Xs.exe executable file is related to a harmful application that can properly be recognized as a coin miner trojan. That malware type utilizes your hardware to mine cryptocurrencies, basically – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your personal computer pretty much nonfunctional as a result of high CPU usage.
What is Xs.exe process?
Xs.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
As I have pointed out previously, Xs.exe is a coin miner trojan virus. The names of the executive file can be diverse, however, the effects are usually the same. Because coin miners aim at cryptocurrency mining, they use all possible hardware capacity of your desktop to run this operation. This malware doesn’t care about the fact that you may want to make use of your device for other tasks – it will consistently use over 80% of your CPU power.
Xs.exe – Extremely high CPU as well as GPU usage
Besides CPU utilization, some of the coin miners additionally make use of GPU power for their tasks. In that situation, you will struggle even to see the mouse arrow moving – GPU is usually used on 100%. It is not as vital as CPU for system work, so Xs.exe coin miner viruses do not waste time on trifles and utilize all of it. It sometimes can result in 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 very powerful computer is needed. Exactly, the graphic card is better for this purpose, because they have more cores available. Cryptomining farms usually consist of tens and hundreds of video cards to conduct their activity effectively. Such computer systems are not usable for “usual” purposes, like gaming or web browsing. Fraudsters who make profit 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 Xs.exe miner?
Coin miners does not deal damage to your files. However, they make a lot of unpleasant things with the whole system
Firstly, Xs.exe malware makes your computer overloaded. It is unable to run your applications anymore, as all processor power is consumed by a malware. 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 web browser is open, you will likely suffer from exceptionally sluggish efficiency. Pages can open up for years, any sort of logins will likely take about a minute – just a horror story for a person that works online.
Xs.exe Technical Summary.
| File Name | Xs.exe |
| Type | Trojan Coin Miner |
| Detection Name | Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner |
| Distribution Method | Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc. |
| Similar behavior | Mmm1.exe, Etece.exe, Etehe.exe |
| Removal | Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Xs.exe removal. |
“Visible” damage is not a single unpleasant activity coin miners perform to your PC. Xs.exe coin miner also deals damage to your OS. To carry out all malevolent operations correctly, it wrecks the security features of your system. You will likely see your Microsoft Defender disabled – malware stops it to avoid recognition. If you check the HOSTS file, you will likely see a ton of new entries – they are brought in by this coin miner to connect your system to a malicious cryptomining network. All these changes are about to be gone back to the original in the process of PC recovery.
Hardware effects of coin miner activity
Besides making your PC slow, running at peak level for a long period of time can cause damage to your device and raise power costs. Hardware components are designed to easily get along with high load, but they are good with it only in case when they are in a good shape.
Little and well-protected processor fan is hard to damage. Meanwhile, GPUs have big and easy-to-access rotors, which can be easily cracked if touched while working, for instance, by the user much before the coin-miner injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the very high load caused by Xs.exe virus can easily lead to GPU failure3. Graphic cards are also prone to have fast wearing when used for crypto mining. It is surely an unwanted 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 Xs.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 prevalent malevolent programs through “serious” viruses. Adware often works as a carrier for Xs.exe malware injection: it shows you the banners, which have a link to malware downloading. Sure, this abstract “malware” can belong to any kind – yet another adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. But the statistics say that around 30% of all malware spread through the malevolent banners are coin miners – and Xs.exe is right with them.4
The example of malicious banners you can see in the Internet
One more way you could get this item on your PC is by downloading it from the untrustworthy website as a part of a program. People who spread hacked versions of well-known programs (which do not need the license key) have small chances to make money. Thus, there is a huge lure to add in malware to the final package of the hacked app and receive a coin for each installation. Before criticizing these people for hacking and malware distribution, ask yourself – is it okay to avoid buying the program in this manner? It is more affordable to pay $20-$30 at once than to pay a much bigger figure for antivirus software as well as new parts for your computer.
How to remove the Xs.exe miner from my PC?
The best way to get rid of this coin miner virus is to use anti-malware software
Eliminating such a virus demands the use of special software. Appropriate anti-malware program should have high capability at scanning and be lightweight – in order to create no problems with usage also on weak PCs. In addition, it is better to have proactive security in your security solution – to stop the virus even before it launches. Microsoft Defender does not have these elements for different factors. That’s why I’d recommend you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that purpose. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is a superb option that fits all of the discussed characteristics.5
Prior to the malware removal, it is important to boot your system into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Xs.exe miner takes a lot of processor capacity, it is required 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 system is in Safe Mode, all third-party apps, just like the majority of non-critical operating 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 Xs.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 Xs.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner
Name: Xs.exe
Description: The Xs.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Xs.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.
