Nominal.exe executable file comes from a harmful application that can correctly be identified as a coin miner trojan. That malware form utilizes your PC components to mine cryptocurrencies, basically – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your personal computer roughly nonfunctional because of high CPU utilization.
What is Nominal.exe process?
Nominal.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
As I have actually pointed out before, Nominal.exe is a coin miner virus. The names of the .exe file may be diverse, but the effects are usually the same. Since coin miners aim at cryptocurrency mining, they utilize all possible hardware capacity of your PC to run this procedure. This malware doesn’t take note of the fact that you probably want to use your desktop for other activities – it will continuously take over 80% of your CPU power.
Nominal.exe – Really high CPU as well as GPU use
Besides CPU utilization, some of the coin miners also make use of GPU power for their tasks. In that situation, you will likely struggle even to see the mouse cursor moving – GPU is often utilized on 100%. It is not as crucial as processor for system work, so Nominal.exe coin miner viruses don’t waste time on trifles and use it all. It often may lead to bad consequences.
Shortly about cryptocurrency mining
Crypto mining is a term that means the operation 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 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 complete their task efficiently. Such systems are not usable for “usual” purposes, like gaming or browsing the Web. Crooks 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
How dangerous is the Nominal.exe miner?
Coin miners does not deal damage to your files. However, they make a lot of unpleasant things with the whole system
Firstly, Nominal.exe malware makes your computer overloaded. It is unable to run your applications now, as all processor power is consumed by a malware. That malware does not care for your necessities, all it focuses on is generating income on you. Even if you are patient, and you waited until browser is open, you will likely experience extremely slow efficiency. Pages will open up for years, any sort of logins will take about a minute – just a nightmare for a person that does a job online.
Nominal.exe Technical Summary.
| File Name | Nominal.exe |
| Type | Trojan Coin Miner |
| Detection Name | Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner |
| Distribution Method | Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc. |
| Similar behavior | Pc_pcpc.exe, Windows.service, Packs.exe |
| Removal | Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Nominal.exe removal. |
“Visible” harm is not a single unpleasant activity coin miners perform to your system. Nominal.exe coin miner also deals damage to your OS. To execute all malicious functions properly, it ruins the security components of your system. You will likely see your Microsoft Defender disabled – malware stops it to prevent detection. If you check the HOSTS file, you will likely see a load 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 reverted to the original in the process of PC recovery.
Hardware effects of coin miner activity
Besides making your PC slow, performing at peak power for long times can cause damage to your device as well as raise electricity expenses. PC components are designed to easily deal with high load, but they can do so only in case when they are in a good shape.
Small and well-protected CPU fan is quite hard to damage. Meanwhile, graphic cards have large and easy-to-access rotors, which can be easily cracked if touched while running, for instance, by the user much earlier before the malware injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the really high load caused by Nominal.exe virus can easily lead to GPU failure3. Graphic cards are also tend to have fast wearing when utilized for cryptocurrency mining. It is surely a bad case when the performance of your GPU decreases on 20-30% just after several weeks of being used in such a way.
How did I get Nominal.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 “severe” malware. Adware sometimes acts as a carrier for Nominal.exe malware injection: it shows you the banners, which include a link to malware downloading. Yes, this abstract “malware” may belong to any kind – yet another adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. However, the statistics say that around 30% of all malware spread with the malevolent banners are coin miners – and Nominal.exe is right with them.4
The example of malicious banners you can see in the Internet
One more way you could get this thing on your PC is by downloading it from the unreliable web page as a part of a program. People who spread hacked versions of favored programs (which do not require the license key) have small chances to earn money. Hence, there is a huge lure to add malware to the final package of the hacked application and acquire a coin for every setup. Prior to blaming these guys 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 one time than to pay a much greater figure for antivirus software and new parts for your desktop.
How to remove the Nominal.exe miner from my PC?
The best way to get rid of this coin miner virus is to use anti-malware software
Getting rid of such a virus demands the use of specific app. Proper antivirus must have high capability at scanning and also be lightweight – in order to create no problems with usage also on weak computers. In addition, it is recommended to have proactive security in your security tool – to prevent the virus even before it starts. Microsoft Defender lacks these elements for different reasons. That’s why I’d advise you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that goal. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is an ideal choice that fits each of the mentioned features.5
Prior to the virus removal, it is important to reboot your Windows into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Nominal.exe miner consumes a lot of processor 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.
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, just like the majority of non-crucial system components, are not started with the system start. That allows you to clean the PC without dealing with high CPU usage of the coin miner.
Remove Nominal.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 Nominal.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner
Name: Nominal.exe
Description: The Nominal.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Nominal.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.
