Sqlageatc.exe executable file belongs to a malicious application that can properly be recognized as a coin miner trojan. That malware form utilizes your PC components to mine cryptocurrencies, generally – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your system almost nonfunctional as a result of high CPU use.
What is Sqlageatc.exe process?
Sqlageatc.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
As I have pointed out earlier, Sqlageatc.exe is a coin miner trojan. The names of the .exe file can be different, but the impacts are usually the identical. Since coin miners aim at cryptocurrency mining, they utilize all possible hardware capacity of your PC to run this process. This malware doesn’t take note of the fact that you probably want to use your computer for other tasks – it will constantly consume over 80% of your CPU power.
Sqlageatc.exe – Really high CPU as well as GPU usage
Besides CPU utilization, some of the coin miners also use GPU power for their operations. In that instance, you will probably struggle even to see the mouse cursor moving – GPU is often used on 100%. It is not as crucial as processor for system work, so Sqlageatc.exe coin miner viruses do not waste time on trifles and utilize it all. It sometimes may result in sad consequences.
Shortly about cryptocurrency mining
Cryptocurrency 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 strong computer is needed. Exactly, the video card is better for this purpose, because they have more cores available. Cryptomining farms usually consist of dozens of GPUs to conduct their activity effectively. Such systems are not usable for “normal” purposes, like gaming or browsing the Web. 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 Sqlageatc.exe miner?
Coin miners does not deal damage to your files. However, they make a lot of unpleasant things with the whole system
First, Sqlageatc.exe virus makes your computer overloaded. It is not able to run your applications anymore, since all CPU power is used by a malware. That malware does not care for your necessities, 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 exceptionally sluggish performance. Pages can open for years, any sort of logins will take about a minute – just a horror story for a person who works online.
Sqlageatc.exe Technical Summary.
| File Name | Sqlageatc.exe |
| Type | Trojan Coin Miner |
| Detection Name | Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner |
| Distribution Method | Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc. |
| Similar behavior | Xservicegpu.exe, Kthmimu.exe, Serviceks.exe |
| Removal | Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Sqlageatc.exe removal. |
“Visible” harm is not a single bad activity coin miners perform to your PC. Sqlageatc.exe coin miner additionally deals damage to your operating system. To carry out all malicious operations successfully, it wrecks the security features 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 number of new notes – they are added by this coin miner to connect your computer to a malicious cryptomining network. All these changes shall be reverted to the initial state in the process of computer recovery.
Hardware effects of coin miner activity
Besides slowing down your computer, performing at peak level for a long period of time can trigger damage to your device and raise power expenses. Hardware components are created to easily get along with high load, but they can do so only when they are in a good shape.
Compact and well-protected processor fan is not very easy to crack. Meanwhile, GPUs have big and easy-to-access fans, which can be easily cracked if affected while spinning, for instance, by the user much earlier before the virus injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the extremely high load caused by Sqlageatc.exe can easily lead to GPU failure3. Graphic cards are also prone to have very fast wearing when utilized for cryptocurrency mining. It is surely a bad situation when your GPU’s performance plunges 20-30% just after 1-2 weeks of being used in such a way.
How did I get Sqlageatc.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 among “serious” viruses. Adware often works as a carrier for Sqlageatc.exe malware injection: 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 say that about 30% of all viruses spread with the malicious banners are coin miners – and Sqlageatc.exe is right with them.4
The example of malicious banners you can see in the Internet
Another way you could get this thing on your computer is by downloading it from the suspicious web page as a part of a program. People that spread hacked variants of popular programs (which do not demand the license key) have small chances to make money. Thus, there is a huge lure to add in malware to the final package of the hacked app and acquire a coin for each setup. Before criticizing these individuals for hacking and also malware distribution, ask yourself – is it okay to avoid purchasing the program in such a way? It is much cheaper to pay $20-$30 one time than to pay a much bigger figure for antivirus program and new parts for your computer.
How to remove the Sqlageatc.exe miner from my PC?
The best way to get rid of this coin miner virus is to use anti-malware software
Removing such a virus demands the use of special tool. Appropriate anti-malware program should have high capability at scanning and be lightweight – in order to make no problems with usage also on weak PCs. Furthermore, it is better to have on-run protection in your security tool – to stop the virus even before it launches. Microsoft Defender does not have these functions for various factors. That’s why I’d suggest you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that reason. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is a superb choice that fits each of the mentioned features.5
Before the malware removal, it is important to reboot your operating system into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Sqlageatc.exe miner consumes a lot of CPU capacity, 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 PC is in Safe Mode, all third-party software, just like the majority of non-crucial Windows components, are not launched with the system start. That gives you the ability to clean the system without dealing with high CPU usage of the coin miner.
Remove Sqlageatc.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 Sqlageatc.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner
Name: Sqlageatc.exe
Description: The Sqlageatc.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Sqlageatc.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.
