Microsoft_store_apps.exe executable file comes from a malevolent program that can properly be recognized as a coin miner trojan. That malware form uses your hardware to mine cryptocurrencies, generally – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your system almost unusable due to high CPU use.
What is Microsoft_store_apps.exe process?
Microsoft_store_apps.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
As I have specified earlier, Microsoft_store_apps.exe is a coin miner virus. The names of the executive file can be diverse, but the impacts are generally the same. Because coin miners focus on cryptocurrency mining, they utilize all available hardware power of your desktop to perform this procedure. This malware doesn’t pay attention to the fact that you probably need to use your system for other activities – it will constantly take over 80% of your processor power.
Microsoft_store_apps.exe – Extremely high CPU and GPU use
Besides CPU usage, some of the coin miners also use GPU power for their operations. In that situation, you will likely struggle even to see the mouse cursor moving – GPU is usually used on 100%. It is not as important as CPU for system work, so Microsoft_store_apps.exe coin miner viruses do not waste time on trifles and utilize it all. It often can lead to bad results.
Shortly about cryptocurrency mining
Cryptocurrency mining term means the action of calculating the transaction block hash. That is a integral part of anything based on the blockchain technology. Since this action takes a lot of calculations, a strong PC is needed. Exactly, the graphic card is better for this purpose, because they have more cores available. Cryptocurrency mining farms usually consist of dozens of graphic cards to conduct their activity effectively. Such systems are not usable for “classic” purposes, like gaming or browsing the Web. Fraudsters who make profit 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 Microsoft_store_apps.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, Microsoft_store_apps.exe malware makes your system overloaded. It is unable to run your applications now, because all processor power is used 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 struggle with extremely slow performance. Pages can open for years, any sort of logins will take about a minute – just a horror story for a person that works online.
Microsoft_store_apps.exe Technical Summary.
| File Name | Microsoft_store_apps.exe |
| Type | Trojan Coin Miner |
| Detection Name | Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner |
| Distribution Method | Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc. |
| Similar behavior | Officeclicktorun.exe, Gtavmod.exe, Dog.exe |
| Removal | Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Microsoft_store_apps.exe removal. |
“Visible” damage is not a single unpleasant thing coin miners do to your system. Microsoft_store_apps.exe coin miner also deals damage to your OS. To conduct all malevolent operations effectively, it wrecks the security components of your system. You will likely see your Microsoft Defender disabled – malware halts it to prevent recognition. If you open 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 shall be thrown back to the initial state in the process of computer recovery.
Hardware effects of coin miner activity
Besides slowing down your computer, performing at peak level for a long period of time may trigger damage to your device as well as increase electricity costs. Hardware components are created to easily deal with high load, but they are good with it only in case when they are in a good shape.
Little and well-protected CPU cooling system is quite hard to crack. Meanwhile, GPUs have big and easy-to-access rotors, which can be easily broke if touched while running, for example, by the user much earlier before the virus injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the unusually high load caused by Microsoft_store_apps.exe miner can easily lead to graphic processing unit failure3. Graphic cards are also tend to have fast wearing when used for cryptocurrency mining. It is likely an undesirable situation when the performance of your graphic card plunges 20-30% just after several weeks of being used in such a way.
How did I get Microsoft_store_apps.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 malicious programs through “severe” viruses. Adware often works as a carrier for Microsoft_store_apps.exe malware injection: it shows you the banners, which include a link to malware downloading. Sure, this abstract “malware” may belong to any kind – another adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. But the statistics say that around 30% of all viruses spread through the malevolent banners are coin miners – and Microsoft_store_apps.exe is just among 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 unreliable website as a part of a program. Users that spread hacked versions of well-known programs (which do not require the license key) have small chances to earn money. Hence, there is a very big temptation to add malware to the final package of the hacked application and receive a coin for every installation. Prior to blaming these people for hacking and malware distribution, ask yourself – is it OK to avoid purchasing the program in this manner? It is much cheaper to pay $20-$30 at once than to pay a much greater figure for antivirus software as well as new parts for your desktop.
How to remove the Microsoft_store_apps.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 requires using specific software. Effective anti-malware program must have high efficiency at scanning and also be lightweight – in order to make no problems with utilization also on weak computers. On top of that, it is recommended to have on-run security in your security solution – to prevent the virus even before it starts. Microsoft Defender lacks these elements for different factors. That’s why I’d suggest you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that purpose. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is a superb choice that fits all of the mentioned qualities.5
Before the virus removal, it is important to boot your system into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Microsoft_store_apps.exe miner takes a lot of processor 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 computer is in Safe Mode, all third-party applications, along with the majority of non-critical 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 Microsoft_store_apps.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 Microsoft_store_apps.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner
Name: Microsoft_store_apps.exe
Description: The Microsoft_store_apps.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Microsoft_store_apps.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.
