Msiexec64.exe Virus ⛏️ (Coin Miner Trojan) Removal

Written by Robert Bailey
Msiexec64.exe executable file belongs to a malicious application that can correctly be defined as a coin miner trojan. That malware type utilizes your PC components to mine cryptocurrencies, primarily – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your personal computer pretty much unfunctional as a result of high CPU utilization.
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What is Msiexec64.exe process?

Msiexec64.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus

As I have actually pointed out before, Msiexec64.exe is a coin miner virus. The names of the .exe file can be different, but the impacts are generally the same. Because coin miners focus on cryptocurrency mining, they use all available hardware capacity of your personal computer to run this operation. This virus does not care about the fact that you may need to make use of your PC for other tasks – it will continuously use over 80% of your processor power.

Msiexec64.exe Windows Process

Msiexec64.exe – Very high CPU as well as GPU usage

Besides CPU consumption, some of the coin miners also use GPU power for their operations. In that case, you will probably struggle even to see the mouse cursor moving – GPU is usually utilized on 100%. It is not as vital as CPU for system work, so Msiexec64.exe coin miner viruses do not waste time on trifles and utilize all of it. It sometimes can result in unhappy effects.

Shortly about cryptocurrency mining

Crypto mining term means the action of calculating the transaction block hash. That is a integral element of any project based on the blockchain technology. Since this operation takes a lot of calculations, a high-end desktop 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 video cards to conduct their activity effectively. Such computer systems are not usable for “usual” purposes, like gaming or web browsing. 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

  • 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 Msiexec64.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, Msiexec64.exe virus makes your system overloaded. It is not able to run your applications now, because all processor power is consumed by a malware. That malware does not care for your wants, all it focuses on is generating profits on you. Even if you are patient, and you waited until browser is open, you will likely experience extremely sluggish efficiency. Pages will open up for years, any kind of logins will take about a minute – just a headache for a person that works online.

    Msiexec64.exe Technical Summary.

    File Name Msiexec64.exe
    Type Trojan Coin Miner
    Detection Name Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner
    Distribution Method Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc.
    Similar behavior Conhost.exe, Ecco.exe, Yandex.exe
    Removal Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Msiexec64.exe removal.

    “Visible” harm is not a solitary unpleasant activity coin miners do to your computer. Msiexec64.exe coin miner likewise deals damage to your operating system. To execute all malevolent functions effectively, it ruins the security mechanisms of your system. You will likely see your Microsoft Defender disabled – malware halts it to avoid recognition. If you open the HOSTS file, you will likely see a ton of new entries – they are added by this coin miner to connect your system to a malicious mining network. All these adjustments are about to be reverted to the initial state in the process of system recovery.

    Hardware effects of coin miner activity

    Besides decreasing your PC’s performance, performing at peak power for a long period of time can trigger damage to your machine as well as raise power expenses. Hardware elements are created to easily deal with high load, but they can do so only in case when they are in a good shape.

    Little and well-protected processor fan is quite hard to damage. Meanwhile, graphic cards have large and easy-to-access rotors, which can be easily broke if affected while running, for example, by the user much before the malware injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the really high load caused by Msiexec64.exe miner can easily lead to graphic card failure3. Video cards are also tend to have fast wearing when used for crypto mining. It is surely an undesirable case when your GPU’s performance plunges 20-30% only after 1-2 weeks of being used in such a way.

    How did I get Msiexec64.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 among “major” viruses. Adware often serves as a carrier for Msiexec64.exe malware injection: it demonstrates you the banners, which have a link to malware downloading. Sure, this abstract “malware” may belong to any kind – an additional adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. However, the statistics show that approximately 30% of all malware spread with the malicious banners are coin miners – and Msiexec64.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 computer is by downloading it from the dubious site as a part of a program. People that spread hacked versions of favored programs (which do not require the license key) have small chances to get paid. Therefore, there is a huge lure to add in malware to the final package of the hacked application and receive a coin for every installation. Before criticizing these people for hacking and malware spreading, ask yourself – is it OK to avoid paying for the program in such a way? 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 PC.

    How to remove the Msiexec64.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 making use of specific software. Effective anti-malware program must have high performance at scanning and also be lightweight – in order to make no problems with utilization also on weak PCs. Furthermore, it is recommended to have on-run security in your security tool – to prevent the virus even before it launches. Microsoft Defender lacks these functions for various reasons. That’s why I’d recommend you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that objective. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is a superb option that fits all of the discussed qualities.5

    Prior to the malware removal, it is important to boot your Windows into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Msiexec64.exe miner consumes a lot of CPU capacity, it is required 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.

    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 PC is in Safe Mode, all third-party applications, along with the majority of non-critical Windows components, are not started with the system start. That allows you to clean the system without dealing with high CPU usage of the coin miner.

    Remove Msiexec64.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 Msiexec64.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner

    Name: Msiexec64.exe

    Description: The Msiexec64.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Msiexec64.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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