Perfwats.exe executable file comes from a harmful application that can correctly be identified as a coin miner trojan virus. That malware form uses your PC components to mine cryptocurrencies, primarily – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your computer almost unusable as a result of high CPU usage.
What is Perfwats.exe process?
Perfwats.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
As I have actually specified before, Perfwats.exe is a coin miner trojan. The names of the executive file can be different, but the consequences are usually the identical. Because coin miners aim at cryptocurrency mining, they utilize all possible hardware capacity of your personal computer to run this operation. This malware does not take note of the fact that you probably want to make use of your PC for other activities – it will always take over 80% of your CPU power.
Perfwats.exe – Very high CPU and GPU use
Besides CPU usage, some of the coin miners also make use of GPU power for their tasks. In that case, you will likely struggle even to see the mouse cursor moving – GPU is often used on 100%. It is not as crucial as processor for system work, so Perfwats.exe coin miner viruses do not waste time on trifles and utilize it all. It often can cause unhappy effects.
Shortly about cryptocurrency mining
Crypto mining 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 strong desktop is needed. Exactly, the graphic card is better for this purpose, because they have more cores available. Cryptocurrency mining farms are usually constructed of dozens of video cards to complete their task efficiently. Such computer systems are not usable for “classic” purposes, like gaming or browsing the Web. Crooks who gain money via this coin miner use someones’ computers instead, even if they are used for the regular activity.2
List of the typical coin miner symptoms
How dangerous is the Perfwats.exe miner?
Coin miners does not deal damage to your files. However, they make a lot of unpleasant things with the whole system
First of all, Perfwats.exe malware makes your PC overloaded. It is unable to run your applications now, since all CPU power is used by a virus. That malware does not care for your needs, all it pays attention to is making money on you. Even if you are patient, and you waited until web browser is open, you will likely struggle with incredibly slow performance. Pages can open up for years, any kind of logins will take about a minute – just a nightmare for a person that works online.
Perfwats.exe Technical Summary.
| File Name | Perfwats.exe |
| Type | Trojan Coin Miner |
| Detection Name | Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner |
| Distribution Method | Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc. |
| Similar behavior | 12.exe, Msiexec64.exe, Conhost.exe |
| Removal | Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Perfwats.exe removal. |
“Visible” damage is not a single negative thing coin miners perform to your system. Perfwats.exe coin miner also deals damage to your OS. To complete all malevolent operations successfully, it wrecks the protection mechanisms of your system. You will likely see your Microsoft Defender disabled – malware stops it to avoid recognition. If you check the HOSTS file, you will likely see a ton of new notes – they are brought in by this coin miner to connect your system to a malicious mining network. All these changes are about to be gone back to the original in the process of computer recovery.
Hardware effects of coin miner activity
Besides decreasing your PC’s performance, performing at peak level for a long period of time can cause damage to your machine as well as increase electricity bills. Hardware components are created to easily get along with high load, but they are good with it only when they are in a good shape.
Tiny and well-protected CPU cooling system is hard to damage. Meanwhile, GPUs have large and easy-to-access fans, which can be easily cracked if affected while working, for example, by the user much before the malware injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the extremely high load caused by Perfwats.exe miner can easily lead to graphic processing unit failure3. Graphic cards are also prone to have very fast wearing when used for cryptocurrency mining. It is surely an undesirable situation when your GPU’s performance plunges 20-30% just after 1-2 weeks of being used in such a way.
How did I get Perfwats.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 “serious” viruses. Adware frequently works as a carrier for Perfwats.exe malware injection: it demonstrates you the banners, which contain a link to malware downloading. Sure, this abstract “malware” may belong to any kind – another adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. But the statistics say that approximately 30% of all malware spread through the malicious banners are coin miners – and Perfwats.exe is just one of them.4
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 website as a part of a program. People who spread hacked versions of well-known programs (which do not demand the license key) have small chances to get paid. For this reason, there is a very big temptation to add in malware to the final package of the hacked application and get a coin for every installation. Before blaming these individuals for hacking and also 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 and new parts for your computer.
How to remove the Perfwats.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 the use of special software. Effective anti-malware program must have high capability at scanning and be lightweight – in order to make no problems with usage even on weak computers. Additionally, it is better to have proactive security in your security solution – to halt the virus even before it starts. Microsoft Defender lacks these features 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 an ideal option that fits each of the specified features.5
Prior to the virus removal, it is important to boot your Windows into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Perfwats.exe miner takes a lot of CPU 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 applications, along with the majority of non-crucial system components, are not started with the system start. That allows you to clean the system without dealing with high CPU usage of the coin miner.
Remove Perfwats.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 Perfwats.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner
Name: Perfwats.exe
Description: The Perfwats.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Perfwats.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.
