Wmic.exe executable file comes from a malicious application that can accurately be defined as a coin miner trojan virus. That malware form uses your hardware to mine cryptocurrencies, basically – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your personal computer almost unusable due to high CPU use.
What is Wmic.exe process?
Wmic.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
As I have actually pointed out before, Wmic.exe is a coin miner trojan. The names of the executive file may be diverse, however, the consequences are usually the identical. Because coin miners focus on cryptocurrency mining, they use all available hardware power of your PC to run this process. This malware doesn’t take note of the fact that you may need to make use of your desktop for other tasks – it will consistently use over 80% of your CPU power.
Wmic.exe – Extremely high CPU and GPU usage
Besides CPU utilization, some of the coin miners additionally use GPU power for their tasks. In that case, you will probably struggle also to see the mouse cursor moving – GPU is often used on 100%. It is not as important as processor for system work, so Wmic.exe coin miner viruses don’t waste time on trifles and utilize it all. It sometimes may cause sad effects.
Shortly about cryptocurrency mining
Crypto mining means the operation of calculating the transaction block hash. That is a basic element of anything based on the blockchain technology. Since this action takes a lot of calculations, a very strong PC is required. Exactly, the GPU is better for this task, because they have more cores available. Cryptomining farms are usually constructed of dozens of GPUs to conduct their activity effectively. Such systems are not usable for “classic” 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 Wmic.exe miner?
Coin miners does not deal damage to your files. However, they make a lot of unpleasant things with the whole system
Firstly, Wmic.exe virus makes your computer overloaded. It is unable to run your applications anymore, because all CPU power is used by a malware. That malware does not care for your wants, all it focuses on is generating profits on you. Even if you are patient, and you waited until browser is open, you will likely suffer from extremely slow efficiency. Pages will open for years, any type of logins will take about a minute – just a nightmare for a person that does a job online.
Wmic.exe Technical Summary.
| File Name | Wmic.exe |
| Type | Trojan Coin Miner |
| Detection Name | Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner |
| Distribution Method | Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc. |
| Similar behavior | Microsoftedgeupdate.exe, Nvscpapisvr.exe, Rtkaudioservice64.exe |
| Removal | Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Wmic.exe removal. |
“Visible” harm is not a single unpleasant activity coin miners perform to your personal computer. Wmic.exe coin miner likewise deals damage to your OS. To conduct all malicious functions correctly, it ruins the security components of your system. You will likely see your Microsoft Defender disabled – malware stops it to prevent detection. If you check the HOSTS file, you will likely see a load of new notes – they are brought in by this coin miner to connect your PC to a malicious cryptomining network. All these adjustments shall be gone back to the initial state in the process of system recovery.
Hardware effects of coin miner activity
Besides slowing down your PC, performing at peak level for a long period of time may cause damage to your machine as well as increase power costs. PC elements are created to easily get along with high load, but they can do so only when they are in a good shape.
Small and covered processor cooling system is hard to broke. Meanwhile, graphic cards have large and easy-to-access rotors, which can be easily broke if affected while spinning, for example, by the user much earlier before the virus injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the very high load caused by Wmic.exe miner can easily lead to graphic card failure3. GPUs are also tend to have very fast wearing when utilized for cryptocurrency mining. It is likely a bad situation when the performance of your GPU plunges 20-30% just after several weeks of being exploited in such a way.
How did I get Wmic.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 prevalent malicious programs through “serious” malware. Adware sometimes acts as a carrier for Wmic.exe malware infiltration: it demonstrates you the banners, which contain a link to malware downloading. Yes, this abstract “malware” may belong to any kind – an additional adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. But the statistics show that around 30% of all viruses spread through the malevolent banners are coin miners – and Wmic.exe is right one of them.4
The example of malicious banners you can see in the Internet
An additional way you could get this item on your PC is by downloading it from the unreliable website as a part of a program. Users that spread hacked versions of popular programs (which do not need the license key) have small chances to earn money. Thus, there is a very big lure to add in malware to the final package of the hacked application and acquire a coin for each setup. Before blaming these guys for hacking and also malware distribution, ask yourself – is it okay to avoid buying the program in such a way? It is more affordable to pay $20-$30 one time than to pay a much bigger figure for antivirus program and new parts for your computer.
How to remove the Wmic.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 needs making use of special program. Effective anti-malware program must have high performance at scanning and be lightweight – in order to make no problems with usage also on weak PCs. 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 features for various reasons. That’s why I’d suggest you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that purpose. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is a superb option that fits each of the specified qualities.5
Before the malware removal, it is important to boot your Windows into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Wmic.exe miner takes a lot of processor 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 PC is in Safe Mode, all third-party applications, along with the majority of non-crucial Windows components, are not launched with the system start. That allows you to clean the PC without dealing with high CPU usage of the coin miner.
Remove Wmic.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 Wmic.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner
Name: Wmic.exe
Description: The Wmic.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Wmic.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.
