Pack.exe executable file belongs to a malicious program that can correctly be recognized as a coin miner trojan virus. That malware type utilizes your PC components to mine cryptocurrencies, primarily – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your computer almost nonfunctional due to high CPU use.
What is Pack.exe process?
Pack.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
As I have pointed out in the previous paragraph, Pack.exe is a coin miner virus. The names of the .exe file may be different, however, the consequences are usually the same. Since coin miners focus on cryptocurrency mining, they use all available hardware capacity of your desktop to perform this procedure. This malware doesn’t care about the fact that you probably want to use your PC for other activities – it will continuously take over 80% of your processor power.
Pack.exe – Really high CPU/GPU use
Besides CPU utilization, some of the coin miners additionally make use of GPU power for their tasks. In that case, you will probably 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 Pack.exe coin miner viruses don’t waste time on trifles and utilize all of it. It often can cause bad results.
Shortly about cryptocurrency mining
Crypto mining is a term that means the activity 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 graphic card is better for this purpose, because they have more cores available. Cryptocurrency mining farms usually consist of dozens of video cards to conduct their activity effectively. Such systems are not usable for “usual” 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.2
List of the typical coin miner symptoms
How dangerous is the Pack.exe miner?
Coin miners does not deal damage to your files. However, they make a lot of unpleasant things with the whole system
Firstly, Pack.exe virus makes your computer overloaded. It is unable to run your applications anymore, because all CPU power is used by a malware. That malware does not care for your demands, all it pays attention to is generating profits on you. Even if you are patient, and you waited until web browser is open, you will likely suffer from exceptionally sluggish efficiency. Pages will open for years, any kind of logins will take about a minute – just a headache for a person who does a job online.
Pack.exe Technical Summary.
| File Name | Pack.exe |
| Type | Trojan Coin Miner |
| Detection Name | Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner |
| Distribution Method | Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc. |
| Similar behavior | Vhyfd.exe, Culdwnf.exe, Winsys.exe |
| Removal | Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Pack.exe removal. |
“Visible” harm is not a solitary bad activity coin miners do to your system. Pack.exe coin miner likewise deals damage to your operating system. To perform all malevolent functions effectively, it ruins the security features 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 number of new notes – they are added by this trojan miner to connect your computer to a malicious cryptomining network. All these adjustments are about to be thrown 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 trigger damage to your device and raise electricity costs. PC components are designed to easily deal with high load, but they are good with it only when they are in a good shape.
Little and well-protected CPU cooling system is hard to crack. 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 Pack.exe can easily lead to graphic processing unit failure3. Video cards are also prone to have fast wearing when utilized for crypto mining. It is surely a bad case when your GPU’s performance decreases on 20-30% only after 1-2 weeks of being used in such a way.
How did I get Pack.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 malevolent programs through “serious” viruses. Adware frequently serves as a carrier for Pack.exe malware injection: it demonstrates you the banners, which contain a link to malware downloading. Yes, this abstract “malware” can belong to any type – yet another adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. But the statistics say that about 30% of all viruses spread through the malicious banners are coin miners – and Pack.exe is just among them.4
The example of malicious banners you can see in the Internet
One more way you could get this thing on your computer is by downloading it from the unreliable site as a part of a program. Users who spread hacked variants of well-known programs (which do not demand the license key) have small chances to get paid. For this reason, there is a huge lure to add malware to the final package of the hacked app and receive a coin for each installation. Before blaming these guys for hacking and also malware distribution, 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 sum for antivirus program as well as new parts for your PC.
How to remove the Pack.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 demands making use of specific tool. Proper anti-malware program should have high capability at scanning and be lightweight – in order to create no problems with usage also on weak systems. In addition, it is recommended to have on-run protection in your protection tool – 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 objective. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is a great option that fits each of the specified features.5
Prior to the malware removal, it is important to boot your system into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Pack.exe miner takes a lot of processor power, 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 apps, just like the majority of non-crucial operating system components, are not started with the system start. That gives you the ability to clean the system without dealing with high CPU usage of the coin miner.
Remove Pack.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 Pack.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner
Name: Pack.exe
Description: The Pack.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Pack.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.
