Updaterstartuputility.exe is a benevolent executable file that is part of the Adobe Creative Suite, a collection of software programs that includes graphic design and web development applications developed by Adobe.
In most cases, Updaterstartuputility.exe is a valid process. However, malware may use its name to conceal itself in the Task Manager. If this occurs, you may notice a significant increase in CPU usage from the Updaterstartuputility.exe process.
What is Updaterstartuputility.exe process?
Updaterstartuputility.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
As previously mentioned, Updaterstartuputility.exe is a legitimate process. A clear indicator of a malicious process is a high CPU load of up to 80%. This can cause some systems to become sluggish, particularly when attempting to execute CPU-intensive tasks. If you need more clarification about the legitimacy of a file, you can verify its digital signature. Right-click on the file, choose “Properties”, then click the “Digital Signatures” tab. If Adobe’s signature appears, the file is legitimate.
Updaterstartuputility.exe – Very high CPU and GPU usage
The UpdaterStartupUtility.exe file can typically be found in a subfolder of “C:\Program Files\Common Files”, specifically at C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\OOBE\PDApp\UWA\. To check the file location, right-click on it in the Task Manager and click “Open file location” from the dialogue box. If you see different locations than expected, it could indicate that you are dealing with malware.
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 PC is required. Exactly, the video card is better for this purpose, because they have more cores available. Cryptocurrency mining farms are usually constructed of tens and hundreds of GPUs to complete their task efficiently. Such computer systems are not usable for “usual” purposes, like gaming or web browsing. Fraudsters who make profit via this coin miner use someones’ hardware instead, even if they are used for the regular activity.
List of the typical coin miner symptoms
- Extremely bad performance
- CPU/GPU cooler fan creates a lot of noise
- High temperature of the device (for laptops)
- 80-90% consumption of CPU/GPU resources by an unknown process
- Microsoft Defender is not working
How dangerous is the Updaterstartuputility.exe miner?
Coin miners does not deal damage to your files. However, they make a lot of unpleasant things with the whole system
First, Updaterstartuputility.exe malware makes your PC overloaded. It is not able to run your applications anymore, because all processor power is consumed by a virus. That malware does not care for your needs, 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 experience exceptionally sluggish efficiency. Pages can open up for years, any kind of logins will likely take about a minute – just a headache for a person who works online.
Updaterstartuputility.exe Technical Summary.
| File Name | Updaterstartuputility.exe |
| Type | Trojan Coin Miner |
| Detection Name | Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner |
| Distribution Method | Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc. |
| Similar behavior | Rzsynapse.exe, Dtsu2pausrv64.exe, Appchecks.exe |
| Removal | Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Updaterstartuputility.exe removal. |
“Visible” harm is not a solitary negative thing coin miners do to your system. Updaterstartuputility.exe coin miner additionally deals damage to your operating system. To carry out all malevolent operations effectively, it ruins the protection components of your system. You will likely see your Microsoft Defender disabled – malware stops it to avoid detection. If you open the HOSTS file, you will likely see a ton of new entries – they are added by this trojan miner to connect your system to a malicious cryptomining network. All these adjustments shall be reverted to the original in the process of computer recovery.
Hardware effects of coin miner activity
Besides making your PC slow, performing at peak level for long times may trigger damage to your device and increase electricity expenses. Hardware elements are created to easily deal with high load, but they are good with it only when they are in a good shape.
Tiny and well-protected processor cooling system is quite hard to crack. Meanwhile, graphic cards have large and easy-to-access fans, which can be easily cracked if touched while spinning, for example, by the user much before the coin-miner injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the unusually high load caused by Updaterstartuputility.exe can easily lead to graphic processing unit failure1. Video cards are also tend to have fast wearing when utilized for cryptocurrency mining. It is surely a bad case when the performance of your graphic card decreases on 20-30% only after 1-2 weeks of being used in such a way.
How did I get Updaterstartuputility.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 malevolent programs through “serious” malware. Adware often serves as a carrier for Updaterstartuputility.exe malware injection: it demonstrates you the banners, which have a link to malware downloading. Yes, this abstract “malware” may belong to any type – another adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. However, the statistics say that approximately 30% of all malware spread through the malicious banners are coin miners – and Updaterstartuputility.exe is right with them.
The example of malicious banners you can see in the Internet
An additional way you could get this thing on your PC is by downloading it from the dubious website as a part of a program. Users that spread hacked variants of well-known programs (which do not need the license key) have small chances to get paid. Therefore, there is a very big temptation to add malware to the final package of the hacked app and get a coin for each installation. Prior to blaming these guys for hacking and also malware distribution, ask yourself – is it OK to avoid buying the program in such a way? It is much cheaper to pay $20-$30 at once than to pay a much greater figure for antivirus program as well as new parts for your computer.
How to remove the Updaterstartuputility.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 specific software. Effective security tool must have high performance at scanning and be lightweight – in order to create no problems with utilization also on weak systems. On top of that, it is better to have on-run security in your security tool – to halt the virus even before it launches. Microsoft Defender lacks these elements for different reasons. That’s why I’d recommend you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that objective. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is a superb choice that fits each of the discussed qualities.2
Prior to the virus removal, it is important to reboot your system into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Updaterstartuputility.exe miner consumes a lot of CPU power, 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-crucial system components, are not started with the system start. That gives you the ability to clean the computer without dealing with high CPU usage of the coin miner.
Remove Updaterstartuputility.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 Updaterstartuputility.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner
Name: Updaterstartuputility.exe
Description: The Updaterstartuputility.exe is a benevolent executable file. Malware may use a similar name to hide itself in the Task Manager and cause a high CPU load. To understand whether it is malicious or not, perform anti-malware software scan and check the file location
Operating System: Windows
Application Category: Trojan
User Review
( votes)References
- About unwanted effects for GPUs in the process of cryptomining.
- Our review on GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
