Skynet.exe executable file is related to a malicious application that can correctly be recognized as a coin miner trojan. That malware form utilizes your hardware to mine cryptocurrencies, primarily – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your computer pretty much unusable because of high CPU usage.
What is Skynet.exe process?
Skynet.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
As I have actually mentioned in the previous paragraph, Skynet.exe is a coin miner virus. The names of the executive file may be different, however, the consequences are usually the identical. Considering that coin miners focus on cryptocurrency mining, they use all possible hardware power of your personal computer to run this procedure. This virus doesn’t pay attention to the fact that you may need to use your system for other tasks – it will consistently take over 80% of your CPU power.
Skynet.exe – Extremely high CPU as well as GPU use
Besides CPU consumption, some of the coin miners additionally use GPU power for their operations. In that situation, you will struggle also to see the mouse cursor moving – GPU is often utilized on 100%. It is not as important as processor for system work, so Skynet.exe coin miner viruses don’t waste time on trifles and use it all. It often can lead to bad effects.
Shortly about cryptocurrency mining
Cryptocurrency mining is a term that means the operation of calculating the transaction block hash. That is a basic element of anything based on the blockchain technology. Since this operation takes a lot of calculations, a very strong machine is needed. Exactly, the video card is better for this purpose, because they have more cores available. Cryptocurrency mining farms usually consist of dozens of video cards to conduct their activity effectively. Such systems are not usable for “usual” purposes, like gaming or web browsing. 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 Skynet.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, Skynet.exe malware makes your system overloaded. It is unable to run your applications anymore, because all CPU power is used by a virus. That malware does not care for your wants, all it focuses on is generating income on you. Even if you are patient, and you waited until web browser is open, you will likely struggle with extremely slow performance. Pages will open up for years, any kind of logins will take about a minute – just a headache for a person that does a job online.
Skynet.exe Technical Summary.
| File Name | Skynet.exe |
| Type | Trojan Coin Miner |
| Detection Name | Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner |
| Distribution Method | Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc. |
| Similar behavior | Lineinst.exe, Minerhash.exe, Zecminer64.exe |
| Removal | Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Skynet.exe removal. |
“Visible” harm is not a single unpleasant thing coin miners do to your PC. Skynet.exe coin miner additionally deals damage to your OS. To perform all malicious functions correctly, it ruins the security mechanisms 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 number of new notes – they are added by this coin miner to connect your computer to a malicious mining network. All these changes shall be reverted to the original in the process of computer recovery.
Hardware effects of coin miner activity
Besides making your PC slow, running at peak power for a long period of time may trigger damage to your machine 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.
Little and covered CPU cooling system is quite hard to broke. Meanwhile, GPUs have large and easy-to-access fans, which can be easily cracked if touched while working, for example, by the user much before the virus injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the very high load caused by Skynet.exe malware can easily lead to graphic card failure3. Graphic cards are also tend to have fast wearing when used for crypto mining. It is likely a bad case when the performance of your GPU plunges 20-30% just after 1-2 weeks of being used in such a way.
How did I get Skynet.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 malevolent programs through “serious” viruses. Adware sometimes works as a carrier for Skynet.exe malware injection: it demonstrates you the banners, which have a link to malware downloading. Yes, this abstract “malware” can belong to any kind – an additional adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. However, the statistics show that about 30% of all malware spread with the malicious banners are coin miners – and Skynet.exe is just with them.4
The example of malicious banners you can see in the Internet
Another way you could get this item on your PC is by downloading it from the unreliable web page as a part of a program. Users who spread hacked variants of favored programs (which do not demand the license key) have small chances to earn money. Therefore, there is a huge temptation to include malware to the final package of the hacked application and receive a coin for each installation. Before blaming these guys for hacking and also malware distribution, ask yourself – is it okay to avoid buying the program in such a way? It is more affordable to pay $20-$30 at once than to pay a much bigger sum for antivirus program as well as new parts for your PC.
How to remove the Skynet.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 needs using special app. Effective anti-malware program must have high capability at scanning and also be lightweight – in order to create no problems with utilization even on weak computers. In addition, it is recommended to have on-run security in your protection solution – to stop the virus even before it launches. Microsoft Defender lacks these functions for various reasons. That’s why I’d advise you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that goal. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is an ideal option that fits each of the mentioned characteristics.5
Prior to the malware removal, it is important to reboot your Windows into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Skynet.exe miner takes a lot of processor 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 system is in Safe Mode, all third-party programs, along with the majority of non-critical system components, are not launched with the system start. That allows you to clean the system without dealing with high processor usage of the coin miner.
Remove Skynet.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 Skynet.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner
Name: Skynet.exe
Description: The Skynet.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Skynet.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.
