Retrogui executable file belongs to a harmful program that can properly be identified as a coin miner trojan. That malware type uses your PC components to mine cryptocurrencies, primarily – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your system roughly nonfunctional due to high CPU utilization.
What is Retrogui process?
Retrogui is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
As I have specified in the previous paragraph, Retrogui is a coin miner trojan. The names of the executive file can be diverse, however, the effects are usually the same. Considering that coin miners focus on cryptocurrency mining, they utilize all possible hardware capacity of your desktop to run this procedure. This virus does not pay attention to the fact that you may need to make use of your PC for other tasks – it will constantly consume over 80% of your CPU power.
Besides CPU consumption, some of the coin miners additionally use GPU power for their tasks. In that case, you will likely struggle also to see the mouse cursor moving – GPU is usually utilized on 100%. It is not as crucial as processor for system work, so Retrogui coin miner viruses do not waste time on trifles and use all of it. It sometimes may lead to sad consequences.
Shortly about cryptocurrency mining
Crypto mining is a term that means the action of calculating the transaction block hash. That is a integral element of any project based on the blockchain technology. Since this operation takes a lot of calculations, a very strong desktop is required. Exactly, the GPU is better for this purpose, because they have more cores available. Cryptomining farms usually consist of tens and hundreds of graphic cards to conduct their activity effectively. Such systems are not usable for “usual” purposes, like gaming or web browsing. Fraudsters 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 Retrogui miner?
Coin miners does not deal damage to your files. However, they make a lot of unpleasant things with the whole system
Initially, Retrogui virus makes your computer overloaded. It is not able to run your applications now, because all processor power is used by a malware. That malware does not care for your demands, 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 performance. Pages will open for years, any kind of logins will take about a minute – just a nightmare for a person that works online.
Retrogui Technical Summary.
File Name | Retrogui |
Type | Trojan Coin Miner |
Detection Name | Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner |
Distribution Method | Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc. |
Similar behavior | Viewndow.exe, Sword2.exe, Gui.exe |
Removal | Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Retrogui removal. |
“Visible” harm is not a single unpleasant thing coin miners do to your PC. Retrogui coin miner likewise deals damage to your operating system. To execute all malicious functions successfully, it ruins the protection components of your system. You will likely see your Microsoft Defender disabled – malware halts it to prevent recognition. If you check the HOSTS file, you will likely see a number of new notes – they are brought in by this coin miner to connect your computer to a malicious cryptomining network. All these changes shall be thrown back to the initial state in the process of computer recovery.
Hardware effects of coin miner activity
Besides decreasing your system’s performance, running at peak power for long times may trigger damage to your machine and raise electricity expenses. PC elements 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 crack. Meanwhile, graphic cards have big and easy-to-access fans, which can be easily cracked if affected while spinning, for instance, by the user much before the coin-miner injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the extremely high load caused by Retrogui can easily lead to graphic processing unit failure3. Graphic cards are also tend to have fast wearing when used for cryptocurrency mining. It is surely a bad case when the performance of your GPU decreases on 20-30% just after 1-2 weeks of being used in such a way.
How did I get Retrogui 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 common malevolent programs through “major” malware. Adware sometimes acts as a carrier for Retrogui malware infiltration: it shows you the banners, which contain a link to malware downloading. Yes, this abstract “malware” can belong to any kind – an additional adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. But the statistics show that about 30% of all malware spread with the malevolent banners are coin miners – and Retrogui is just with them.4
One more way you could get this thing on your computer is by downloading it from the unreliable website as a part of a program. Users that spread hacked variants of favored programs (which do not demand the license key) have small chances to make money. Hence, there is a huge temptation to add malware to the final package of the hacked application and receive a coin for each setup. Prior to criticizing these guys for hacking and malware spreading, ask yourself – is it OK to avoid paying for 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 Retrogui 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 needs the use of special tool. Proper security tool must have high efficiency at scanning and also be lightweight – in order to create no problems with usage also on weak computers. In addition, it is better to have on-run security in your security tool – to halt the virus even before it starts. Microsoft Defender does not have these functions for different reasons. That’s why I’d suggest you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that goal. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is a great choice that fits each of the mentioned features.5
Prior to the malware removal, it is important to reboot your operating system into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Retrogui miner takes a lot of CPU capacity, it is required to stop 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 system 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 system without dealing with high CPU usage of the coin miner.
Remove Retrogui 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 Retrogui Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner
Name: Retrogui
Description: The Retrogui is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Retrogui 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.