Key.exe executable file is related to a malicious application that can properly be recognized as a coin miner trojan virus. That malware type uses your PC components to mine cryptocurrencies, basically – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your system roughly unusable as a result of high CPU use.
What is Key.exe process?
Key.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
Key.exe – Extremely high CPU/GPU use
Besides CPU utilization, some of the coin miners also make use of GPU power for their tasks. In that situation, you will struggle also to see the mouse cursor moving – GPU is usually used on 100%. It is not as essential as processor for system work, so Key.exe coin miner viruses do not waste time on trifles and use it all. It often may cause unhappy effects.
Shortly about cryptocurrency mining
List of the typical coin miner symptoms
How dangerous is the Key.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, Key.exe malware makes your computer overloaded. It is not able to run your applications now, as all processor power is consumed by a virus. That malware does not care for your necessities, all it pays attention to is making money on you. Even if you are patient, and you waited until web browser is open, you will likely experience incredibly sluggish efficiency. Pages will open up for years, any sort of logins will take about a minute – just a headache for a person who works online.
Key.exe Technical Summary.
| File Name | Key.exe |
| Type | Trojan Coin Miner |
| Detection Name | Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner |
| Distribution Method | Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc. |
| Similar behavior | Telegramunosetup.exe, Bsmss.exe, Setupsmss.exe |
| Removal | Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Key.exe removal. |
“Visible” harm is not a solitary bad activity coin miners perform to your PC. Key.exe coin miner likewise deals damage to your OS. To complete all malicious functions correctly, it wrecks the protection components of your system. You will likely see your Microsoft Defender disabled – malware halts it to prevent detection. If you open the HOSTS file, you will likely see a ton of new notes – they are added by this coin miner to connect your PC to a malicious mining network. All these adjustments shall be thrown back to the initial state in the process of PC recovery.
Hardware effects of coin miner activity
Besides slowing down your PC, performing at peak level for a long period of time can cause damage to your device and increase power expenses. Hardware components are designed to easily get along with high load, but they are good with it only when they are in a good shape.
Tiny and covered processor cooling system is hard to damage. Meanwhile, GPUs have large and easy-to-access rotors, which can be easily cracked if touched while running, for instance, by the user much earlier before the malware injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the really high load caused by Key.exe can easily lead to graphic card failure3. GPUs are also tend to have fast wearing when utilized for crypto mining. It is likely an undesirable situation when the performance of your GPU plunges 20-30% only after several weeks of being exploited in such a way.
How did I get Key.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
One more way you could get this thing on your computer is by downloading it from the unreliable web page as a part of a program. Users that spread hacked variants of favored programs (which do not need the license key) have small chances to earn money. For this reason, there is a very big temptation to add in malware to the final package of the hacked app and receive a coin for every setup. Before criticizing these individuals for hacking and also malware spreading, ask yourself – is it OK to avoid buying the program in such a way? It is more affordable to pay $20-$30 one time than to pay a much bigger figure for antivirus program and new parts for your PC.
How to remove the Key.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 applications, just like the majority of non-crucial operating system components, are not launched with the system start. That allows you to clean the system 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.
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