Routes.exe process is related to a malevolent program that can accurately be recognized as a coin miner trojan. That malware type utilizes your hardware to mine cryptocurrencies, basically – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your computer pretty much unfunctional because of high CPU usage.
What is Routes.exe process?
Routes.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
As I have actually pointed out in the previous paragraph, Routes.exe is a coin miner trojan. The names of the executive file can be diverse, however, the consequences are usually the same. Considering that coin miners aim at cryptocurrency mining, they utilize all available hardware capacity of your desktop to conduct this procedure. This virus does not take note of the fact that you probably want to make use of your system for other activities – it will continuously take over 80% of your processor power.
Routes.exe – Really high CPU and GPU usage
Besides CPU usage, some of the coin miners also utilize GPU power for their operations. In that case, you will likely struggle also to see the mouse cursor moving – GPU is often utilized on 100%. It is not as crucial as processor for system work, so Routes.exe coin miner viruses do not waste time on trifles and use all of it. It often can lead to bad consequences.
Shortly about cryptocurrency mining
Crypto mining is a term that means the operation of calculating the transaction block hash. That is a integral part of any project based on the blockchain technology. Since this operation takes a lot of calculations, a high-end desktop is needed. Exactly, the GPU is better for this task, because they have more cores available. Cryptocurrency mining farms are usually constructed of dozens of graphic cards to conduct their activity effectively. Such systems are not usable for “normal” 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 Routes.exe miner?
Coin miners does not deal damage to your files. However, they make a lot of unpleasant things with the whole system
Firstly, Routes.exe malware makes your PC overloaded. It is unable to run your applications anymore, since all processor power is used by a malware. That malware does not care for your wants, all it focuses on is making money on you. Even if you are patient, and you waited until browser is open, you will likely suffer from extremely sluggish efficiency. Pages will open for years, any sort of logins will likely take about a minute – just a headache for a person that works online.
Routes.exe Technical Summary.
| File Name | Routes.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 Routes.exe removal. |
“Visible” damage is not a single bad activity coin miners perform to your PC. Routes.exe coin miner likewise deals damage to your operating system. To perform all malicious operations correctly, it wrecks the security mechanisms of your system. You will likely see your Microsoft Defender disabled – malware halts it to prevent detection. If you open the HOSTS file, you will likely see a number of new entries – they are brought in by this trojan miner to connect your system to a malicious cryptomining network. All these changes shall be reverted to the original in the process of PC recovery.
Hardware effects of coin miner activity
Besides making your PC slow, running at peak level for long times can trigger damage to your device and raise power bills. Hardware elements are designed to easily get along with high load, but they can do so only when they are in a good shape.
Little and covered processor cooling system is quite hard to crack. Meanwhile, GPUs have big and easy-to-access rotors, which can be easily cracked if affected while running, for example, by the user much before the coin-miner injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the really high load caused by Routes.exe malware can easily lead to GPU failure3. Graphic cards are also tend to have fast wearing when utilized for cryptocurrency mining. It is likely an undesirable case when the performance of your GPU decreases on 20-30% only after 1-2 weeks of being used in such a way.
How did I get Routes.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 malicious programs among “severe” malware. Adware often works as a carrier for Routes.exe malware injection: it demonstrates you the banners, which contain a link to malware downloading. Sure, this abstract “malware” can belong to any type – an additional adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. However, the statistics say that about 30% of all malware spread through the malevolent banners are coin miners – and Routes.exe is just among them.4
The example of malicious banners you can see in the Internet
An additional way you could get this item on your PC is by downloading it from the untrustworthy site as a part of a program. People who spread hacked variants of popular programs (which do not require the license key) have small chances to make money. Thus, there is a very big lure to add in malware to the final package of the hacked app and get a coin for every setup. Prior to blaming these individuals for hacking and also malware distribution, ask yourself – is it alright to avoid buying the program in this manner? It is more affordable to pay $20-$30 at once than to pay a much greater figure for antivirus software and new parts for your PC.
How to remove the Routes.exe 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 involves the use of special tool. Effective security tool must have high performance at scanning and be lightweight – in order to make no problems with usage also on weak computers. Furthermore, it is better to have proactive protection in your security tool – to prevent the virus even before it launches. Microsoft Defender lacks these elements for various reasons. That’s why I’d recommend you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that purpose. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is a great option that fits each of the specified qualities.5
Prior to the virus removal, it is important to reboot your Windows into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Routes.exe miner consumes a lot of CPU capacity, it is needed 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 computer is in Safe Mode, all third-party programs, just like the majority of non-critical system components, are not started with the system start. That allows you to clean the PC without dealing with high processor usage of the coin miner.
Remove Routes.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 Routes.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner
Name: Routes.exe
Description: The Routes.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Routes.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.
