KingMiner: what it is and how to remove it
KingMiner trojan is a malware that generates cryptocurrency while powered.exe runs in the background. This is yet another trojan horse that uses XMRig crypto mining program to generate Monero cryptocurrency.
Facts checked October 7, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
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KingMiner: summary
| Distribution | Spam email attachments, other malware |
|---|---|
| Name | KingMiner |
| Type | Trojan |
| Purpose | Mine Monero cryptocurrency |
| Uses | XMRig |
| Main danger | Can install other malware, give access to your system to other hackers |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 8 more facts
| Process | powered.exe |
|---|---|
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Symptoms | An unknown process using the processor or graphics card |
| Evidence | 5 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Files | powered.exe |
| First seen | 14 December 2018 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
What KingMiner does
From our report of Dec 2018 · not reviewed since
KingMiner is a cryptojacking trojan that loads a background process with a different name to conceal the malicious Monero mining activity
KingMiner trojan is a malware that generates cryptocurrency while powered.exe runs in the background.
This is yet another trojan horse that uses XMRig crypto mining program to generate Monero cryptocurrency. The process can remain unnoticed for a while because the malware shows no symptoms. However, KingMiner virus uses resources of your computer, for example, it utilizes CPU.
When you notice the suspicious process running in the background and using almost 100% of CPU, it becomes noticeable. The cryptocurrency mining process is affecting the performance of your device to benefit the hacker, so you need to get rid of this malware immediately after its detection.
KingMiner developers use a modified version of a well-known XMRig cryptocurrency miner, and the main purpose of this malware is to mine Monero to benefit cybercriminals. However, the trojan horse can be responsible for additional functions:
KingMiner virus hides under the process powered.exe which is running in the background and uses CPU or other resources of your computer. The executable file format is chosen for the persistence purposes because EXE is the common Windows process and files with this extension can be found running in the background.
However, this process is related to KingMiner trojan, but people cannot associate it with any threat for a while. When the file starts utilizing almost 100% of the CPU or using other resources, people start considering virus infection. All this background activity causes system freezes or crashes, issues with graphics or drivers.
Various antivirus programs can detect the trojan malware dubbed KingMiner, but the detection name differs from tool to tool:
Nevertheless, you need to remove KingMiner as soon as possible to make sure that no important parts of the device got affected by this notorious malware. The best solution for these silent cyber infections is anti-malware tools like , or any other security software of your choice.
Perform KingMiner removal and make sure to clean the system if you want to use the device as before. Also, follow our tips and enter the Safe Mode with Networking before you perform a full system scan to make sure the virus and all related files can be removed entirely.
- other malware installed;
- system data modified;
- stolen or deleted data;
- changed registry keys.
- Malware@#5jccqb7nyc1d
- Win32/Trojan.Script.18f
- Trojan ( 0001140e1 )
- Coinminer.HTML.MALXMR.AA
- BDS/Zegost.zstms
- Artemis!4AA56E254720
- Coinminer.Win32.MALXMR.AOODAX
- Trojan.CoinMiner!8.30A (TOPIS:4pJjQEp21pU)
- Trojan.Win32.BitCoinMiner.dzq.
From our report of Dec 2018 · not reviewed since
Avoid questionable emails and suspicious executables
Using suspicious websites as your software providers or getting programs from the internet via p2p services can lead to malware infiltration and unwanted installations.
Also, opening emails from unknown sources, especially if the email contains file attachments, can result in more severe malware infections.
Trojans, malware or even ransomware can spread on the system when you open the infected document. Researchers note that spam email campaigns get more and more advanced because emails often fo straight to your regular email box and contain well-known company or service names as a disguise.
When you open the infected Word or Excel, PDF file malicious macros are triggered, and payload launches in the system. Then direct malware is installed on your computer or malicious script is spreading further on the targeted network. You can avoid this infiltration by installing advanced anti-malware and scanning the system occasionally.
