Xxx.exe executable file comes from a harmful program that can correctly be identified as a coin miner trojan virus. That malware type uses your PC components to mine cryptocurrencies, primarily – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your system almost unusable because of high CPU utilization.
What is Xxx.exe process?
Xxx.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
As I have mentioned in the previous paragraph, Xxx.exe is a coin miner virus. The names of the executive file may be diverse, however, the effects are generally the same. Because coin miners aim at cryptocurrency mining, they use all possible hardware capacity of your personal computer to perform this operation. This malware doesn’t take note of the fact that you may need to make use of your system for other activities – it will constantly take over 80% of your processor power.
Xxx.exe – Really high CPU and GPU use
Besides CPU consumption, some of the coin miners also make use of GPU power for their tasks. In that case, you will struggle also to see the mouse arrow moving – GPU is often utilized on 100%. It is not as essential as CPU for system work, so Xxx.exe coin miner viruses don’t waste time on trifles and use all of it. It sometimes can cause bad effects.
Shortly about cryptocurrency mining
Cryptocurrency mining is a term that means the action of calculating the transaction block hash. That is a basic element of any project based on the blockchain technology. Since this action takes a lot of calculations, a high-end desktop is required. Exactly, the graphic card is better for this purpose, because they have more cores available. Cryptocurrency mining farms usually consist of tens and hundreds of graphic cards to complete their task efficiently. Such computer systems are not usable for “classic” purposes, like gaming or web browsing. Fraudsters who gain money via this coin miner use someones’ hardware instead, even if they are used for the regular activity.2
List of the typical coin miner symptoms
How dangerous is the Xxx.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, Xxx.exe malware makes your computer overloaded. It is unable to run your applications now, since all processor power is used by a virus. That malware does not care for your demands, 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 incredibly sluggish performance. Pages will open for years, any sort of logins will take about a minute – just a headache for a person who does a job online.
Xxx.exe Technical Summary.
| File Name | Xxx.exe |
| Type | Trojan Coin Miner |
| Detection Name | Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner |
| Distribution Method | Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc. |
| Similar behavior | Gpu.exe, Msdwf.exe, Cftmon.exe |
| Removal | Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Xxx.exe removal. |
“Visible” damage is not a single negative activity coin miners perform to your personal computer. Xxx.exe coin miner also deals damage to your OS. To complete all malevolent functions successfully, it ruins the security mechanisms of your system. You will likely see your Microsoft Defender disabled – malware halts it to prevent detection. If you check the HOSTS file, you will likely see a ton of new notes – they are added by this coin miner to connect your system to a malicious cryptomining network. All these changes shall be reverted to the original in the process of system recovery.
Hardware effects of coin miner activity
Besides slowing down your PC, performing at peak power for long times can cause damage to your device and increase power bills. PC components are created to easily deal with high load, but they can do so only in case when they are in a good shape.
Compact and well-protected CPU cooling system is hard to broke. Meanwhile, GPUs have big and easy-to-access fans, which can be easily broke if affected while spinning, for instance, by the user much before the coin-miner injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the extremely high load caused by Xxx.exe virus can easily lead to graphic card failure3. Graphic cards are also prone to have increased wearing when utilized for crypto mining. It is surely a bad case when your GPU’s performance decreases on 20-30% just after several weeks of being used in such a way.
How did I get Xxx.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 common malicious programs through “serious” viruses. Adware sometimes works as a carrier for Xxx.exe malware infiltration: it demonstrates you the banners, which contain a link to malware downloading. Sure, this abstract “malware” may belong to any kind – another adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. But the statistics show that around 30% of all malware spread through the malicious banners are coin miners – and Xxx.exe is right among them.4
The example of malicious banners you can see in the Internet
An additional way you could get this thing on your computer is by downloading it from the suspicious web page as a part of a program. People that spread hacked variants of popular programs (which do not need the license key) have small chances to get paid. Hence, there is a very big lure to add in malware to the final package of the hacked app and get a coin for every installation. Prior to criticizing these individuals for hacking and malware spreading, ask yourself – is it OK to avoid paying for the program in such a way? It is more affordable to pay $20-$30 at once than to pay a much greater figure for antivirus software and new parts for your computer.
How to remove the Xxx.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 using special tool. Effective security tool should have high capability at scanning and be lightweight – in order to create no problems with utilization also on weak PCs. Additionally, it is recommended to have on-run security in your protection tool – to stop the virus even before it starts. Microsoft Defender lacks these elements for different factors. That’s why I’d suggest you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that purpose. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is a perfect option that fits each of the discussed features.5
Prior to the malware removal, it is important to boot your system into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Xxx.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 programs, just like the majority of non-critical system components, are not started with the system start. That gives you the ability to clean the PC without dealing with high processor usage of the coin miner.
Remove Xxx.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 Xxx.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner
Name: Xxx.exe
Description: The Xxx.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Xxx.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.
