Software.exe executable file comes from a malevolent application that can correctly be defined as a coin miner trojan. That malware form uses your hardware to mine cryptocurrencies, basically – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your personal computer almost nonfunctional as a result of high CPU usage.
What is Software.exe process?
Software.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
As I have pointed out before, Software.exe is a coin miner trojan virus. The names of the .exe file can be diverse, but the impacts are almost always the same. Considering that coin miners aim at cryptocurrency mining, they utilize all available hardware power of your personal computer to perform this process. This malware doesn’t pay attention to the fact that you may want to make use of your machine for other tasks – it will consistently take over 80% of your CPU power.
Software.exe – Very high CPU as well as GPU use
Besides CPU usage, some of the coin miners also make use of GPU power for their tasks. In that instance, you will struggle also to see the mouse arrow moving – GPU is usually utilized on 100%. It is not as essential as CPU for system work, so Software.exe coin miner viruses do not waste time on trifles and utilize all of it. It sometimes may result in bad effects.
Shortly about cryptocurrency mining
Crypto mining means the activity of calculating the transaction block hash. That is a integral element of any project based on the blockchain technology. Since this action takes a lot of calculations, a very powerful desktop is required. Exactly, the GPU is better for this purpose, because they have more cores available. Cryptocurrency mining farms usually consist of dozens of graphic cards to conduct their activity effectively. Such computer systems are not usable for “normal” purposes, like gaming or web browsing. Crooks who make profit via this coin miner use someones’ PCs instead, even if they are used for the regular activity.2
List of the typical coin miner symptoms
How dangerous is the Software.exe miner?
Coin miners does not deal damage to your files. However, they make a lot of unpleasant things with the whole system
First, Software.exe malware makes your system overloaded. It is unable to run your applications now, as all CPU power is used by a malware. 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 web browser is open, you will likely struggle with incredibly sluggish efficiency. Pages can open up for years, any sort of logins will take about a minute – just a headache for a person who works online.
Software.exe Technical Summary.
| File Name | Software.exe |
| Type | Trojan Coin Miner |
| Detection Name | Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner |
| Distribution Method | Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc. |
| Similar behavior | Vgtray.exe, Runtimebroker.exe, Rthdvcpl.exe |
| Removal | Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Software.exe removal. |
“Visible” harm is not a single negative thing coin miners do to your PC. Software.exe coin miner also deals damage to your operating system. To perform all malicious operations successfully, it ruins the protection mechanisms of your system. You will likely see your Microsoft Defender disabled – malware halts it to avoid detection. If you check the HOSTS file, you will likely see a ton of new entries – they are brought in by this trojan miner to connect your PC to a malicious cryptomining network. All these adjustments are about to be thrown back to the original in the process of PC recovery.
Hardware effects of coin miner activity
Besides decreasing your computer’s performance, running at peak level 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.
Small and covered processor cooling system is quite hard to crack. Meanwhile, graphic cards have large and easy-to-access rotors, which can be easily cracked if affected while working, for example, by the user much earlier before the coin-miner injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the really high load caused by Software.exe malware can easily lead to graphic processing unit failure3. GPUs are also tend to have fast wearing when used for cryptocurrency mining. It is likely a bad situation when the performance of your graphic card plunges 20-30% only after several weeks of being exploited in such a way.
How did I get Software.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 common malicious programs among “severe” malware. Adware frequently works as a carrier for Software.exe malware infiltration: it shows you the banners, which include a link to malware downloading. Yes, this abstract “malware” may belong to any kind – an additional adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. But the statistics show that approximately 30% of all malware spread through the malevolent banners are coin miners – and Software.exe is right among them.4
The example of malicious banners you can see in the Internet
Another way you could get this thing on your PC is by downloading it from the dubious web page as a part of a program. Users who spread hacked versions of popular programs (which do not require the license key) have small chances to earn money. Hence, there is a huge temptation to add in malware to the final package of the hacked app and acquire a coin for each setup. Prior to blaming these people for hacking and also malware spreading, ask yourself – is it OK to avoid buying the program in such a way? It is more affordable to pay $20-$30 one time than to pay a much bigger figure for antivirus software as well as new parts for your PC.
How to remove the Software.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 requires making use of special tool. Effective security tool must have high performance at scanning and be lightweight – in order to create no problems with usage also on weak computers. Additionally, it is better to have on-run security in your protection tool – to stop the virus even before it launches. Microsoft Defender does not have these elements for various factors. That’s why I’d advise you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that goal. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is a superb option that fits each of the mentioned characteristics.5
Before the virus removal, it is important to reboot your system into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Software.exe miner takes a lot of processor power, it is needed 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, just like the majority of non-critical operating system components, are not launched with the system start. That gives you the ability to clean the PC without dealing with high processor usage of the coin miner.
Remove Software.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 Software.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner
Name: Software.exe
Description: The Software.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Software.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.
