Remove Precomp.exe (Removal Guide)

Precomp.exe – a Windows background process that might indicate malware infection

Precomp.exe

Precomp.exe is a process that users might find running on their Task Manager under the name of Command Line Precompressor, which can be used by many different programs, including WinRar, uTorrent, and others. The process runs in the background, and its location is usually located in the “User” folder, although it can also be found in Program Files, System32, or other folders.

However, many users have complained that Precomp.exe is running at high CPU in the background, greatly disrupting the computer work and causing lag, crashes, and errors. While, in some cases, issues may lie within corrupted program files or similar, the high resource usage is one of the main indicators for the Win32.CoinMiner malware infection. Thus virus specializes in secretly mining digital currency by using Windows CPU or/and GPU – the funds are transferred directly to cybercriminals' crypto-wallets. Without a doubt, you should not tolerate the appearance of the Precomp.exe virus, as it might seriously compromise your computer performance and personal safety.

Name	Precomp.exe
Type	Cryptojacking malware, Trojan
Process name	Command Line Precompressor
Symptoms	High CPU usage, Internet speed reduction, crashes, freezes, unresponsive apps, etc.
Related malware	Win32.CoinMiner
Risks	Increased electricity bills, installation of other malware, personal information disclosure, monetary loss, etc.
Elimination	If the executable is not related to malware infection and is a part of
System Recovery	Malware 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 Fortect Intego repair program in order to fix underlying issues after malware infection

Cryptominers are well-known in the cybersecurity world and have been one of the most prevalent threats during the time when Bitcoin price skyrocketed. While the popularity of cryptojackers^[1] decreased, users can still infect their computers with this type of malware, and it's something that nobody would like to deal with.

Cybercriminals behind Precomp.exe Trojan might use several different distribution techniques, including:

fake updates
spam emails
malicious cracks/pirated installers
software vulnerabilities^[2]
malicious JavaScript, etc.

As evident, there are several ways how you could get infected with coin-mining malware. Nonetheless, this precise infection is known to be spread via pirated program installers for video games or cracked software. As evident, if you downloaded such a file from a torrent or a similar site, you should remove Precomp.exe virus with a powerful security app, such as SpyHunter Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes Malwarebytes. After that, you should tune-up and fix Windows system files and settings with Fortect Intego if required.

While the impact of crypto-mining malware might not be taken seriously by some, it is important to realize that as long as a virus is installed on a computer, it is considered to be compromised. It can prevent users from performing high-resource required tasks, such as watching high-res video recordings, editing video, using graphical applications, or playing video games. In other words, Precomp.exe Miner Trojan might make the infected computer almost impossible to operate, as CPU/GPU will rack up 90% 100% of usage at any given time, and the fans will spit at their full capacity.

Precomp.exe virus

However, regular computer usage disruption is just one of the worries – the main risks include data theft as well as a computer security compromise. Malware can inject a variety of malicious files into the system, some of which might spawn tasks only later. Thus, Precomp.exe can download additional malware later and, as a result, infect the computer with other Trojans, backdoors, rootkits, ransomware, or other malicious software.

We would also like to point out that Precomp.exe can be a part of a legitimate program, even though it is causing high CPU usage. So how should you know whether you are infected? The truth is that each case is very individual, and there is no universal answer. You need to perform some checks in order to find out.

The first thing you should do is scanning your device with security software. However, keep in mind that not all security programs can detect all variants of the virus, hence Precomp.exe removal might be a bit more complicated. The solution to this is to scan your machine with a few different security programs or upload the file in question to Virus Total or similar analysis services.

Another hint is whether or not the Precomp.exe process appeared after you installed a program yourself or if it showed up seemingly out of nowhere. If you downloaded a pirated game or an app, it is highly likely that you are infected. However, if the process belongs to WinRar or another legitimate app and causes you problems, you should simply uninstall them via the Control Panel. We provide the instructions below.

Avoid being infected with malware

As previously mentioned, crypto-mining malware is just one of many security threats that are spreading around the internet. Ransomware, Remote Access Trojans (RATs), backdoors, rootkits, worms, and other types of malicious programs are designed for various tasks, and none of them are positive, at least for the end-user. Unfortunately, many malware is programmed to stay invisible on the system for as long as possible, and, if no security solutions are implemented, it can run for weeks or even months before it is spotted.

Thus, as a first security measure, you should always ensure that your computer is protected with an up-to-date anti-malware solution. Make sure your automatic updates are set in place and run regular, on-demand scans as required. Unfortunately, there is no security program that would be able to detect all malware, as it is constantly shifting – criminals find new ways to bypass security measures. Thus, experts^[3] advise being cautious and conscious about online threats.

Precomp.exe high CPU usage

You should not open email attachments (and allowing documents to run macro function) or click on the embedded links, and avoid visiting websites that spread pirated programs/software cracks. Also, use strong passwords and never repeat them.

Use security software to get rid of Precomp.exe virus

As previously mentioned, Precomp.exe removal might not be necessary if the process related to it comes from a legitimate program. If that is the case, we advise you to employ Fortect Intego and attempt to fix issues you might be having with a Windows computer performance. If nothing helps and you are still having problems with high CPU usage, you should simply uninstall the related program, as we explain below.

To remove Precomp.exe virus, you should employ an anti-malware solution. While manual elimination is indeed possible, it is not recommended for regular computer users, as it requires deep understanding within the IT field and cybersecurity. To ensure that no such infections happen in the future, make sure you employ a real-time protection feature on your security program.

Uninstall from Windows

Uninstall from Windows 10/8:

Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:

Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.

Remove the unwanted program:

In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.

Reset Internet Explorer

Remove dangerous add-ons:

Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
Pick Manage Add-ons.
You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.

Change your homepage if it was altered:

Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
Select Internet Options.
In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
Click Apply and then select OK.

Delete temporary files:

Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
Under Browsing history, click Delete...
Select relevant fields and press Delete.

Reset Internet Explorer:

Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
Select Reset.
In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.

Remove from Microsoft Edge

Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:

Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
Click Remove.

Clear cookies and other browser data:

Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.

Restore new tab and homepage settings:

Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
Then find On startup section.
Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.

Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:

Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
Select Details tab.
Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.

Instructions for Chromium-based Edge

Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):

Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.

Clear cache and site data:

Click on Menu and go to Settings.
Select Privacy, search and services.
Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
Under Time range, pick All time.
Select Clear now.

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:

Click on Menu and select Settings.
On the left side, pick Reset settings.
Select Restore settings to their default values.
Confirm with Reset.
This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

Remove dangerous extensions:

Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
Select Add-ons.
In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.

Reset the homepage:

Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
Choose Settings.
Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.

Clear cookies and site data:

Click Menu and pick Settings.
Go to Privacy & Security section.
Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
Click on Clear Data...
Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.

Reset Mozilla Firefox

If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:

Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.
Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.

Remove from Google Chrome

Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:

Click on Menu and pick Settings.
Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
Click Clear data.

Change your homepage:

Click menu and choose Settings.
Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.

Reset Google Chrome:

If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:

Click on Menu and select Settings.
In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
Confirm with Reset settings.

Delete from Safari

Remove dangerous extensions:

Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.

Clear history and website data:

Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.

Reset Safari:

Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.

How to remove Precomp.exe

Precomp.exe – a Windows background process that might indicate malware infection

Avoid being infected with malware