Mdnsresponder.exe executable file is related to a malicious program that can accurately be identified as a coin miner trojan virus. That malware type uses your PC components to mine cryptocurrencies, generally – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your computer roughly unusable due to high CPU utilization.
What is Mdnsresponder.exe process?
Mdnsresponder.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
As I have specified earlier, Mdnsresponder.exe is a coin miner trojan virus. The names of the executive file can be different, but the effects are usually the identical. Because coin miners aim at cryptocurrency mining, they use all possible hardware power of your desktop to run this operation. This virus does not pay attention to the fact that you may want to make use of your computer for other tasks – it will constantly use over 80% of your processor power.
Mdnsresponder.exe – Extremely high CPU and GPU usage
Besides CPU usage, some of the coin miners also make use of GPU power for their operations. In that situation, you will likely struggle even to see the mouse cursor moving – GPU is often utilized on 100%. It is not as important as CPU for system work, so Mdnsresponder.exe coin miner viruses do not waste time on trifles and use all of it. It sometimes can lead to unhappy consequences.
Shortly about cryptocurrency mining
Crypto mining is a term that means the action of calculating the transaction block hash. That is a basic element of anything based on the blockchain technology. Since this operation takes a lot of calculations, a very strong machine is required. Exactly, the graphic card is better for this task, 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 “usual” purposes, like gaming or web browsing. Fraudsters who gain money via this coin miner use someones’ computers instead, even if they are used for the regular activity.2
List of the typical coin miner symptoms
How dangerous is the Mdnsresponder.exe miner?
Coin miners does not deal damage to your files. However, they make a lot of unpleasant things with the whole system
Initially, Mdnsresponder.exe malware makes your system 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 necessities, all it focuses on is generating income on you. Even if you are patient, and you waited until web browser is open, you will likely struggle with extremely sluggish efficiency. Pages will open up for years, any type of logins will take about a minute – just a horror story for a person that does a job online.
Mdnsresponder.exe Technical Summary.
| File Name | Mdnsresponder.exe |
| Type | Trojan Coin Miner |
| Detection Name | Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner |
| Distribution Method | Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc. |
| Similar behavior | Icloudservices.exe, Cclibrary.exe, Iastordatamgrsvc.exe |
| Removal | Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Mdnsresponder.exe removal. |
“Visible” damage is not a solitary negative thing coin miners perform to your system. Mdnsresponder.exe coin miner also deals damage to your OS. To conduct all malicious functions effectively, it ruins the protection components of your system. You will likely see your Microsoft Defender disabled – malware halts it to prevent detection. If you check the HOSTS file, you will likely see a ton of new notes – they are brought in by this coin miner to connect your PC to a malicious cryptomining network. All these changes are about to be reverted to the original in the process of system recovery.
Hardware effects of coin miner activity
Besides making your PC slow, performing at peak power for long times may trigger damage to your machine as well as raise power expenses. PC elements are designed to easily get along with high load, but they are good with it only in case when they are in a good shape.
Small and well-protected processor cooling system is quite hard to crack. Meanwhile, GPUs have large and easy-to-access rotors, which can be easily broke if affected while spinning, for instance, by the user much earlier before the virus injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the very high load caused by Mdnsresponder.exe malware can easily lead to GPU failure3. Graphic cards are also prone to have increased wearing when utilized for crypto mining. It is surely an undesirable case when your GPU’s performance plunges 20-30% just after several weeks of being used in such a way.
How did I get Mdnsresponder.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 “severe” malware. Adware often serves as a carrier for Mdnsresponder.exe malware injection: it shows you the banners, which have a link to malware downloading. Yes, this abstract “malware” may belong to any type – another adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. However, the statistics show that around 30% of all viruses spread through the malevolent banners are coin miners – and Mdnsresponder.exe is right with them.
The example of malicious banners you can see in the Internet
An additional way you could get this item on your computer is by downloading it from the suspicious site as a part of a program. People who spread hacked versions of well-known programs (which do not require the license key) have small chances to get paid. Thus, there is a huge lure to include malware to the final package of the hacked application and receive a coin for every setup. Before criticizing these people for hacking and malware distribution, ask yourself – is it alright to avoid paying for the program in this manner? It is more affordable to pay $20-$30 at once than to pay a much greater figure for antivirus program and new parts for your desktop.
How to remove the Mdnsresponder.exe miner from my PC?
The best way to get rid of this coin miner virus is to use anti-malware software
Getting rid of such a virus demands making use of special tool. Proper anti-malware program must have high performance at scanning and also be lightweight – in order to create no problems with usage also on weak systems. On top of that, it is better to have proactive protection in your protection tool – to stop the virus even before it launches. Microsoft Defender lacks these elements for different factors. That’s why I’d advise you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that goal. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is a perfect choice that fits all of the discussed characteristics.4
Before the malware removal, it is important to reboot your Windows into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Mdnsresponder.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 PC is in Safe Mode, all third-party programs, just like the majority of non-critical Windows components, are not launched with the system start. That gives you the ability to clean the PC without dealing with high processor usage of the coin miner.
Remove Mdnsresponder.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 Mdnsresponder.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner
Name: Mdnsresponder.exe
Description: The Mdnsresponder.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Mdnsresponder.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.
- Our review on GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
