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
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
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
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
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.
References
- Read about why Monero and DarkCoin are so popular amongst cybercriminals.
- About unwanted effects for GPUs in the process of cryptomining.
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