Runtimebroker.exe executable file belongs to a malevolent application that can properly be defined as a coin miner virus. That malware form utilizes your hardware to mine cryptocurrencies, generally – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your system roughly unusable as a result of high CPU use.
What is Runtimebroker.exe process?
Runtimebroker.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
As I have mentioned earlier, Runtimebroker.exe is a coin miner trojan. The names of the executive file can be diverse, however, the impacts are almost always the identical. Considering that coin miners focus on cryptocurrency mining, they utilize all available hardware capacity of your personal computer to perform this operation. This virus doesn’t pay attention to the fact that you probably want to use your desktop for other activities – it will continuously take over 80% of your CPU power.
Runtimebroker.exe – Extremely high CPU/GPU use
Besides CPU usage, some of the coin miners additionally use GPU power for their operations. In that case, you will struggle also to see the mouse arrow moving – GPU is often utilized on 100%. It is not as critical as CPU for system work, so Runtimebroker.exe coin miner viruses don’t waste time on trifles and utilize it all. It often may cause sad effects.
Shortly about cryptocurrency mining
Cryptocurrency mining term means the action of calculating the transaction block hash. That is a basic part of anything based on the blockchain technology. Since this operation takes a lot of calculations, a strong desktop is required. Exactly, the video card is better for this task, because they have more cores available. Cryptocurrency mining farms are usually constructed of dozens of graphic cards to complete their task efficiently. Such systems are not usable for “classic” purposes, like gaming or browsing the Web. Fraudsters 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 Runtimebroker.exe miner?
Coin miners does not deal damage to your files. However, they make a lot of unpleasant things with the whole system
First off, Runtimebroker.exe virus makes your computer overloaded. It is not able to run your applications now, since all processor power is consumed by a virus. That malware does not care for your wants, all it pays attention to is generating profits on you. Even if you are patient, and you waited until browser is open, you will likely struggle with exceptionally sluggish performance. Pages will open for years, any type of logins will likely take about a minute – just a horror story for a person that works online.
Runtimebroker.exe Technical Summary.
| File Name | Runtimebroker.exe |
| Type | Trojan Coin Miner |
| Detection Name | Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner |
| Distribution Method | Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc. |
| Similar behavior | Rthdvcpl.exe, Slui.exe, Gpupdate.exe |
| Removal | Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Runtimebroker.exe removal. |
“Visible” harm is not a solitary bad thing coin miners perform to your system. Runtimebroker.exe coin miner likewise deals damage to your operating system. To carry out all malevolent functions properly, it ruins the security components of your system. You will likely see your Microsoft Defender disabled – malware stops it to avoid recognition. If you open the HOSTS file, you will likely see a load of new entries – they are brought in by this trojan miner to connect your computer to a malicious mining 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, performing at peak level for a long period of time may trigger damage to your machine and raise electricity expenses. PC components are created to easily get along with high load, but they are good with it only when they are in a good shape.
Small and covered processor fan is not very easy to crack. Meanwhile, graphic cards have big and easy-to-access rotors, which can be easily cracked if touched while working, for instance, by the user much before the coin-miner injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the really high load caused by Runtimebroker.exe can easily lead to graphic card failure3. Video cards are also tend to have increased wearing when utilized for crypto mining. It is likely an undesirable situation when your GPU’s performance decreases on 20-30% only after several weeks of being exploited in such a way.
How did I get Runtimebroker.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 widespread malicious programs through “severe” viruses. Adware often functions as a carrier for Runtimebroker.exe malware infiltration: it shows you the banners, which have a link to malware downloading. Sure, this abstract “malware” may belong to any type – another adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. However, the statistics say that approximately 30% of all viruses spread through the malevolent banners are coin miners – and Runtimebroker.exe is just one of them.4
The example of malicious banners you can see in the Internet
One more way you could get this thing on your PC is by downloading it from the untrustworthy website as a part of a program. People that spread hacked versions of popular programs (which do not need the license key) have small chances to make money. Hence, there is a very big temptation to add malware to the final package of the hacked app and get a coin for every setup. Before criticizing these guys for hacking and also malware spreading, ask yourself – is it okay to avoid paying for the program in this manner? It is much cheaper to pay $20-$30 one time than to pay a much greater sum for antivirus program as well as new parts for your desktop.
How to remove the Runtimebroker.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 software. Proper security tool should have high capability at scanning and be lightweight – in order to create no problems with utilization even on weak PCs. Furthermore, it is better to have proactive protection in your security tool – to halt the virus even before it starts. Microsoft Defender lacks these functions for different reasons. That’s why I’d advise you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that purpose. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is a perfect option that fits all of the discussed qualities.5
Before the virus removal, it is important to boot your Windows into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Runtimebroker.exe miner consumes 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 programs, just like the majority of non-crucial 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 Runtimebroker.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 Runtimebroker.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner
Name: Runtimebroker.exe
Description: The Runtimebroker.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Runtimebroker.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.
