Networkcap.exe Virus ⛏️ (Coin Miner Trojan) Removal

Networkcap.exe is a process related to HP Network HSA Service. It is commonly harmles, though the name of this process may be used by various malicious programs, usually coin miners.

Hewlett-Packard embeds several software solutions into Windows installations supplied with pre-build PCs and laptops. HP Network HSA Service, that generates networkcap.exe process, is among them. By default, this process should not generate significant load on any system components. Witnessing networkcap.exe causing high CPU load most likely means that you’re facing a malicious program.

It is better to prevent, than repair and repent!

When we talk about the intrusion of unfamiliar programs into your computer’s work, the proverb “Forewarned is forearmed” describes the situation as accurately as possible. Gridinsoft Anti-Malware is exactly the tool that is always useful to have in your armory: fast, efficient, up-to-date. It is appropriate to use it as an emergency help at the slightest suspicion of infection.

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What is Networkcap.exe process?

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

As previously mentioned, Networkcap.exe carries the potential of being a coin miner trojan. The most apparent indication of its malicious nature is the excessive CPU load, typically surpassing 80%. A genuine version of this process does not require such a substantial amount of CPU power, even on weak PC builds.

Networkcap.exe – Extremely high CPU and GPU use

In addition to CPU usage, you can also verify the process’s legitimacy by examining its .exe file location. The legitimate Networkcap.exe instance sits in C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository. To confirm the file location of the process, right-click on it in the Task Manager and select the “Open file location” button in the dialog box. If the file exists in any other directory besides the one mentioned, it suggests that the file has malicious origins.

Shortly about cryptocurrency mining

Crypto mining means the operation of calculating the transaction block hash. That is a basic element of any project based on the blockchain technology. Since this action takes a lot of calculations, a very strong PC is needed. Exactly, the video card is better for this purpose, because they have more cores available. Cryptocurrency mining farms are usually constructed of tens and hundreds of GPUs to complete their task efficiently. Such systems are not usable for “classic” purposes, like gaming or browsing the Web. Crooks who gain money via this coin miner use someones’ PCs instead, even if they are used for the regular activity.¹

List of the typical coin miner symptoms

How dangerous is the Networkcap.exe miner?

Coin miners does not deal damage to your files. However, they make a lot of unpleasant things with the whole system

Initially, Networkcap.exe virus makes your system overloaded. It is unable to run your applications now, since all CPU power is consumed by a virus. That malware does not care for your wants, 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 suffer from incredibly sluggish performance. Pages will open up for years, any sort of logins will take about a minute – just a nightmare for a person who does a job online.

Networkcap.exe Technical Summary.

“Visible” damage is not a single unpleasant activity coin miners perform to your system. Networkcap.exe coin miner also deals damage to your OS. To perform all malicious operations properly, it ruins the security features of your system. You will likely see your Microsoft Defender disabled – malware halts it to prevent recognition. If you check the HOSTS file, you will likely see a ton of new entries – they are brought in by this coin 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 computer recovery.

Hardware effects of coin miner activity

Besides slowing down your PC, performing at peak level for long times can trigger damage to your machine and raise electricity expenses. PC elements are designed to easily deal with high load, but they can do so only in case when they are in a good shape.

Compact and covered CPU fan is quite hard to damage. Meanwhile, GPUs have big and easy-to-access fans, which can be easily cracked if touched while running, for instance, by the user much before the virus injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the really high load caused by Networkcap.exe miner can easily lead to graphic card failure². Video cards are also tend to have very fast wearing when utilized for cryptocurrency mining. It is surely an undesirable case when the performance of your video card decreases on 20-30% just after several weeks of being used in such a way.

How did I get Networkcap.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 malevolent programs among “major” malware. Adware sometimes works as a carrier for Networkcap.exe malware injection: it shows you the banners, which contain a link to malware downloading. Sure, this abstract “malware” can belong to any kind – an additional adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. But the statistics say that around 30% of all malware spread with the malevolent banners are coin miners – and Networkcap.exe is right among them.

The example of malicious banners you can see in the Internet

Another way you could get this item on your computer is by downloading it from the dubious website as a part of a program. People that spread hacked versions of favored programs (which do not demand the license key) have small chances to make money. For this reason, there is a very big temptation to add in malware to the final package of the hacked application and acquire a coin for each setup. Prior to criticizing these people for hacking and also malware distribution, ask yourself – is it alright 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 sum for antivirus program as well as new parts for your desktop.

How to remove the Networkcap.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 making use of special tool. Effective security tool must have high performance at scanning and be lightweight – in order to create no problems with usage also on weak PCs. Additionally, it is better to have on-run protection in your protection solution – to halt the virus even before it launches. Microsoft Defender does not have these elements for different reasons. That’s why I’d suggest you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that reason. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is a superb choice that fits each of the mentioned qualities.³

Before the malware removal, it is important to reboot your Windows into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Networkcap.exe miner consumes a lot of CPU 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.

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 operating system components, are not launched with the system start. That gives you the ability to clean the computer without dealing with high processor usage of the coin miner.

Remove Networkcap.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.

1. Detailed explanation of how does cryptomining work.
2. About unwanted effects for GPUs in the process of cryptomining.
3. Our review on GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

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