Osk.exe is Safe or Virus?

The osk.exe file is an executable associated with the On-Screen Keyboard (OSK) utility in Windows operating systems. The On-Screen Keyboard is a built-in feature that provides a virtual keyboard on your screen, allowing you to input text using your mouse or other pointing device instead of a physical keyboard.

The osk.exe file is responsible for launching and running the On-Screen Keyboard application when it is accessed through various means, such as the Start menu or Ease of Access settings. It is typically located in the “C:\Windows\System32” folder on Windows systems.

The On-Screen Keyboard is primarily designed for users who have difficulty using a physical keyboard or for situations where a physical keyboard may not be available, such as on touchscreen devices or kiosks. It provides an alternative input method that can be used to type and enter text in any application or text field.

The osk.exe file is a legitimate system file, and its presence on your computer is not typically a cause for concern. However, as with any system file, it is important to ensure that the file is located in the correct system folder and has not been tampered with or replaced by malicious software.

If you encounter any issues with the On-Screen Keyboard or have concerns about the osk.exe file on your system, it is recommended to run a reputable antivirus or anti-malware scan to ensure your system’s security and integrity.

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 Osk.exe process?

The osk.exe file is associated with the On-Screen Keyboard (OSK) utility

If you notice that the osk.exe process is consuming a significant amount of CPU resources, it is not typical behavior for the legitimate On-Screen Keyboard utility. High CPU usage by osk.exe could indicate a potential issue or conflict with the application or an underlying problem with your system.

Here are a few steps you can take to troubleshoot the high CPU usage by osk.exe:

1. Restart your computer: Sometimes, a simple system restart can resolve temporary glitches or conflicts that may be causing high CPU usage.
2. Update your operating system: Ensure that your operating system is up to date with the latest patches and security updates. This can address any known issues or vulnerabilities that could contribute to high CPU usage.
3. Run a malware scan: Perform a thorough scan of your system using reputable antivirus or anti-malware software to check for any malware infections. Some malware can disguise themselves as legitimate system files, so it’s essential to rule out any potential security threats.
4. Check for software conflicts: If you recently installed any new software or made system changes, it’s possible that there could be conflicts causing high CPU usage. Try uninstalling any recently added applications or reversing recent system changes to see if it resolves the issue.
5. Monitor other processes: While osk.exe itself may not be a miner, it’s essential to monitor other processes running on your system. Look for any suspicious or unfamiliar processes that could be using excessive CPU resources.

If the issue persists or you have concerns about the security of your system, it is recommended to seek assistance from a professional or contact the official support channels provided by the operating system or security software vendor. They will be able to provide specific guidance based on your system configuration and help resolve any underlying issues causing high CPU usage.

Osk.exe – Very high CPU and GPU use

Besides CPU utilization, some of the coin miners additionally utilize GPU power for their tasks. In that instance, you will struggle also to see the mouse cursor moving – GPU is usually used on 100%. It is not as important as processor for system work, so Osk.exe coin miner viruses do not waste time on trifles and use all of it. It sometimes may lead to bad consequences.

Shortly about cryptocurrency mining

Cryptocurrency mining term means the action of calculating the transaction block hash. That is a basic element of any project based on the blockchain technology. Since this operation takes a lot of calculations, a high-end machine 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 complete their task efficiently. Such systems are not usable for “classic” purposes, like gaming or browsing the Web. Crooks who make profit 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 Osk.exe miner?

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

Firstly, Osk.exe virus makes your computer overloaded. It is not able to run your applications now, as all processor power is used by a malware. That malware does not care for your needs, all it focuses on is generating income on you. Even if you are patient, and you waited until web browser is open, you will likely suffer from extremely sluggish efficiency. Pages can open for years, any kind of logins will likely take about a minute – just a horror story for a person who works online.

Osk.exe Technical Summary.

“Visible” harm is not a solitary unpleasant activity coin miners perform to your computer. Osk.exe coin miner additionally deals damage to your OS. To execute all malevolent operations correctly, it wrecks the protection mechanisms 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 trojan miner to connect your PC to a malicious cryptomining network. All these changes shall be thrown back to the original in the process of PC recovery.

Hardware effects of coin miner activity

Besides decreasing your system’s performance, performing at peak level for a long period of time may cause damage to your device as well as raise power costs. Hardware components are designed to easily deal with high load, but they can do so only when they are in a good shape.

Tiny and well-protected processor fan is hard to broke. Meanwhile, graphic cards have large and easy-to-access fans, which can be easily cracked if touched while working, for example, by the user much earlier before the virus injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the really high load caused by Osk.exe virus can easily lead to graphic card failure². Graphic cards are also tend to have very fast wearing when utilized for cryptocurrency mining. It is surely an undesirable case when your GPU’s performance decreases on 20-30% just after several weeks of being used in such a way.

How did I get Osk.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 prevalent malicious programs among “serious” malware. Adware sometimes functions as a carrier for Osk.exe malware injection: it shows you the banners, which include a link to malware downloading. Sure, this abstract “malware” can belong to any type – another adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. However, the statistics show that around 30% of all malware spread with the malicious banners are coin miners – and Osk.exe is right among them.

The example of malicious banners you can see in the Internet

Another way you could get this thing on your computer is by downloading it from the dubious web page as a part of a program. Users who spread hacked versions of popular programs (which do not require the license key) have small chances to make money. Therefore, there is a huge temptation to add malware to the final package of the hacked application and acquire a coin for each installation. Before blaming these people for hacking and also malware spreading, ask yourself – is it okay to avoid purchasing the program in such a way? It is more affordable to pay $20-$30 one time than to pay a much greater figure for antivirus software and new parts for your computer.

How to remove the Osk.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 demands using special app. Effective antivirus should have high capability at scanning and be lightweight – in order to make no problems with utilization even on weak systems. On top of that, it is recommended to have on-run security in your security solution – to prevent the virus even before it starts. Microsoft Defender does not have these elements for different factors. That’s why I’d advise you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that purpose. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is a perfect choice that fits each of the mentioned characteristics.³

Prior to the virus removal, it is important to reboot your Windows into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Osk.exe miner consumes a lot of processor capacity, it is needed 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 PC is in Safe Mode, all third-party apps, along with the majority of non-critical Windows components, are not started with the system start. That gives you the ability to clean the PC without dealing with high CPU usage of the coin miner.

Remove Osk.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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