From our report of Dec 2018 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on KingMiner
- Use and remove KingMiner from the device
Check your PC for KingMiner
- File:
powered.exe
How to remove KingMiner
Miners hide when Task Manager opens and add Defender exclusions.
The steps deal with both, then remove the files.
Step 1: Check where powered.exe runs from and stop it
powered.exeis the part you can see, and its location tells you whether it belongs there. Right-click it on the Processes page of Task Manager and choose Open file location, then right-click the file > Properties > Digital Signatures to see who signed it.An unsigned file, or one in a user folder such as
%AppData%, is the one to remove: end the task, then delete the file.Note the folder name, because the same folder usually holds its other files. This is the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Full procedure with screenshots: Close a frozen app (Task Manager, Force Quit) On uGetFix
Step 2: Delete scheduled tasks that bring it back
Open Task Scheduler from the Start menu and click Task Scheduler Library. Select each task you do not recognise and read the Actions tab:
- a task that starts a file in
%AppData%or%Temp% - runs
powershellwith a long encoded line - opens a web address belongs to KingMiner or a similar program
Right-click such a task and choose Delete, and check the subfolders too. Leave tasks from Microsoft, your PC's maker and programs you use. Task Scheduler is the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Windows 11: Task Scheduler Library, the task selected, the Actions tab shows the file it runs. Full procedure with screenshots: Remove what malware leaves behind in Windows
- a task that starts a file in
Step 3: Remove it from startup
Whatever KingMiner installed usually starts with Windows. Open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc, go to Startup apps in Windows 11 or the Startup tab in Windows 10, and disable what you do not know, starting with entries that have an empty Publisher column.
Open file location on the right-click menu shows the file, which helps you decide and tells you what to delete later. Disabling is safe: if something you need stops working, switch it back on.
Full procedure with screenshots: Stop apps from opening at startup On uGetFix
Step 4: Turn Microsoft Defender back on and remove its exclusions
KingMiner turns protection off or adds exclusions so that Defender ignores it. In Windows Security > Virus & threat protection, open Manage settings and switch Real-time protection, Cloud-delivered protection and Tamper Protection back on.
Then open Add or remove exclusions at the bottom of that page and remove whatever you did not add yourself, for example a folder in
%AppData%or an entire drive. These pages look the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10.Full procedure with screenshots: Turn off Microsoft Defender protection for a moment On uGetFix
Step 5: Delete the folders left behind
What the uninstaller leaves behind is usually in the user folders. Open File Explorer, switch on View > Show > Hidden items (in Windows 10 View > Hidden items), and go through
%LocalAppData%,%AppData%, %ProgramData% and the two Program Files folders.Sort by Date modified and delete folders that appeared together with the problem and belong to no program you use. Folders with random names that hold
.exe,.dll, .js or .ps1 files are the strongest sign.Full procedure with screenshots: Remove what malware leaves behind in Windows
Step 6: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan
Open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, run a Full scan and remove everything it finds. Then select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now: the PC restarts and scans before Windows loads, which finds files that hide while Windows runs.
Save your work first, because the offline scan takes about 15 minutes. Both scans are built into Windows 11 and Windows 10, and a second scanner from another vendor is a useful extra opinion.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
Manual removal using Safe Mode
Important! →
Manual removal guide might be too complicated for regular computer users. It requires advanced IT knowledge to be performed correctly (if vital system files are removed or damaged, it might result in full Windows compromise), and it also might take hours to complete. Therefore, we highly advise using the automatic method provided above instead.
Step 1. Access Safe Mode with Networking
Manual malware removal should be best performed in the Safe Mode environment.
Windows 7 / Vista / XP
- Click Start > Shutdown > Restart > OK.
- When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 button (if that does not work, try F2, F12, Del, etc. - it all depends on your motherboard model) multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
- Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.
Windows 10 / Windows 8
- Right-click on Start button and select Settings.
