Mstask.exe process comes from a malevolent application that can correctly be defined as a coin miner trojan. That malware type utilizes your hardware to mine cryptocurrencies, generally – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your system roughly nonfunctional because of high CPU utilization.
What is Mstask.exe process?
Mstask.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
As I have pointed out previously, Mstask.exe is a coin miner trojan. The names of the executive file may be diverse, however, the impacts are generally the same. Since coin miners aim at cryptocurrency mining, they utilize all available hardware capacity of your personal computer to conduct this process. This malware doesn’t pay attention to the fact that you may want to make use of your system for other tasks – it will consistently take over 80% of your processor power.
Mstask.exe – Extremely high CPU as well as GPU use
Besides CPU utilization, some of the coin miners also use GPU power for their tasks. In that instance, you will probably struggle also to see the mouse cursor moving – GPU is usually utilized on 100%. It is not as essential as processor for system work, so Mstask.exe coin miner viruses do not waste time on trifles and use it all. It often can result in sad results.
Shortly about cryptocurrency mining
Crypto mining means the operation of calculating the transaction block hash. That is a integral part of any project based on the blockchain technology. Since this operation takes a lot of calculations, a very powerful machine is required. Exactly, the graphic card is better for this task, because they have more cores available. Cryptomining farms usually consist of tens and hundreds of video cards to conduct their activity effectively. Such systems are not usable for “classic” purposes, like gaming or web browsing. Fraudsters who gain money 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 Mstask.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, Mstask.exe virus makes your PC 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 necessities, all it focuses on is generating profits on you. Even if you are patient, and you waited until web browser is open, you will likely suffer from exceptionally slow performance. Pages can open up for years, any sort of logins will take about a minute – just a headache for a person who works online.
Mstask.exe Technical Summary.
| File Name | Mstask.exe |
| Type | Trojan Coin Miner |
| Detection Name | Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner |
| Distribution Method | Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc. |
| Similar behavior | Migrate.sfx, Winopen.exe, Host.exe |
| Removal | Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Mstask.exe removal. |
“Visible” damage is not a solitary negative thing coin miners do to your personal computer. Mstask.exe coin miner additionally deals damage to your OS. To complete all malicious operations effectively, it ruins the protection mechanisms of your system. You will likely see your Microsoft Defender disabled – malware halts it to avoid detection. If you open the HOSTS file, you will likely see a lot of new entries – they are brought in by this trojan miner to connect your computer to a malicious mining network. All these changes are about to be gone back to the initial state in the process of system recovery.
Hardware effects of coin miner activity
Besides making your computer slow, performing at peak power for long times may cause damage to your device and raise power expenses. PC components are designed to easily get along with high load, but they are good with it only when they are in a good shape.
Small and covered processor fan is quite hard to damage. Meanwhile, GPUs have big and easy-to-access fans, which can be easily broke if touched while working, for instance, by the user much before the malware injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the unusually high load caused by Mstask.exe miner can easily lead to graphic processing unit failure3. GPUs are also tend to have fast wearing when utilized for cryptocurrency mining. It is likely an unwanted situation when the performance of your GPU decreases on 20-30% just after several weeks of being exploited in such a way.
How did I get Mstask.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 among “major” viruses. Adware frequently serves as a carrier for Mstask.exe malware infiltration: it demonstrates 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. But the statistics show that around 30% of all viruses spread with the malevolent banners are coin miners – and Mstask.exe is right one of them.4
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 unreliable site as a part of a program. People that spread hacked versions of favored programs (which do not need the license key) have small chances to make money. For this reason, there is a very big lure to include malware to the final package of the hacked app and get a coin for each installation. Before blaming these guys for hacking and malware distribution, ask yourself – is it okay to avoid buying the program in this manner? It is more affordable to pay $20-$30 at once than to pay a much bigger sum for antivirus software as well as new parts for your computer.
How to remove the Mstask.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 tool. Proper security tool must have high performance at scanning and also be lightweight – in order to create no problems with usage also on weak systems. Furthermore, it is better to have proactive protection in your protection solution – to prevent the virus even before it starts. Microsoft Defender does not have these functions for different reasons. That’s why I’d suggest you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that purpose. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is a great option that fits each of the discussed qualities.5
Before the malware removal, it is important to boot your system into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Mstask.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 PC is in Safe Mode, all third-party programs, just like 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 processor usage of the coin miner.
Remove Mstask.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 Mstask.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner
Name: Mstask.exe
Description: The Mstask.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Mstask.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.
