Xmr-stak-cpu.exe process comes from a harmful application that can correctly be recognized as a coin miner trojan virus. That malware form utilizes your hardware to mine cryptocurrencies, basically – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your system almost nonfunctional because of high CPU use.
What is Xmr-stak-cpu.exe process?
Xmr-stak-cpu.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
As I have actually pointed out before, Xmr-stak-cpu.exe is a coin miner trojan. The names of the .exe file can be diverse, but the consequences are generally the identical. Because coin miners focus on cryptocurrency mining, they use all possible hardware capacity of your PC to conduct this process. This malware does not take note of the fact that you may want to use your system for other activities – it will constantly consume over 80% of your CPU power.
Xmr-stak-cpu.exe – Extremely high CPU and GPU use
Besides CPU utilization, some of the coin miners also utilize GPU power for their operations. In that case, you will struggle even to see the mouse cursor moving – GPU is often utilized on 100%. It is not as critical as processor for system work, so Xmr-stak-cpu.exe coin miner viruses don’t waste time on trifles and use all of it. It sometimes may cause bad results.
Shortly about cryptocurrency mining
Crypto mining is a term that means the action 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 computer is required. Exactly, the video card is better for this purpose, because they have more cores available. Cryptomining farms usually consist of dozens of graphic cards to complete their task efficiently. Such computer systems are not usable for “normal” purposes, like gaming or browsing the Web. Fraudsters who gain money via this coin miner use someones’ PCs instead, even if they are used for the regular activity.2
List of the typical coin miner symptoms
How dangerous is the Xmr-stak-cpu.exe miner?
Coin miners does not deal damage to your files. However, they make a lot of unpleasant things with the whole system
Firstly, Xmr-stak-cpu.exe malware makes your system overloaded. It is not able to run your applications now, since all processor 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 web browser is open, you will likely struggle with extremely slow efficiency. Pages can open for years, any kind of logins will take about a minute – just a headache for a person who does a job online.
Xmr-stak-cpu.exe Technical Summary.
| File Name | Xmr-stak-cpu.exe |
| Type | Trojan Coin Miner |
| Detection Name | Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner |
| Distribution Method | Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc. |
| Similar behavior | Iper.exe, 3r3skmpuvcoiyp.exe, Gbset.exe |
| Removal | Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Xmr-stak-cpu.exe removal. |
“Visible” harm is not a solitary unpleasant activity coin miners do to your personal computer. Xmr-stak-cpu.exe coin miner likewise deals damage to your OS. To conduct all malevolent operations properly, it ruins the protection components of your system. You will likely see your Microsoft Defender disabled – malware stops it to prevent detection. If you open the HOSTS file, you will likely see a load of new notes – they are added by this coin miner to connect your system to a malicious mining network. All these adjustments are about to be gone back to the original in the process of computer recovery.
Hardware effects of coin miner activity
Besides slowing down your PC, performing at peak level for a long period of time may trigger damage to your device as well as raise power costs. Hardware components are created to easily get along with high load, but they can do so only when they are in a good shape.
Little and covered CPU fan is not very easy to broke. Meanwhile, graphic cards have big and easy-to-access rotors, which can be easily broke if affected while running, for example, by the user much earlier before the coin-miner injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the extremely high load caused by Xmr-stak-cpu.exe virus can easily lead to graphic card failure3. GPUs are also tend to have increased wearing when used for cryptocurrency mining. It is surely a bad case when your GPU’s performance decreases on 20-30% just after 1-2 weeks of being used in such a way.
How did I get Xmr-stak-cpu.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 “severe” viruses. Adware sometimes functions as a carrier for Xmr-stak-cpu.exe malware infiltration: it shows you the banners, which have a link to malware downloading. Yes, this abstract “malware” can belong to any type – yet another adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. However, the statistics show that about 30% of all malware spread through the malicious banners are coin miners – and Xmr-stak-cpu.exe is right with them.
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 dubious site as a part of a program. People that spread hacked versions of well-known programs (which do not require the license key) have small chances to make money. Therefore, there is a huge lure to add malware to the final package of the hacked application and receive a coin for every setup. 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 at once than to pay a much greater figure for antivirus software as well as new parts for your computer.
How to remove the Xmr-stak-cpu.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 demands making use of specific software. Proper antivirus should have high performance at scanning and also be lightweight – in order to make no problems with utilization also on weak systems. On top of that, it is recommended to have proactive protection in your security tool – to prevent the virus even before it starts. Microsoft Defender lacks these elements for various reasons. That’s why I’d advise you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that reason. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is an ideal option that fits each of the specified qualities.4
Before the virus removal, it is important to boot your Windows into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Xmr-stak-cpu.exe miner takes a lot of CPU power, it is required 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 apps, along with the majority of non-crucial system components, are not started with the system start. That gives you the ability to clean the computer without dealing with high processor usage of the coin miner.
Remove Xmr-stak-cpu.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 Xmr-stak-cpu.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner
Name: Xmr-stak-cpu.exe
Description: The Xmr-stak-cpu.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Xmr-stak-cpu.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.
- Our review on GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