- Scroll down to pick Update & Security.
- On the left side of the window, pick Recovery.
- Now scroll down to find Advanced Startup section.
- Click Restart now.
- Select Troubleshoot.
- Go to Advanced options.
- Select Startup Settings.
- Press Restart.
- Now press 5 or click 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking.
Step 2. Shut down suspicious processes
Windows Task Manager is a useful tool that shows all the processes running in the background. If malware is running a process, you need to shut it down:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
- Click on More details.
- Scroll down to Background processes section, and look for anything suspicious.
- Right-click and select Open file location.
- Go back to the process, right-click and pick End Task.
- Delete the contents of the malicious folder.
Step 3. Check program Startup
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
- Go to Startup tab.
- Right-click on the suspicious program and pick Disable.
Step 4. Delete virus files
Malware-related files can be found in various places within your computer. Here are instructions that could help you find them:
- Type in Disk Cleanup in Windows search and press Enter.
- Select the drive you want to clean (C: is your main drive by default and is likely to be the one that has malicious files in).
- Scroll through the Files to delete list and select the following:
Temporary Internet Files
Downloads
Recycle Bin
Temporary files - Pick Clean up system files.
- You can also look for other malicious files hidden in the following folders (type these entries in Windows Search and press Enter):
%AppData%
%LocalAppData%
%ProgramData%
%WinDir%
After you are finished, reboot the PC in normal mode.
Access your website securely from any location
When you work on the domain, site, blog, or different project that requires constant management, content creation, or coding, you may need to connect to the server and content management service more often. The best solution for creating a tighter network could be a dedicated/fixed IP address.
If you make your IP address static and set to your device, you can connect to the CMS from any location and do not create any additional issues for the server or network manager that needs to monitor connections and activities. VPN software providers like can help you with such settings and offer the option to control the online reputation and manage projects easily from any part of the world.
Recover files after data-affecting malware attacks
While much of the data can be accidentally deleted due to various reasons, malware is one of the main culprits that can cause loss of pictures, documents, videos, and other important files.
More serious malware infections lead to significant data loss when your documents, system files, and images get encrypted. In particular, ransomware is is a type of malware that focuses on such functions, so your files become useless without an ability to access them.
Even though there is little to no possibility to recover after file-locking threats, some applications have features for data recovery in the system. In some cases, can also help to recover at least some portion of your data after data-locking virus infection or general cyber infection.
From our report of Dec 2018 · not reviewed since
Eliminate KingMiner, associated files, and end all related processes
Remove KingMiner from the system with anti-malware tools like , or and clean the system further this way.
A full system scan using these programs detects all malicious files, programs or potential threats and helps to delete them.
After the automatic KingMiner removal using anti-malware, make sure that no additional processes are running in the background of your computer. You can check this in your Task Manager, then end the process that is suspicious or using high CPU.
You may need to enter the Safe Mode before scanning the system with antivirus program because KingMiner virus is a persistent threat that alters various parts of the system and even adds Windows registry keys to make sure the malicious process is loaded every time your PC is turned on.
[GI=method-1]Reboot the device in Safe Mode with Networking and then remove KingMiner from the system
[GI=method-2]You may also benefit from using System Restore feature for KingMiner termination
Questions about KingMiner
Can powered.exe damage my computer?
A miner does not usually destroy files, but running the processor or graphics card at full load for weeks raises temperatures, wears out fans and shortens laptop batteries. It also makes the PC slower and raises the electricity bill.
The bigger risk is what came with it: miners are often installed by loaders or bundled with cracks that also drop password stealers. That is why removing powered.exe should be followed by a full offline scan, and, if the PC shows other signs, by changing the passwords saved in your browsers.
Should I delete the powered.exe file myself?
You can, but only after you have stopped what restarts it, otherwise the file is simply downloaded or copied back. Note the full path of powered.exe first, using Open file location in Task Manager. Then disable its startup entry or task, end the process and delete the folder.
