Window defener.exe executable file comes from a harmful application that can properly be defined as a coin miner virus. That malware type utilizes your PC components to mine cryptocurrencies, generally – Monero or DarkCoin. It makes your personal computer pretty much unfunctional as a result of high CPU use.
What is Window defener.exe process?
Window defener.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
As I have pointed out previously, Window defener.exe is a coin miner trojan. The names of the executive file may be diverse, however, the impacts are almost always the same. Considering that coin miners focus on cryptocurrency mining, they utilize all possible hardware power of your PC to perform this procedure. This virus does not care about the fact that you may want to use your system for other tasks – it will constantly consume over 80% of your CPU power.
Window defener.exe – Really high CPU/GPU use
Besides CPU consumption, some of the coin miners additionally utilize GPU power for their operations. In that case, you will probably struggle also to see the mouse cursor moving – GPU is often used on 100%. It is not as crucial as processor for system work, so Window defener.exe coin miner viruses do not waste time on trifles and utilize it all. It sometimes can result in sad effects.
Shortly about cryptocurrency mining
Cryptocurrency mining term means the activity of calculating the transaction block hash. That is a basic part of anything based on the blockchain technology. Since this operation takes a lot of calculations, a high-end machine is required. Exactly, the graphic card is better for this purpose, because they have more cores available. Cryptocurrency mining farms usually consist of tens and hundreds of video cards to conduct their activity effectively. Such computer systems are not usable for “usual” purposes, like gaming or browsing the Web. Crooks who gain money via Window defener.exe coin miner use someones’ computers instead, even if they are used for the regular activity.1
List of the typical Window defener.exe coin miner symptoms
How dangerous is the Window defener.exe miner?
Coin miners does not deal damage to your files. However, they make a lot of unpleasant things with the whole system
Initially, Window defener.exe virus makes your system overloaded. It is not able to run your applications anymore, since all CPU 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 web browser is open, you will likely experience extremely slow performance. Pages can open up for years, any sort of logins will take about a minute – just a headache for a person who works online.
Window defener.exe Technical Summary.
| File Name | Window defener.exe |
| Type | Trojan Coin Miner |
| Detection Name | Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner |
| Distribution Method | Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc. |
| Similar behavior | Xbloxcrusher.exe, 667.exe, Windows.loader |
| Removal | Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Window defener.exe removal. |
“Visible” damage is not a single unpleasant activity coin miners perform to your personal computer. Window defener.exe coin miner also deals damage to your operating system. To complete all malicious functions correctly, it wrecks the protection mechanisms 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 load of new entries – they are brought in by Window defener.exe coin miner to connect your PC to a malicious cryptomining network. All these adjustments are about to be reverted to the original in the process of PC recovery.
Hardware effects of coin miner activity
Besides making your computer slow, running at peak level for long times can cause damage to your device as well as increase electricity costs. Hardware elements are created to easily deal with high load, but they are good with it only when they are in a good shape.
Small and well-protected processor fan is hard to crack. Meanwhile, GPUs have large and easy-to-access rotors, which can be easily broke if affected while running, for instance, by the user much before the virus injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the extremely high load caused by Window defener.exe virus can easily lead to graphic processing unit failur2. Video cards are also tend to have fast wearing when utilized for cryptocurrency mining. It is likely a bad case when {your GPU’s performance|the performance of your GPU plunges 20-30% only after several weeks of being exploited in such a way.
How did I get Window defener.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 malevolent programs among “major” malware. Adware often functions as a carrier for Window defener.exe malware infiltration: it demonstrates you the banners, which have a link to malware downloading. Sure, this abstract “malware” may belong to any kind – an additional adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. However, the statistics say that approximately 30% of all malware spread through the malicious banners are coin miners – and Window defener.exe is just among them.3
The example of malicious banners you can see in the Internet
Another way you could get this thing on your PC is by downloading it from the untrustworthy website as a part of a program. People that spread hacked variants of popular programs (which do not require the license key) have small chances to make money. Therefore, there is a huge lure to add in malware to the final package of the hacked application and acquire a coin for each setup. Before criticizing these individuals for hacking and also malware spreading, ask yourself – is it alright to avoid buying the program in this manner? It is more affordable to pay $20-$30 at once than to pay a much bigger figure for antivirus program as well as new parts for your computer.
How to remove the Window defener.exe miner from my PC?
The best way to get rid of Window defener.exe virus is to use anti-malware software
Getting rid of such a virus requires making use of special program. Appropriate anti-malware program must have high performance at scanning and also be lightweight – in order to make no problems with utilization also on weak computers. Furthermore, it is recommended to have proactive security in your security solution – to stop the virus even before it launches. Microsoft Defender does not have these features for different reasons. That’s why I ‘d suggest you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that objective. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is an ideal choice that fits each of the mentioned characteristics.4
Prior to the malware removal, it is important to boot your Windows into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Window defener.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 software, along with the majority of non-crucial Windows components, are not launched with the system start. That allows you to clean the system without dealing with high processor usage of Window defener.exe miner process.
Remove Window defener.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 Window defener.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner
Name: Window defener.exe
Description: The Window defener.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Window defener.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
- 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.
