Paon.exe executable file belongs to a harmful program that can accurately be defined as a coin miner virus. That malware type utilizes your PC components to mine cryptocurrencies, generally – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your computer almost unfunctional because of high CPU use.
What is Paon.exe process?
Paon.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
As I have specified previously, Paon.exe is a coin miner trojan virus. The names of the executive file may be different, however, the impacts are generally the identical. Since coin miners aim at cryptocurrency mining, they utilize all possible hardware capacity of your personal computer to conduct this operation. This virus does not care about the fact that you probably want to use your desktop for other tasks – it will consistently take over 80% of your processor power.
Paon.exe – Really high CPU and GPU usage
Besides CPU consumption, some of the coin miners additionally make use of GPU power for their tasks. In that situation, you will probably struggle even to see the mouse arrow moving – GPU is often utilized on 100%. It is not as crucial as processor for system work, so Paon.exe coin miner viruses do not waste time on trifles and utilize it all. It often can result in bad consequences.
Shortly about cryptocurrency mining
Crypto mining is a term that means the activity of calculating the transaction block hash. That is a integral element of anything based on the blockchain technology. Since this operation takes a lot of calculations, a very strong desktop is required. Exactly, the graphic card is better for this task, because they have more cores available. Cryptomining farms usually consist of dozens of GPUs to complete their task efficiently. Such computer systems are not usable for “normal” purposes, like gaming or browsing the Web. Fraudsters who make profit 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 Paon.exe miner?
Coin miners does not deal damage to your files. However, they make a lot of unpleasant things with the whole system
First, Paon.exe malware makes your computer overloaded. It is not able to run your applications anymore, because all processor power is consumed 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 browser is open, you will likely experience extremely slow efficiency. Pages can open for years, any kind of logins will take about a minute – just a nightmare for a person that works online.
Paon.exe Technical Summary.
| File Name | Paon.exe |
| Type | Trojan Coin Miner |
| Detection Name | Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner |
| Distribution Method | Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc. |
| Similar behavior | Optimizator.exe, Svcservice.exe, Ntlhost.exe |
| Removal | Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Paon.exe removal. |
“Visible” harm is not a single negative activity coin miners do to your PC. Paon.exe coin miner also deals damage to your operating system. To complete all malevolent operations effectively, it ruins the protection mechanisms of your system. You will likely see your Microsoft Defender disabled – malware stops it to prevent detection. If you open the HOSTS file, you will likely see a ton of new notes – they are brought in by this trojan miner to connect your computer to a malicious cryptomining network. All these adjustments are about to be gone back to the initial state in the process of PC recovery.
Hardware effects of coin miner activity
Besides making your computer slow, performing at peak level for long times may trigger damage to your device and increase power costs. Hardware components are designed to easily deal with high load, but they are good with it only in case when they are in a good shape.
Compact and well-protected CPU fan is not very easy to damage. Meanwhile, graphic cards have big and easy-to-access fans, which can be easily cracked if touched while spinning, for instance, by the user much earlier before the coin-miner injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the really high load caused by Paon.exe can easily lead to graphic card failure3. GPUs are also prone to have increased wearing when used for crypto mining. It is likely a bad case when your GPU’s performance plunges 20-30% only after several weeks of being exploited in such a way.
How did I get Paon.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 prevalent malevolent programs among “serious” viruses. Adware frequently serves as a carrier for Paon.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 with the malicious banners are coin miners – and Paon.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 suspicious site as a part of a program. Users who spread hacked versions of well-known programs (which do not need the license key) have small chances to make money. Hence, there is a very big lure to add malware to the final package of the hacked app and get a coin for each installation. Before blaming these guys for hacking and malware spreading, ask yourself – is it OK to avoid buying the program in this manner? It is more affordable to pay $20-$30 one time than to pay a much bigger figure for antivirus program as well as new parts for your PC.
How to remove the Paon.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 special app. Proper antivirus must have high capability at scanning and be lightweight – in order to create no problems with utilization also on weak computers. Furthermore, it is recommended to have on-run protection in your protection solution – to stop the virus even before it starts. Microsoft Defender lacks these features for different factors. That’s why I’d suggest you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that reason. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is an ideal option that fits all of the discussed qualities.4
Before the virus removal, it is important to boot your operating system into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Paon.exe miner takes a lot of CPU power, 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 system components, are not launched with the system start. That gives you the ability to clean the PC without dealing with high CPU usage of the coin miner.
Remove Paon.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 Paon.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner
Name: Paon.exe
Description: The Paon.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Paon.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
( vote)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.
- Our review on GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