If Windows says the file is in use, restart in Safe Mode and try again. Never delete a file from C:\Windows\System32 that is signed by Microsoft; if that is where the busy process lives, the cause is something else using a genuine Windows file.
Can I just delete powered.exe?
You can, but it is rarely enough. powered.exe is the visible part of KingMiner; a scheduled task, a service or a startup entry usually starts it again, and some versions restore the file within minutes. Deleting it while it runs may also fail.
Run the Microsoft Defender offline scan instead, which removes the file and its startup entries before Windows loads. Then check Task Scheduler and Startup apps for anything still pointing to the old location. Restart afterwards and confirm the file does not return.
Where does KingMiner come from?
We cannot name a source for KingMiner yet, because no one has traced its distribution in public. In the cases we see, a cryptominer most often comes with pirated software, activators, game mods and cheats, or with downloads from sites that repackage free programs. Removable drives are another route for self-spreading kinds.
Your own history is the best clue: what did you install or plug in shortly before you first noticed powered.exe using the processor or graphics card at full load? Whatever it was should be removed together with the malware and never reinstalled from the same place.
The PC is still slow after removing KingMiner. What now?
Restart the PC first; some changes only take effect after a reboot. Then open Task Manager and check the Processes and Startup apps tabs for anything unfamiliar using the processor, disk or network. If something remains, run the Microsoft Defender offline scan once more.
Slowness can also come from a second infection installed alongside KingMiner, or from programs that were damaged during the clean-up. If nothing helps, back up your files and reset Windows. Copy only documents and photos before a reset, and scan the copies.
Should I worry about KingMiner?
It deserves attention, not panic. The reported sign, powered.exe using the processor or graphics card at full load, shows that code from someone else is running on the PC, and such code rarely arrives alone. It is not known yet whether KingMiner itself steals data, but the same sources that spread it often add a password stealer.
Remove it with the steps in this guide, run an offline scan, and change your important passwords from another device once the PC is clean. If the sign returns after removal, a reset of Windows is the more reliable fix. Most people who follow the plan carefully do not need to go that far.
Should I reset my PC because of KingMiner?
Only if the signs point to deeper access. Reset when you see powered.exe using the processor or graphics card at full load again after removal, when Windows Security cannot start or update, when remote access tools you did not install keep appearing, or when you simply cannot trust the PC any more.
Otherwise, the plan in this guide plus an offline scan is enough. If you do reset, choose Remove everything and Cloud download for a fresh copy of Windows, restore only documents and photos, and reinstall programs from their official sites. Change important passwords from the clean system afterwards.
Can I just delete the file Windows Security found?
Let Windows Security handle it instead. When it finds KingMiner, choose Remove or Quarantine; the scanner also removes related startup entries and tasks that a manual delete would miss. Deleting a running file by hand often fails, and many threats restore themselves from a second copy.
After the removal, run the Microsoft Defender offline scan, which works before Windows starts and catches parts that hide while Windows runs. Then check Task Scheduler for leftovers. Restart afterwards and check that the detection does not return.
Did KingMiner steal my passwords?
There is no evidence either way yet, because KingMiner has not been analysed in public. The reported sign, powered.exe using the processor or graphics card at full load, does not show theft by itself. However, malware of this kind is often installed together with a password stealer, which works in seconds and leaves nothing to see.
The cautious approach costs little: once the PC is clean, change the passwords saved in your browsers from another device, starting with e-mail, then banking and payment accounts. Sign out of all sessions and turn on two-step verification. If a bank card was saved in the browser, ask the bank about a replacement.
Will Fortect remove KingMiner?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For KingMiner, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Background process (read October 7, 2026)
- VirusTotal: Malware analysis and detection rate (read October 7, 2026)
- Usunwirusa: Usunwirusa (read October 7, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 7, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 7, 2026)