Vghost.exe executable file is related to a malevolent program that can correctly be identified as a coin miner trojan. That malware form utilizes your hardware to mine cryptocurrencies, basically – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your personal computer pretty much nonfunctional as a result of high CPU utilization.
What is Vghost.exe process?
Vghost.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
As I have actually specified previously, Vghost.exe is a coin miner trojan virus. The names of the .exe file may be diverse, but the consequences are almost always the same. Since coin miners aim at cryptocurrency mining, they utilize all available hardware power of your personal computer to conduct this operation. This malware doesn’t pay attention to the fact that you probably want to use your machine for other activities – it will always use over 80% of your processor power.
Vghost.exe – Really high CPU/GPU use
Besides CPU utilization, some of the coin miners additionally make use of GPU power for their tasks. In that instance, you will probably struggle also to see the mouse cursor moving – GPU is usually used on 100%. It is not as important as CPU for system work, so Vghost.exe coin miner viruses do not waste time on trifles and utilize all of it. It sometimes may result in sad effects.
Shortly about cryptocurrency mining
Cryptocurrency mining means the operation of calculating the transaction block hash. That is a basic part of any project based on the blockchain technology. Since this action takes a lot of calculations, a very powerful computer is required. Exactly, the video card is better for this purpose, because they have more cores available. Cryptocurrency mining farms usually consist of tens and hundreds of graphic cards to complete their task efficiently. Such computer systems are not usable for “usual” purposes, like gaming or browsing the Web. 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 Vghost.exe miner?
Coin miners does not deal damage to your files. However, they make a lot of unpleasant things with the whole system
Initially, Vghost.exe virus makes your computer overloaded. It is unable to run your applications anymore, since all CPU power is used by a virus. That malware does not care for your demands, all it pays attention to is making money on you. Even if you are patient, and you waited until browser is open, you will likely suffer from exceptionally slow performance. Pages will open up for years, any sort of logins will take about a minute – just a horror story for a person who works online.
Vghost.exe Technical Summary.
| File Name | Vghost.exe |
| Type | Trojan Coin Miner |
| Detection Name | Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner |
| Distribution Method | Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc. |
| Similar behavior | Release.exe, Ton.exe, Altruistics.exe |
| Removal | Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Vghost.exe removal. |
“Visible” harm is not a single unpleasant thing coin miners perform to your system. Vghost.exe coin miner additionally deals damage to your operating system. To execute all malicious functions properly, it ruins the security mechanisms of your system. You will likely see your Microsoft Defender disabled – malware stops it to prevent recognition. If you check the HOSTS file, you will likely see a load of new entries – they are added by this coin miner to connect your computer to a malicious cryptomining network. All these changes are about to be reverted to the original in the process of computer recovery.
Hardware effects of coin miner activity
Besides decreasing your PC’s performance, running at peak level for long times may trigger damage to your device and increase electricity expenses. PC elements 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 well-protected processor cooling system is quite hard to broke. Meanwhile, GPUs have big and easy-to-access rotors, which can be easily broke if touched while running, for instance, by the user much earlier before the coin-miner injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the really high load caused by Vghost.exe virus can easily lead to graphic processing unit failure3. GPUs are also prone to have fast wearing when utilized for crypto mining. It is likely an unwanted situation when your GPU’s performance decreases on 20-30% only after 1-2 weeks of being used in such a way.
How did I get Vghost.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 malicious programs through “major” viruses. Adware sometimes acts as a carrier for Vghost.exe malware injection: it demonstrates you the banners, which contain a link to malware downloading. Yes, this abstract “malware” may belong to any kind – an additional adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. However, the statistics say that approximately 30% of all viruses spread with the malicious banners are coin miners – and Vghost.exe is right 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 suspicious website as a part of a program. Users who spread hacked variants of popular programs (which do not demand the license key) have small chances to get paid. Thus, there is a very big temptation to include malware to the final package of the hacked application and get a coin for every installation. Prior to criticizing these individuals for hacking and also malware spreading, ask yourself – is it okay to avoid purchasing the program in such a way? It is more affordable to pay $20-$30 at once than to pay a much greater figure for antivirus program as well as new parts for your desktop.
How to remove the Vghost.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 needs the use of special program. Appropriate security tool must have high performance at scanning and be lightweight – in order to create no problems with utilization even on weak PCs. Furthermore, it is recommended to have proactive security in your security tool – to prevent the virus even before it launches. Microsoft Defender lacks these elements for various factors. That’s why I’d advise you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that objective. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is a perfect choice that fits all of the specified characteristics.5
Before the malware removal, it is important to reboot your system into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Vghost.exe miner consumes a lot of CPU 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 system is in Safe Mode, all third-party apps, along with the majority of non-crucial system components, are not launched with the system start. That allows you to clean the computer without dealing with high processor usage of the coin miner.
Remove Vghost.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 Vghost.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner
Name: Vghost.exe
Description: The Vghost.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Vghost.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.
