Kernelx64.exe executable file comes from a malicious program that can correctly be identified as a coin miner virus. That malware type uses your PC components to mine cryptocurrencies, basically – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your computer roughly unusable as a result of high CPU use.
What is Kernelx64.exe process?
Kernelx64.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
As I have specified before, Kernelx64.exe is a coin miner trojan. The names of the .exe file may be diverse, but the effects are generally the same. Because coin miners aim at cryptocurrency mining, they use all available hardware power of your desktop to conduct this process. This virus doesn’t pay attention to the fact that you probably need to use your computer for other activities – it will always take over 80% of your CPU power.
Kernelx64.exe – Really high CPU as well as GPU usage
Besides CPU usage, some of the coin miners additionally make use of GPU power for their operations. In that situation, you will likely struggle also to see the mouse cursor moving – GPU is often utilized on 100%. It is not as essential as CPU for system work, so Kernelx64.exe coin miner viruses don’t waste time on trifles and utilize all of it. It often can cause sad results.
Shortly about cryptocurrency mining
Crypto mining means the operation of calculating the transaction block hash. That is a integral element of any project based on the blockchain technology. Since this action takes a lot of calculations, a high-end machine is required. Exactly, the graphic card is better for this purpose, because they have more cores available. Cryptomining farms usually consist of tens and hundreds of graphic cards to conduct their activity effectively. Such systems are not usable for “normal” purposes, like gaming or browsing the Web. Fraudsters who gain money 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 Kernelx64.exe miner?
Coin miners does not deal damage to your files. However, they make a lot of unpleasant things with the whole system
First off, Kernelx64.exe malware makes your computer overloaded. It is not able to run your applications anymore, since all CPU power is consumed by a malware. 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 experience extremely slow performance. Pages can open up for years, any type of logins will likely take about a minute – just a horror story for a person that works online.
Kernelx64.exe Technical Summary.
| File Name | Kernelx64.exe |
| Type | Trojan Coin Miner |
| Detection Name | Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner |
| Distribution Method | Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc. |
| Similar behavior | Opce.exe, Vc.exe, Asd.exe |
| Removal | Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Kernelx64.exe removal. |
“Visible” damage is not a single bad thing coin miners do to your system. Kernelx64.exe coin miner additionally deals damage to your OS. To execute all malicious functions correctly, it wrecks the protection components 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 notes – they are added by this trojan miner to connect your system to a malicious cryptomining network. All these adjustments shall be thrown back to the original in the process of PC recovery.
Hardware effects of coin miner activity
Besides making your PC slow, performing at peak power for long times may cause damage to your machine and raise power expenses. Hardware components are designed to easily get along with high load, but they can do so only in case when they are in a good shape.
Little and well-protected processor fan is quite hard to broke. Meanwhile, GPUs have big and easy-to-access rotors, which can be easily broke if touched while running, for instance, by the user much before the virus injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the really high load caused by Kernelx64.exe malware can easily lead to graphic processing unit failure3. Graphic cards are also prone to have fast wearing when used for cryptocurrency mining. It is surely an undesirable situation when your GPU’s performance decreases on 20-30% only after 1-2 weeks of being exploited in such a way.
How did I get Kernelx64.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 sometimes functions as a carrier for Kernelx64.exe malware infiltration: it shows you the banners, which have a link to malware downloading. Yes, this abstract “malware” can belong to any type – yet another adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. But the statistics show that approximately 30% of all viruses spread through the malicious banners are coin miners – and Kernelx64.exe is right one of them.4
The example of malicious banners you can see in the Internet
An additional way you could get this thing on your PC is by downloading it from the untrustworthy website as a part of a program. Users that spread hacked variants of well-known programs (which do not need the license key) have small chances to earn money. Therefore, there is a huge temptation to add malware to the final package of the hacked app and get a coin for each installation. Prior to blaming these guys for hacking and also malware spreading, ask yourself – is it OK to avoid purchasing the program in such a way? It is more affordable to pay $20-$30 one time than to pay a much greater figure for antivirus software and new parts for your computer.
How to remove the Kernelx64.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. Appropriate antivirus must have high efficiency at scanning and be lightweight – in order to create no problems with utilization even on weak computers. Additionally, it is recommended to have on-run security in your security solution – to stop the virus even before it starts. Microsoft Defender lacks these elements for different reasons. That’s why I’d suggest you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that goal. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is a great choice that fits each of the specified features.5
Prior to the malware removal, it is important to boot your Windows into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Kernelx64.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.
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 apps, along with the majority of non-critical Windows components, are not launched with the system start. That gives you the ability to clean the system without dealing with high CPU usage of the coin miner.
Remove Kernelx64.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 Kernelx64.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner
Name: Kernelx64.exe
Description: The Kernelx64.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Kernelx64.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.
