VGTray.exe Malware ⛏️ (Miner Trojan) Removal

VGTray.exe is a process associated with the software program “NVIDIA GeForce Experience”. NVIDIA GeForce Experience is a utility tool that allows users to optimize their NVIDIA graphics card settings, update their graphics card drivers, and capture and share gameplay videos.

VGTray.exe is a process associated with the software program “NVIDIA GeForce Experience”. NVIDIA GeForce Experience is a utility tool that allows users to optimize their NVIDIA graphics card settings, update their graphics card drivers, and capture and share gameplay videos.

The VGTray.exe process is responsible for managing the NVIDIA GeForce Experience system tray icon, which provides quick access to the program’s features and settings. This process is loaded automatically when Windows starts up and remains running in the background while the NVIDIA GeForce Experience program is open.

In general, VGTray.exe is a legitimate and safe process associated with NVIDIA GeForce Experience. However, if you notice any unusual behavior or suspect that this process may be causing issues on your system, it’s always a good idea to run a virus scan or malware removal tool to ensure that your system is not infected with any malicious software.

If you suspect that VGTray.exe is malware, you can check its file location and digital signature to verify its authenticity. The legitimate VGTray.exe process is typically located in the “C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\” folder, and its digital signature should be signed by “NVIDIA Corporation.” If you find VGTray.exe in a different location or its digital signature is not signed by NVIDIA Corporation, it may be a malware and you should take appropriate action to remove it from your system.

It is better to prevent, than repair and repent!

When we talk about the intrusion of unfamiliar programs into your computer’s work, the proverb “Forewarned is forearmed” describes the situation as accurately as possible. Gridinsoft Anti-Malware is exactly the tool that is always useful to have in your armory: fast, efficient, up-to-date. It is appropriate to use it as an emergency help at the slightest suspicion of infection.

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What is Vgtray.exe process?

Vgtray.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus

Vgtray.exe – Extremely high CPU as well as GPU usage

Besides CPU utilization, some of the coin miners also make use of GPU power for their tasks. In that situation, you will struggle also to see the mouse arrow moving – GPU is usually used on 100%. It is not as crucial as the processor for system work, so Vgtray.exe coin miner viruses don’t waste time on trifles and use it all. It often can lead to unhappy consequences.

Shortly about cryptocurrency mining

Crypto mining means the operation of calculating the transaction block hash. That is an integral element of any project based on blockchain technology. Since this operation takes a lot of calculations, a strong computer is needed. Exactly, the graphic card is better for this purpose, because they have more cores available. Cryptomining farms are usually constructed of tens and hundreds of video cards to complete their task efficiently. Such computer systems are not usable for “general” purposes, like gaming or browsing the Web. Crooks who make a profit via this coin miner use someones’ computer instead, even if they are used for regular activity.¹

List of the typical coin miner symptoms

How dangerous is the Vgtray.exe miner?

Coin miners do not deal damage to your files. However, they make a lot of unpleasant things with the whole system

First off, Vgtray.exe virus makes your system overloaded. It is unable to run your applications now, because all CPU power is used by a malware. That malware does not care for your wants, all it focuses on is generating income for you. Even if you are patient, and you waited until web browser is open, you will likely struggle with incredibly sluggish efficiency. Pages will open for years, and any type of login will likely take about a minute – just a nightmare for a person that works online.

Vgtray.exe Technical Summary.

“Visible” damage is not a solitary unpleasant thing coin miners do to your PC. Vgtray.exe coin miner additionally deals damage to your OS. To conduct all malicious operations effectively, it wrecks the protection components of your system. You will likely see your Microsoft Defender disabled – malware halts it to prevent recognition. If you open the HOSTS file, you will likely see a lot of new notes – they are added by this coin miner to connect your computer to a malicious crypto-mining network. All these changes are about to be thrown back to the original in the process of computer recovery.

Hardware effects of coin miner activity

Besides making your computer slow, performing at peak level for long times may trigger damage to your device as well as raise electricity bills. Hardware elements are designed to easily get along with high load, but they can do so only when they are in a good shape.

Compact and covered processor cooling system is quite hard to break. Meanwhile, graphic cards have big and easy-to-access rotors, which can be easily cracked if affected while spinning, for instance, by the user much earlier before the malware injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the unusually high load caused by the Vgtray.exe virus can easily lead to graphic processing unit failure². Graphic cards also tend to have increased wearing when used for cryptocurrency mining. It is likely an unwanted situation when the performance of your video card decreases on 20-30% just after several weeks of being exploited in such a way.

How did I get Vgtray.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 “major” viruses. Adware frequently serves as a carrier for Vgtray.exe malware infiltration: it demonstrates you the banners, which have a link to malware downloading. Sure, this abstract “malware” may belong to any kind – another adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. But the statistics say that around 30% of all malware spread through the malicious banners are coin miners – and Vgtray.exe is just with them.³

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 web page as a part of a program. Users who spread hacked variants of well-known programs (which do not need the license key) have small chances to make money. Hence, there is a huge temptation to include malware to the final package of the hacked application and acquire a coin for each setup. Prior to blaming these guys for hacking and also malware distribution, ask yourself – is it okay to avoid buying the program in this manner? It is more affordable to pay $20-$30 one time than to pay a much greater figure for an antivirus program as well as new parts for your PC.

How to remove the Vgtray.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 involves using special software. Appropriate security tools should have high performance at scanning and be lightweight – in order to create no problems with usage also on weak systems. Additionally, it is recommended to have proactive security in your protection solution – to stop the virus even before it launches. Microsoft Defender does not have these features for different factors. That’s why I’d suggest you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that reason. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is an ideal choice that fits each of the discussed features.⁴

Prior to the malware removal, it is important to reboot your operating system into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Vgtray.exe miner consumes a lot of CPU power, it is required 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 software, along with the majority of non-crucial system components, are not launched with the system start. That gives you the ability to clean the system without dealing with the high processor usage of the coin miner.

Remove Vgtray.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 the 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 normal Windows mode and use just as if there was nothing malicious.

1. Detailed explanation of how does cryptomining work.
2. About unwanted effects for GPUs in the process of crypto mining.
3. Read more about various malware type on GridinSoft Threat Encyclopedia.
4. Our review on GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

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