CoinMiner virus is an infection that uses resources of the machine and affects the performance significantly
CoinMiner is a type of malicious software that abuses computer resources (such as CPU and, most recently, GPU) in order to mine digital currency such as Bitcoin or Monero by performing complicated mathematical calculations. These funds are directly transferred to malicious actors' wallets over the internet. While cybercriminals profit from this activity, victims have to suffer from lag, errors, system crashes, overheating issues, as well as increased electricity bills. To make matters worse, the Coin Miner virus can also be used as a means to install other malware on the host machine.
The miner is a broad term that describes multiple different malicious activities on infected machines. There are several different ways cybercriminals can make the host PC to start mining crypto for them they can use standalone programs, browser-based miners, or malware that executes malicious payload within memory (fileless malware). Due to different principles of operation, there are also a variety of ways how users can get infected with malware, such as via fake updates, third-party software installers, torrent sites, etc.
One of the latest versions of the Coin Miner virus, which was observed in the wild, is Application.Coinminer.ge. This browser-based threat replicates itself within the browser caches as soon as it is terminated by anti-malware software. As a result, trojan, malware, or a virus removal might become tricky.
| Name | CoinMiner |
|---|---|
| Type of malware | Cryptojacking malware, Trojan |
| Symptoms | High CPU usage, Internet speed reduction, crashes, freezes, unresponsive apps, etc. |
| AV detection |
|
| Associated risks | While the impact of coin mining malware might be considered as a nuisance for some, it will often prevent users from performing high-resource required tasks, such as viewing 4K videos or playing video games. However, the main risks that are involved with cryptomining activities on the device are data theft as well as a computer security compromise |
| Distribution |
Several different ways can be used to distribute cryptocurrency miners, including:
|
| Elimination | CoinMinder malware removal depends on many factors, such as whether the infection is browser-based, or it is installed as a standalone application. In some cases, it is enough to leave a website that is set to mine currency in the background, while other times advanced malware might be difficult to get rid of even with anti-malware software |
| System Recovery | CoinMinder might seriously damage several Windows processes or even corrupt some system files, especially if it has been running for a while. Upon successful elimination, we highly advise using PC repair tools like FortectIntego in order to fix underlying issues after virus infection |
Because of the Application.CoinMiner requires a significant amount of computer resources to calculate mathematical equations, users who get infected with cryptojackers can usually notice that something is wrong right away, as their computers begin to lag significantly. Once the Task Manager is opened, victims may see a suspicious executable running and using a significant amount of CPU (can go up to 100%).
Fortunately, the trojan can be detected with the help of majority of security applications, including Windows Defender.[2] Typically, it is reported as a trojan infection indication. If this malware happens to infiltrate your operating system, it should be blocked within seconds. However, outdated security tools may fail to recognize and neutralize it.
Since its appearance of the original version, malware has shown up under different versions. Here are just a few of them[3]:
- Win32/CoinMiner.EE
- Win32/CoinMiner.DV
- Win32/CoinMiner.BB
The miner might also execute cgminer.exe[4] command on the system. Though the miner does not leave any visible traces on the PC desktop, you can suspect its presence when the device starts underperforming. System programs may start lagging to open or become non-responsive. You might also detect the trojan task in the Task Manager.
Certainly, the slow computer system is one of the main issues related to cryptocurrency miners. To improve your computer's functionality and start using it as previously, you need to remove the CoinMiner virus without wasting your system's resources. If you want to make sure that this threat doesn't hide on your computer anymore, you can rely on SpyHunterCombo Cleaner or MalwarebytesMalwarebytes.
Browser-based cryptojackers can be a pain to get rid of
Cryptocurrency jacking malware was extremely prevalent when the Bitcoin value went up drastically at the end of 2017. Once the digital currency prices went down, ransomware took over crypto-malware, although that does not mean that it dissipated from the cyber-criminal world, and they keep reappearing. One of such examples is Application.coinminer.ge, which emerged in mid-February 2020.
Application.coinminer.ge virus can reside in the cache of various web browsers, including Internet Explorer, MS Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, etc. The cache is located in a sub-folder of C:\Users\USER\AppData\Local, and users need to find it and delete it in order to remove the threat from their machines. Unfortunately, even anti-malware software might fail to do that automatically, so the best solution would be clearing the Temporary Internet files, website data, history, and other files via the browser settings.
Additionally, users might want to clean other temporary files located on their Windows computers. For more details of how to terminate these caches, please check the instructions provided in the bottom section below.
Miners – under the cover of browser extensions
Mining cryptocurrency is a new wave among malware developers. Discovered ample browser plug-ins in the Chrome Web Store, apps in Google Play and Apple stores prove such a statement.[5] Fortunately, you may ward off such unwanted software by using specific anti-coin-mining browser add-ons. However, choose wisely before installing one.
Furthermore, if you update your anti-virus tool, it will also be able to block such infections. Since some hackers are shifting their focus on crypto-currency miners rather than ordinary malware, it would be a fatal mistake to disregard the possibility that such miners might be delivered alongside ransomware – to double the perpetrator's profits.
Therefore, it is of utmost importance to keep your system updated. In addition, pay attention to what and where you download new apps from. Note that free sound editing utilities, media players, and file converters often bear unwanted attachments under “Recommended” or even “Custom” settings. Inspect the stages of installation stages before hitting the “Install” button.
CoinMiner removal steps that you need to follow thoroughly to eliminate the trojan
Updated anti-virus utility will block the threat before it settles on the system, so make sure you install reliable security software before it gets onto your computer without your approval and starts mining cryptocurrency for your money. According to some users[6], Windows Defender and other third-party software did not help them remove the virus. In that case, you may run the scan with SpyHunterCombo Cleaner, MalwarebytesMalwarebytes, or similar malware removal software. FortectIntego will help you fix virus damage.
In case the crypto-coin miner infiltrated your PC system together with another Trojan or backdoor, restart the computer in Safe Mode and run a full scan with your anti-virus to find hidden trojan components.
In case you are dealing with a browser-based infection, regular CoinMiner removal steps might not be effective. During the operation of your PC, a multitude of files are created on your system to access them quickly, and these files can be used by malicious programs as well – in this case, cryptocurrency mining.
Therefore, you need to make sure you delete the following from your web browsers:
- Temporary files from websites
- History
- Download History
Additionally, you might want to use a built-in feature in Windows – can also help you get rid of temporary files from the system, not only web browsers:
- Type in Delete temporary files into Windows search box and hit Enter
- Go to Temporary files
- Mark appropriate categories (like Temporary files and Temporary Internet Files) and pick Remove files
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