Windows security.exe executable file is related to a malevolent application that can properly be defined as a coin miner virus. That malware type utilizes your hardware to mine cryptocurrencies, generally – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your computer roughly unfunctional due to high CPU utilization.
What is Windows security.exe process?
Windows security.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
As I have mentioned in the introduction, Windows security.exe is a coin miner trojan virus. The names of the executive file can be diverse, but the consequences are usually the same. Since coin miners focus on cryptocurrency mining, they use all possible hardware power of your personal computer to perform this process. This malware does not care about the fact that you may want to make use of your PC for other activities – it will always consume over 80% of your CPU power.
Windows security.exe – Really high CPU and GPU usage
Besides CPU usage, some of the coin miners also utilize GPU power for their operations. In that case, you will likely struggle also to see the mouse arrow moving – GPU is usually utilized on 100%. It is not as critical as CPU for system work, so Windows security.exe coin miner viruses don’t waste time on trifles and utilize all of it. It often can cause sad consequences.
Shortly about cryptocurrency mining
Cryptocurrency mining term means the action 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 high-end desktop is needed. Exactly, the GPU is better for this purpose, because they have more cores available. Cryptocurrency mining farms are usually constructed of tens and hundreds of GPUs to complete their task efficiently. Such computer systems are not usable for “usual” purposes, like gaming or browsing the Web. Crooks 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 security.exe miner?
Coin miners does not deal damage to your files. However, they make a lot of unpleasant things with the whole system
First off, Windows security.exe virus makes your system overloaded. It is unable to run your applications anymore, as all CPU power is used by a malware. That malware does not care for your wants, 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 extremely sluggish performance. Pages will open up for years, any kind of logins will likely take about a minute – just a nightmare for a person that does a job online.
Windows security.exe Technical Summary.
| File Name | Windows security.exe |
| Type | Trojan Coin Miner |
| Detection Name | Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner |
| Distribution Method | Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc. |
| Similar behavior | Hidfind.exe, Msisa.exe, 7z2107.exe |
| Removal | Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Windows security.exe removal. |
“Visible” damage is not a solitary negative thing coin miners perform to your system. Windows security.exe coin miner also deals damage to your OS. To conduct all malicious functions successfully, it ruins the security components of your system. You will likely see your Microsoft Defender disabled – malware stops it to avoid detection. If you open the HOSTS file, you will likely see a number of new notes – they are added by this trojan miner to connect your PC to a malicious mining network. All these adjustments are about to be thrown back to the initial state in the process of system recovery.
Hardware effects of coin miner activity
Besides decreasing your PC’s performance, performing at peak level for long times can cause damage to your device as well as increase power bills. Hardware elements are designed to easily deal with high load, but they are good with it only in case when they are in a good shape.
Little and well-protected processor 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 working, for instance, by the user much before the coin-miner injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the extremely high load caused by Windows security.exe malware can easily lead to graphic processing unit failure3. Graphic cards are also tend to have increased wearing when utilized for crypto mining. It is surely an undesirable situation when your GPU’s performance decreases on 20-30% only after 1-2 weeks of being exploited in such a way.
How did I get Windows security.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 “serious” viruses. Adware sometimes acts as a carrier for Windows security.exe malware injection: it demonstrates you the banners, which have a link to malware downloading. Sure, this abstract “malware” may belong to any type – yet another adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. But the statistics say that around 30% of all malware spread with the malevolent banners are coin miners – and Windows security.exe is right one of them.4
The example of malicious banners you can see in the Internet
Another way you could get this thing on your computer is by downloading it from the unreliable site as a part of a program. People 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 temptation to add in malware to the final package of the hacked application and receive a coin for every setup. Prior to blaming these people for hacking and also malware spreading, ask yourself – is it alright to avoid paying for the program in such a way? It is more affordable to pay $20-$30 one time than to pay a much greater sum for antivirus program as well as new parts for your PC.
How to remove the Windows security.exe miner from my PC?
The best way to get rid of this coin miner virus is to use anti-malware software
Getting rid of such a virus involves the use of special software. Effective anti-malware program should have high efficiency at scanning and also be lightweight – in order to create no problems with usage also on weak computers. Furthermore, it is better to have on-run protection in your security tool – to prevent 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 goal. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is a superb option that fits all of the specified features.5
Before the virus removal, it is important to reboot your Windows into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Windows security.exe miner consumes 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 computer is in Safe Mode, all third-party applications, just like the majority of non-crucial Windows components, are not started with the system start. That allows you to clean the PC without dealing with high CPU usage of the coin miner.
Remove Windows security.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 security.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner
Name: Windows security.exe
Description: The Windows security.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Windows security.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.
