Windows loader.exe Virus ⛏️ (Coin Miner Trojan) Removal

Written by Robert Bailey
Windows loader.exe executable file comes from a malicious program that can correctly be identified as a coin miner trojan virus. That malware form utilizes your PC components to mine cryptocurrencies, generally – Monero or DarkCoin. It makes your system almost unfunctional because of high CPU use.
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What is Windows loader.exe process?

Windows loader.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus

As I have actually specified previously, Windows loader.exe is a coin miner virus. The names of the .exe file may be diverse, but the consequences are usually the same. Because coin miners focus on cryptocurrency mining, they use all available hardware capacity of your PC to perform this procedure. This malware doesn’t pay attention to the fact that you may need to make use of your desktop for other activities – it will always take over 80% of your processor power.

Windows loader.exe Windows Process

Windows loader.exe – Really high CPU as well as GPU use

Besides CPU consumption, some of the coin miners additionally utilize GPU power for their operations. In that instance, you will likely struggle even to see the mouse arrow moving – GPU is often used on 100%. It is not as vital as processor for system work, so Windows loader.exe coin miner viruses do not waste time on trifles and utilize it all. It often may result in unhappy effects.

Shortly about cryptocurrency mining

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

List of the typical Windows loader.exe coin miner symptoms

  • Extremely bad performance
  • CPU/GPU cooler fan creates a lot of noise
  • High temperature of the device (for laptops)
  • 80-90% consumption of CPU/GPU resources by an unknown process
  • Microsoft Defender is not working
  • How dangerous is the Windows loader.exe miner?

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

    First, Windows loader.exe malware makes your system overloaded. It is unable to run your applications anymore, since all CPU power is consumed by a virus. That malware does not care for your needs, 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 exceptionally sluggish efficiency. Pages will open for years, any kind of logins will take about a minute – just a nightmare for a person that works online.

    Windows loader.exe Technical Summary.

    File Name Windows loader.exe
    Type Trojan Coin Miner
    Detection Name Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner
    Distribution Method Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc.
    Similar behavior Sgm.exe, Mirrexor.exe, Nesopala.exe
    Removal Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Windows loader.exe removal.

    “Visible” harm is not a solitary negative activity coin miners do to your PC. Windows loader.exe coin miner also deals damage to your OS. To carry out all malicious functions correctly, it wrecks the security 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 number of new entries – they are brought in by Windows loader.exe trojan miner to connect your PC to a malicious mining network. All these changes shall be thrown back to the initial state in the process of computer recovery.

    Hardware effects of coin miner activity

    Besides decreasing your PC’s performance, performing at peak level for long times can trigger damage to your device and raise electricity expenses. PC components are created to easily get along with high load, but they can do so only in case when they are in a good shape.

    Tiny and well-protected processor cooling system is hard to damage. Meanwhile, GPUs have big and easy-to-access fans, which can be easily cracked if affected while working, for instance, by the user much before the malware injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the very high load caused by Windows loader.exe virus can easily lead to graphic processing unit failur2. Video cards are also prone to have fast wearing when used for crypto mining. It is surely a bad situation when {your GPU’s performance|the performance of your video card plunges 20-30% only after 1-2 weeks of being exploited in such a way.

    How did I get Windows loader.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 malevolent programs among “serious” malware. Adware frequently works as a carrier for Windows loader.exe malware injection: it shows you the banners, which include a link to malware downloading. Sure, this abstract “malware” can belong to any kind – another adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. However, the statistics show that about 30% of all malware spread through the malevolent banners are coin miners – and Windows loader.exe is just one of them.3

    Unwanted banners adware

    The example of malicious banners you can see in the Internet

    One more way you could get this thing on your PC is by downloading it from the dubious website as a part of a program. People who spread hacked versions of favored programs (which do not need the license key) have small chances to make money. Hence, there is a very big lure to add malware to the final package of the hacked application and get a coin for every installation. Before blaming these people for hacking and also malware spreading, ask yourself – is it alright to avoid buying the program in such a way? It is more affordable to pay $20-$30 at once than to pay a much greater sum for antivirus program and new parts for your PC.

    How to remove the Windows loader.exe miner from my PC?

    The best way to get rid of Windows loader.exe virus is to use anti-malware software

    Removing such a virus requires the use of specific software. Proper anti-malware program must have high performance at scanning and also be lightweight – in order to create no problems with usage also on weak systems. In addition, it is recommended to have on-run protection in your security tool – to stop the virus even before it launches. Microsoft Defender lacks these functions for various factors. That’s why I ‘d suggest you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that reason. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is a great option that fits each of the mentioned features.4

    Before the malware removal, it is important to reboot your Windows into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Windows loader.exe miner consumes a lot of CPU 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.

    Boot into Windows Safe Mode

    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.

    windows safe mode boot option with command prompt

    When your system is in Safe Mode, all third-party apps, along with the majority of non-critical Windows components, are not started with the system start. That gives you the ability to clean the system without dealing with high CPU usage of Windows loader.exe miner process.

    Remove Windows loader.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.

    GridinSoft Anti-Malware trial license

    After activating your free trial, start Full scan. It may last up to 10 minutes. You may use the PC as usual.

    Scanning in GridinSoft Anti-Malware

    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.

    GridinSoft Anti-Malware after the scan process

    Now, you are good to go. Reboot your PC into a normal Windows mode and use just as there was nothing malicious.

    Remove Windows loader.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner

    Name: Windows loader.exe

    Description: The Windows loader.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Windows loader.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

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    References

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

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    About the author

    Robert Bailey

    I'm Robert Bailey, a passionate Security Engineer with a deep fascination for all things related to malware, reverse engineering, and white hat ethical hacking.

    As a white hat hacker, I firmly believe in the power of ethical hacking to bolster security measures. By identifying vulnerabilities and providing solutions, I contribute to the proactive defense of digital infrastructures.

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