Wdfaf.exe process comes from a malicious program that can properly be identified as a coin miner trojan virus. That malware form uses your hardware to mine cryptocurrencies, basically – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your system pretty much nonfunctional as a result of high CPU usage.
What is Wdfaf.exe process?
Wdfaf.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
As I have specified earlier, Wdfaf.exe is a coin miner virus. The names of the executive file can be different, but the effects are almost always the same. Since coin miners aim at cryptocurrency mining, they utilize all available hardware capacity of your PC to run this procedure. This malware doesn’t care about the fact that you may need to use your device for other tasks – it will continuously take over 80% of your CPU power.
Wdfaf.exe – Extremely high CPU and GPU use
Besides CPU utilization, some of the coin miners additionally use GPU power for their tasks. In that instance, you will likely struggle also to see the mouse cursor moving – GPU is usually used on 100%. It is not as critical as processor for system work, so Wdfaf.exe coin miner viruses don’t waste time on trifles and use all of it. It often can cause unhappy consequences.
Shortly about cryptocurrency mining
Cryptocurrency mining is a term that means the action of calculating the transaction block hash. That is a basic part of any project based on the blockchain technology. Since this operation takes a lot of calculations, a strong PC is needed. Exactly, the GPU is better for this task, because they have more cores available. Cryptomining farms are usually constructed of dozens of GPUs to conduct their activity effectively. Such systems are not usable for “general” 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 Wdfaf.exe miner?
Coin miners does not deal damage to your files. However, they make a lot of unpleasant things with the whole system
First, Wdfaf.exe virus makes your computer overloaded. It is unable to run your applications anymore, because all processor power is consumed by a virus. That malware does not care for your wants, all it focuses on is making money on you. Even if you are patient, and you waited until browser is open, you will likely experience incredibly slow performance. Pages can open for years, any sort of logins will take about a minute – just a headache for a person who works online.
Wdfaf.exe Technical Summary.
| File Name | Wdfaf.exe |
| Type | Trojan Coin Miner |
| Detection Name | Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner |
| Distribution Method | Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc. |
| Similar behavior | Hxtsr.exe, Office.exe, Dqltxp.exe |
| Removal | Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Wdfaf.exe removal. |
“Visible” harm is not a single bad activity coin miners perform to your PC. Wdfaf.exe coin miner likewise deals damage to your operating system. To execute all malicious functions effectively, it wrecks the security mechanisms of your system. You will likely see your Microsoft Defender disabled – malware stops it to avoid 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 system to a malicious cryptomining network. All these changes shall be gone back to the initial state in the process of system recovery.
Hardware effects of coin miner activity
Besides slowing down your PC, performing at peak power for long times may trigger damage to your machine as well as increase electricity expenses. PC elements are created to easily get along with high load, but they are good with it only in case when they are in a good shape.
Tiny and covered CPU cooling system is not very easy to damage. Meanwhile, GPUs have big and easy-to-access fans, which can be easily broke if touched while spinning, for example, by the user much earlier before the malware injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the really high load caused by Wdfaf.exe miner can easily lead to graphic card failure3. GPUs are also prone to have increased wearing when used for cryptocurrency mining. It is likely an unwanted situation when the performance of your GPU plunges 20-30% only after 1-2 weeks of being used in such a way.
How did I get Wdfaf.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 malicious programs among “serious” malware. Adware frequently works as a carrier for Wdfaf.exe malware injection: it shows you the banners, which include a link to malware downloading. Sure, this abstract “malware” may belong to any type – another adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. But the statistics say that about 30% of all malware spread with the malevolent banners are coin miners – and Wdfaf.exe is right one of them.4
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 make money. Hence, there is a huge temptation to add malware to the final package of the hacked app and receive a coin for each installation. Before blaming these individuals for hacking and malware distribution, ask yourself – is it alright 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 software and new parts for your desktop.
How to remove the Wdfaf.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 demands the use of special software. Appropriate security tool should have high performance at scanning and also be lightweight – in order to create no problems with usage also on weak PCs. In addition, it is recommended to have proactive protection in your protection tool – to halt the virus even before it launches. Microsoft Defender does not have these functions for various reasons. That’s why I’d recommend you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that objective. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is an ideal option that fits each of the specified features.5
Before the virus removal, it is important to reboot your Windows into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Wdfaf.exe miner consumes 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 programs, along with the majority of non-critical Windows components, are not launched with the system start. That gives you the ability to clean the PC without dealing with high CPU usage of the coin miner.
Remove Wdfaf.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 Wdfaf.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner
Name: Wdfaf.exe
Description: The Wdfaf.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Wdfaf.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.
