MSASCui.exe Virus ⛏️ (Coin Miner Trojan) Removal

Written by Robert Bailey
MSASCui.exe executable file belongs to a harmful program that can properly be recognized as a coin miner trojan. That malware form utilizes your hardware to mine cryptocurrencies, generally – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your system roughly unusable due to high CPU use.

Initially, MSASCui.exe is a benevolent process, that belongs to a Windows Defender elements. This particular element is responsible for the anti-spyware capabilities of the Defender tool. However, malware can steal its name – to make you believe that this process is legit.

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What is MSASCui.exe process?

MSASCui.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus

As I have actually specified earlier, MSASCui.exe is a coin miner virus. The names of the executive file may be different, but the effects are generally the identical. Since coin miners aim at cryptocurrency mining, they use all possible hardware power of your PC to run this operation. This virus does not take note of the fact that you may want to use your PC for other activities – it will consistently consume over 80% of your CPU power.

Msascui.exe Windows Process

MSASCui.exe – Extremely high CPU/GPU use

Besides CPU utilization, some of the coin miners additionally make use of GPU power for their operations. In that case, you will struggle also to see the mouse cursor moving – GPU is usually utilized on 100%. It is not as crucial as processor for system work, so MSASCui.exe coin miner viruses don’t waste time on trifles and utilize all of it. It often may cause sad effects.

Shortly about cryptocurrency mining

Crypto mining means the activity 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 very powerful PC is required. Exactly, the GPU is better for this task, because they have more cores available. Cryptocurrency mining farms usually consist of tens and hundreds of GPUs to conduct their activity effectively. Such computer systems are not usable for “usual” 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

  • Microsoft Defender is stopped;
  • CPU and GPU is loaded at 80-90% exactly after the system start
  • Cooling fans are running at high speed and create a lot of noise
  • A single process in Task Manager consumes all CPU and GPU power
  • How dangerous is the MSASCui.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, MSASCui.exe virus makes your PC overloaded. It is unable to run your applications now, since all processor power is used by a virus. That malware does not care for your needs, all it pays attention to is generating income on you. Even if you are patient, and you waited until browser is open, you will likely struggle with incredibly slow performance. Pages can open for years, any sort of logins will likely take about a minute – just a headache for a person who does a job online.

    MSASCui.exe Technical Summary.

    File Name MSASCui.exe
    Type Trojan Coin Miner
    Detection Name Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner
    Distribution Method Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc.
    Similar behavior Drinker.exe, Programstarter.exe, Poqexec.exe
    Removal Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic MSASCui.exe removal.

    “Visible” damage is not a solitary negative activity coin miners do to your personal computer. MSASCui.exe coin miner likewise deals damage to your OS. To execute all malicious operations properly, it ruins the security components of your system. You will likely see your Microsoft Defender disabled – malware stops it to avoid recognition. If you check the HOSTS file, you will likely see a number of new notes – they are added by this coin miner to connect your system to a malicious mining network. All these adjustments shall be thrown back 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 cause damage to your device as well as raise power bills. PC components are created to easily deal with high load, but they can do so only in case when they are in a good shape.

    Compact and covered processor cooling system is not very easy to broke. Meanwhile, GPUs have large and easy-to-access fans, which can be easily broke if touched while spinning, for example, by the user much before the virus injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the extremely high load caused by MSASCui.exe can easily lead to GPU failure3. GPUs are also prone to have very fast wearing when utilized for crypto mining. It is likely an undesirable situation when the performance of your graphic card plunges 20-30% only after 1-2 weeks of being used in such a way.

    How did I get MSASCui.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 widespread malevolent programs through “severe” viruses. Adware sometimes works as a carrier for MSASCui.exe malware injection: it shows you the banners, which include a link to malware downloading. Yes, this abstract “malware” can belong to any kind – yet another adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. But the statistics say that around 30% of all malware spread through the malicious banners are coin miners – and MSASCui.exe is just among them.4

    Unwanted banners adware

    The example of malicious banners you can see in the Internet

    An additional way you could get this item on your PC is by downloading it from the unreliable website as a part of a program. People who spread hacked versions of popular programs (which do not need the license key) have small chances to earn money. For this reason, there is a huge lure to add malware to the final package of the hacked app and receive a coin for each installation. Before blaming these people for hacking and malware spreading, ask yourself – is it okay 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 sum for antivirus program and new parts for your computer.

    How to remove the MSASCui.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 involves using specific software. Proper security tool must have high efficiency at scanning and also be lightweight – in order to create no problems with utilization even on weak computers. On top of that, it is recommended to have on-run security in your security solution – to stop the virus even before it starts. Microsoft Defender does not have these elements for different reasons. That’s why I’d advise you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that objective. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is a great option that fits each of the specified qualities.5

    Before the virus removal, it is important to reboot your system into Safe Mode with Networking. Since MSASCui.exe miner takes a lot of processor power, it is needed 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.

    Boot into Windows Safe Mode

    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.

    windows safe mode boot option with command prompt

    When your system is in Safe Mode, all third-party applications, just like the majority of non-critical Windows components, are not launched with the system start. That allows you to clean the computer without dealing with high processor usage of the coin miner.

    Remove MSASCui.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.

    GridinSoft Anti-Malware free trial

    After activating your free trial, start Full scan. It may last up to 10 minutes. You may use the PC as usual.

    Scanning in GridinSoft Anti-Malware

    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.

    GridinSoft Anti-Malware after the scan process

    Now, you are good to go. Reboot your PC into a normal Windows mode and use just as there was nothing malicious.

    Remove Msascui.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner

    Name: Msascui.exe

    Description: The Msascui.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Msascui.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

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    References

    1. Read about why Monero and DarkCoin are so popular amongst cybercriminals.
    2. Detailed explanation of how does cryptomining work.
    3. About unwanted effects for GPUs in the process of cryptomining.
    4. Read more about various malware type on Cybersecurity Glossary.
    5. Our review on GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

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    About the author

    Robert Bailey

    I'm Robert Bailey, a passionate Security Engineer with a deep fascination for all things related to malware, reverse engineering, and white hat ethical hacking.

    As a white hat hacker, I firmly believe in the power of ethical hacking to bolster security measures. By identifying vulnerabilities and providing solutions, I contribute to the proactive defense of digital infrastructures.

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