Mcshield.exe executable file belongs to a malevolent program that can correctly be identified as a coin miner trojan. That malware type uses your PC components to mine cryptocurrencies, basically – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your system pretty much unfunctional because of high CPU usage.
What is Mcshield.exe process?
Mcshield.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
As I have specified previously, Mcshield.exe is a coin miner trojan virus. The names of the .exe file may be different, but the consequences are generally the same. Because coin miners aim at cryptocurrency mining, they utilize all available hardware capacity of your desktop to perform this process. This malware doesn’t take note of the fact that you probably need to make use of your machine for other activities – it will continuously use over 80% of your CPU power.
Mcshield.exe – Really high CPU/GPU use
Besides CPU utilization, some of the coin miners additionally use GPU power for their operations. In that case, you will likely struggle also to see the mouse arrow moving – GPU is often used on 100%. It is not as crucial as CPU for system work, so Mcshield.exe coin miner viruses do not waste time on trifles and utilize it all. It sometimes may cause sad results.
Shortly about cryptocurrency mining
Cryptocurrency mining term means the operation of calculating the transaction block hash. That is a integral element of anything based on the blockchain technology. Since this action takes a lot of calculations, a strong computer is needed. Exactly, the graphic card is better for this purpose, because they have more cores available. Cryptocurrency mining farms usually consist of tens and hundreds of graphic cards to conduct their activity effectively. Such computer systems are not usable for “normal” purposes, like gaming or browsing the Web. Fraudsters who make profit via this coin miner use someones’ hardware instead, even if they are used for the regular activity.2
List of the typical coin miner symptoms
How dangerous is the Mcshield.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, Mcshield.exe malware makes your computer overloaded. It is unable to run your applications anymore, as all CPU power is consumed by a malware. That malware does not care for your needs, all it pays attention to is making money on you. Even if you are patient, and you waited until browser is open, you will likely suffer from incredibly sluggish efficiency. Pages can open for years, any kind of logins will likely take about a minute – just a headache for a person who works online.
Mcshield.exe Technical Summary.
| File Name | Mcshield.exe |
| Type | Trojan Coin Miner |
| Detection Name | Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner |
| Distribution Method | Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc. |
| Similar behavior | Servicehost.exe, Mfemms.exe, Mmsshost.exe |
| Removal | Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Mcshield.exe removal. |
“Visible” harm is not a single unpleasant activity coin miners do to your PC. Mcshield.exe coin miner likewise deals damage to your OS. To execute all malevolent operations correctly, it wrecks the protection components of your system. You will likely see your Microsoft Defender disabled – malware stops it to prevent recognition. If you check the HOSTS file, you will likely see a lot of new notes – they are brought in by this trojan miner to connect your computer to a malicious cryptomining network. All these changes shall be reverted to the original in the process of computer recovery.
Hardware effects of coin miner activity
Besides decreasing your PC’s performance, running at peak power for a long period of time can trigger damage to your device and increase power costs. PC elements are created to easily get along with high load, but they are good with it only when they are in a good shape.
Tiny and covered CPU fan is quite hard to damage. Meanwhile, graphic cards have large and easy-to-access fans, which can be easily broke if touched while working, for example, by the user much before the malware injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the unusually high load caused by Mcshield.exe can easily lead to graphic processing unit failure3. Graphic cards are also prone to have increased wearing when used for crypto mining. It is likely an undesirable situation when your GPU’s performance decreases on 20-30% just after 1-2 weeks of being exploited in such a way.
How did I get Mcshield.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 prevalent malicious programs among “severe” malware. Adware frequently acts as a carrier for Mcshield.exe malware infiltration: it demonstrates you the banners, which contain a link to malware downloading. Yes, this abstract “malware” may belong to any kind – 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 Mcshield.exe is just with 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 dubious web page as a part of a program. People that spread hacked variants of popular programs (which do not demand the license key) have small chances to make money. For this reason, 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 criticizing these individuals for hacking and malware spreading, ask yourself – is it okay to avoid paying for the program in this manner? It is much cheaper to pay $20-$30 at once than to pay a much bigger figure for antivirus software and new parts for your desktop.
How to remove the Mcshield.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 involves making use of specific program. Appropriate anti-malware program must have high performance at scanning and be lightweight – in order to create no problems with usage even on weak PCs. Additionally, it is recommended to have on-run security in your protection solution – to prevent the virus even before it launches. Microsoft Defender does not have these elements for various factors. That’s why I’d recommend you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that purpose. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is an ideal choice that fits each of the mentioned qualities.5
Before the virus removal, it is important to reboot your Windows into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Mcshield.exe miner takes a lot of processor capacity, 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 applications, along with the majority of non-crucial Windows components, are not started with the system start. That gives you the ability to clean the PC without dealing with high CPU usage of the coin miner.
Remove Mcshield.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 Mcshield.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner
Name: Mcshield.exe
Description: The Mcshield.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Mcshield.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.
