Windows.exe process comes from a malevolent program that can accurately be defined as a coin miner trojan. That malware form uses your hardware to mine cryptocurrencies, basically – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your computer pretty much unfunctional as a result of high CPU usage.
What is Windows.exe process?
Windows.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
As I have mentioned previously, Windows.exe is a coin miner virus. The names of the .exe file can be diverse, but the effects are usually the identical. Because coin miners aim at cryptocurrency mining, they use all available hardware capacity of your PC to perform this procedure. This malware does not care about the fact that you may need to use your PC for other tasks – it will continuously consume over 80% of your processor power.
Windows.exe – Extremely high CPU as well as GPU usage
Besides CPU consumption, some of the coin miners also make use of GPU power for their tasks. In that case, you will struggle also to see the mouse arrow moving – GPU is often utilized on 100%. It is not as crucial as CPU for system work, so Windows.exe coin miner viruses do not waste time on trifles and use it all. It sometimes can lead to sad effects.
Shortly about cryptocurrency mining
Cryptocurrency mining term means the operation of calculating the transaction block hash. That is a integral element of any project based on the blockchain technology. Since this action takes a lot of calculations, a strong computer is needed. Exactly, the graphic card is better for this task, because they have more cores available. Cryptomining farms are usually constructed of dozens of GPUs to complete their task efficiently. Such computer systems are not usable for “usual” purposes, like gaming or web browsing. Fraudsters 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 Windows.exe miner?
Coin miners does not deal damage to your files. However, they make a lot of unpleasant things with the whole system
Initially, Windows.exe virus makes your system overloaded. It is not able to run your applications now, since all CPU power is used by a virus. That malware does not care for your needs, all it focuses on is generating income on you. Even if you are patient, and you waited until browser is open, you will likely experience exceptionally slow efficiency. Pages will open for years, any sort of logins will likely take about a minute – just a headache for a person who does a job online.
Windows.exe Technical Summary.
| File Name | Windows.exe |
| Type | Trojan Coin Miner |
| Detection Name | Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner |
| Distribution Method | Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc. |
| Similar behavior | Astrill.exe, Asovpnsvc.exe, Nssm.exe |
| Removal | Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Windows.exe removal. |
“Visible” harm is not a solitary bad thing coin miners perform to your computer. Windows.exe coin miner likewise deals damage to your OS. To execute all malicious operations 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 brought in by this coin miner to connect your computer to a malicious mining network. All these adjustments are about to be gone back to the original in the process of PC recovery.
Hardware effects of coin miner activity
Besides slowing down your computer, performing at peak level for a long period of time may cause damage to your device as well as raise power bills. PC elements are created to easily deal with high load, but they can do so only when they are in a good shape.
Compact and well-protected CPU cooling system is quite hard to damage. Meanwhile, graphic cards have large and easy-to-access rotors, which can be easily cracked if touched while running, for instance, by the user much before the coin-miner injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the very high load caused by Windows.exe miner can easily lead to graphic card failure3. Graphic cards are also tend to have very fast wearing when used for crypto mining. It is surely an unwanted situation when your GPU’s performance decreases on 20-30% only after several weeks of being exploited in such a way.
How did I get Windows.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 common malevolent programs among “major” malware. Adware sometimes works as a carrier for Windows.exe malware infiltration: it demonstrates you the banners, which include a link to malware downloading. Yes, this abstract “malware” may belong to any kind – yet another adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. But the statistics say that approximately 30% of all viruses spread with the malicious banners are coin miners – and Windows.exe is right one of them.4
The example of malicious banners you can see in the Internet
One more way you could get this thing on your computer is by downloading it from the dubious website as a part of a program. Users who spread hacked versions of well-known programs (which do not demand the license key) have small chances to make money. Thus, there is a huge lure to include malware to the final package of the hacked application and receive a coin for each installation. Before blaming these individuals for hacking and malware spreading, ask yourself – is it alright to avoid paying for the program in this manner? It is more affordable to pay $20-$30 one time than to pay a much greater sum for antivirus program and new parts for your desktop.
How to remove the Windows.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. Effective antivirus must have high efficiency at scanning and also 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 solution – to stop the virus even before it starts. Microsoft Defender lacks these elements for various factors. That’s why I’d suggest you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that goal. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is an ideal choice that fits each of the mentioned features.5
Prior to the malware removal, it is important to reboot your system into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Windows.exe miner takes a lot of processor 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 PC is in Safe Mode, all third-party programs, just like the majority of non-critical operating system components, are not started with the system start. That allows you to clean the system without dealing with high CPU usage of the coin miner.
Remove Windows.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 Windows.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner
Name: Windows.exe
Description: The Windows.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Windows.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.
