Zecminer64.exe executable file is related to a malicious program that can correctly be recognized as a coin miner virus. That malware form utilizes your hardware to mine cryptocurrencies, basically – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your personal computer almost unusable as a result of high CPU usage.
What is Zecminer64.exe process?
Zecminer64.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
As I have mentioned in the introduction, Zecminer64.exe is a coin miner virus. The names of the .exe file can be different, however, the impacts are almost always the identical. Because coin miners aim at cryptocurrency mining, they use all available hardware capacity of your personal computer to run this operation. This virus does not pay attention to the fact that you may need to make use of your PC for other activities – it will continuously consume over 80% of your processor power.
Zecminer64.exe – Extremely high CPU and GPU use
Besides CPU usage, some of the coin miners additionally utilize GPU power for their tasks. In that instance, you will likely struggle also to see the mouse cursor moving – GPU is usually utilized on 100%. It is not as important as processor for system work, so Zecminer64.exe coin miner viruses do not waste time on trifles and utilize all of it. It sometimes may cause sad consequences.
Shortly about cryptocurrency mining
Cryptocurrency mining is a term that means the activity of calculating the transaction block hash. That is a basic element of anything based on the blockchain technology. Since this operation takes a lot of calculations, a very powerful desktop is required. Exactly, the GPU is better for this purpose, because they have more cores available. Cryptomining farms are usually constructed of dozens of graphic cards to complete their task efficiently. Such systems are not usable for “general” purposes, like gaming or web browsing. Crooks 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 Zecminer64.exe miner?
Coin miners does not deal damage to your files. However, they make a lot of unpleasant things with the whole system
First, Zecminer64.exe malware makes your system overloaded. It is not able to run your applications now, as all processor power is used by a virus. That malware does not care for your needs, all it pays attention to 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 up for years, any kind of logins will take about a minute – just a nightmare for a person who does a job online.
Zecminer64.exe Technical Summary.
| File Name | Zecminer64.exe |
| Type | Trojan Coin Miner |
| Detection Name | Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner |
| Distribution Method | Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc. |
| Similar behavior | 1232.exe, Lsassn.exe, Job.exe |
| Removal | Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Zecminer64.exe removal. |
“Visible” damage is not a solitary unpleasant activity coin miners do to your computer. Zecminer64.exe coin miner also deals damage to your operating system. To complete all malevolent operations effectively, it ruins the protection components 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 lot of new notes – they are added by this trojan miner to connect your computer to a malicious cryptomining network. All these adjustments shall be thrown back to the original in the process of computer recovery.
Hardware effects of coin miner activity
Besides making your PC slow, performing at peak power for long times may cause damage to your device and raise power bills. PC 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.
Compact and well-protected processor cooling system is hard to crack. Meanwhile, graphic cards have big and easy-to-access rotors, which can be easily cracked if affected while spinning, for example, by the user much before the virus injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the very high load caused by Zecminer64.exe virus can easily lead to GPU failure3. Video cards are also prone to have fast wearing when utilized for crypto mining. It is likely an undesirable case when the performance of your video card plunges 20-30% just after several weeks of being used in such a way.
How did I get Zecminer64.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 malicious programs among “major” malware. Adware frequently acts as a carrier for Zecminer64.exe malware infiltration: it demonstrates you the banners, which include a link to malware downloading. Sure, this abstract “malware” may belong to any type – yet another adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. However, the statistics say that around 30% of all viruses spread through the malicious banners are coin miners – and Zecminer64.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 unreliable website as a part of a program. Users who spread hacked versions of favored programs (which do not require the license key) have small chances to earn money. For this reason, there is a very big lure to include malware to the final package of the hacked application and acquire a coin for every installation. Before blaming these people for hacking and malware distribution, ask yourself – is it OK to avoid purchasing the program in this manner? It is much cheaper to pay $20-$30 one time than to pay a much greater figure for antivirus software as well as new parts for your PC.
How to remove the Zecminer64.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 requires making use of specific program. Appropriate antivirus must have high efficiency at scanning and be lightweight – in order to make no problems with usage even on weak systems. Furthermore, it is better to have on-run protection in your protection tool – to stop the virus even before it starts. Microsoft Defender lacks these functions for various reasons. That’s why I’d suggest you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that reason. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is a superb option that fits all of the discussed characteristics.5
Before the malware removal, it is important to boot your Windows into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Zecminer64.exe miner takes a lot of CPU 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 PC is in Safe Mode, all third-party programs, along with the majority of non-crucial operating system components, are not started with the system start. That gives you the ability to clean the computer without dealing with high CPU usage of the coin miner.
Remove Zecminer64.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 Zecminer64.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner
Name: Zecminer64.exe
Description: The Zecminer64.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Zecminer64.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.
