitimacy. Keeping your software up to date and running regular security scans with reputable antivirus software can help ensure the integrity and security of your system.

It is better to prevent, than repair and repent!

When we talk about the intrusion of unfamiliar programs into your computer’s work, the proverb “Forewarned is forearmed” describes the situation as accurately as possible. Gridinsoft Anti-Malware is exactly the tool that is always useful to have in your armory: fast, efficient, up-to-date. It is appropriate to use it as an emergency help at the slightest suspicion of infection.

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What is iCUEDevicePluginHost.exe process?

iCUEDevicePluginHost.exe is a system file associated with CORSAIR iCUE, and it is commonly found in the “C:\Program Files\Corsair\CORSAIR iCUE” folder. However, malware or malicious programs can sometimes use similar names to evade detection. To determine if the file is legitimate or potentially malicious, it is recommended to perform the following steps:

• Verify the file location: Check the actual file location. If iCUEDevicePluginHost.exe is located outside the “C:\Program Files\” folder or its subfolders, it may be suspicious.
• Check the digital signature: Right-click on the file, select “Properties,” go to the “Digital Signatures” tab, and verify if the file is signed by a trusted publisher. Legitimate system files are usually signed by Microsoft or the relevant hardware manufacturer.
• Scan for malware: Run a thorough scan of your system using reputable antivirus or anti-malware software to check for any potential infections. Make sure your antivirus software is up to date to detect the latest threats.

If you suspect that iCUEDevicePluginHost.exe is indeed malicious, it is advisable to take appropriate action, such as quarantining or removing the file, based on the results of your malware scan.

Icuedevicepluginhost.exe – Really high CPU/GPU use

Besides CPU utilization, 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 used on 100%. It is not as critical as CPU for system work, so iCUEDevicePluginHost.exe coin miner viruses do not waste time on trifles and utilize all of it. It often may lead to sad effects.

List of the typical coin miner symptoms

Is Coin Miner danger?

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

First off, iCUEDevicePluginHost.exe malware makes your PC overloaded. It is unable to run your applications now, as all CPU power is consumed by a virus. That malware does not care for your demands, all it pays attention to 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 type of logins will take about a minute – just a horror story for a person who does a job online.

“Visible” damage is not a solitary negative activity coin miners do to your computer. iCUEDevicePluginHost.exe coin miner likewise deals damage to your operating system. To conduct all malicious functions successfully, it wrecks the protection mechanisms of your system. If you open the HOSTS file, you will likely see a number of new entries – they are added by this coin miner to connect your computer to a malicious mining network. All these changes are about to be thrown back to the original in the process of system recovery.

Hardware effects of coin miner activity

Besides making your computer slow, running at peak level for a long period of time can trigger damage to your machine and raise electricity costs. 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.

Compact and covered processor fan is not very easy to broke. Meanwhile, GPUs have large and easy-to-access rotors, which can be easily broke if touched while spinning, for example, by the user much earlier before the coin-miner injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the really high load caused by iCUEDevicePluginHost.exe virus can easily lead to graphic processing unit failure. Video cards are also prone to have fast wearing when used for cryptocurrency mining. It is likely a bad case when your GPU’s performance decreases on 20-30% only after several weeks of being used in such a way.

How did I get 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 widespread malicious programs through “major” viruses. Adware sometimes functions as a carrier for iCUEDevicePluginHost.exe malware infiltration: it shows you the banners, which include a link to malware downloading. Yes, this abstract “malware” may belong to any type – an additional adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. But the statistics say that approximately 30% of all viruses spread with the malevolent banners are coin miners – and iCUEDevicePluginHost.exe is right one of them.

The example of malicious banners you can see in the Internet

Another way you could get this thing on your PC is by downloading it from the dubious website as a part of a program. Users that spread hacked versions of well-known programs (which do not demand the license key) have small chances to get paid. Thus, there is a huge temptation to include malware to the final package of the hacked app and receive a coin for each setup. Prior to criticizing these individuals for hacking and malware spreading, ask yourself – is it OK to avoid paying for 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 PC.

How to remove the iCUEDevicePluginHost.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 demands using special tool. Proper security tool should have high efficiency at scanning and also be lightweight – in order to make no problems with usage also on weak PCs. On top of that, it is better to have on-run security in your protection tool – to prevent the virus even before it starts. Microsoft Defender does not have these features for various 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 each of the discussed qualities.¹

Prior to the malware removal, it is important to boot your system into Safe Mode with Networking. Since iCUEDevicePluginHost.exe miner consumes a lot of CPU power, it is required 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 programs, just like the majority of non-crucial Windows components, are not launched with the system start. That allows you to clean the PC without dealing with high CPU usage of the coin miner.

Remove iCUEDevicePluginHost.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.

1. Our review on GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

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