Wise XMRig virus. How to remove? (Uninstall guide)
XMRig CPU Miner – a trojan horse which exploits computer’s CPU power to generate cryptocurrency
XMRig CPU Miner is a malicious trojan horse which was designed to exploit computer’s resources and mine cryptocurrency without victim’s notice. Its name arose from “wise” entry which is added once the trojan is installed. Additionally, XMRig virus launches AudioHD.exe process, designed to start running automatically when the computer is turned on.
XMRig CPU Miner is typically used to mine cryptocurrency, such as Monero[1], Bitcoin, Dashcoin and other. It does that by taking advantage of your computer’s resources, so the most obvious sign showing that user's computer is infected is a significant decrease in the system performance, continuous crashes or lags.
Mining digital currency without computer user’s knowledge is a malicious activity since extensive usage of CPU power leads to high processor’s temperature and decreases its performance[2]. Moreover, users infected with XMRig CPU Miner are not able to detect the harmful activity unless they open the Task Manager.
Cybercriminals are attracted to mining because it is a profitable sphere. They not only benefit from one victim. Instead, they create a botnet of exploited computers and illegally obtain considerable amounts of money.
If you notice significant slowdowns, or other problems, open Task Manager. You might see the winserv.exe process running – it is a warning call reporting about the infection. Immediately remove XMRig virus using Reimage or any other reliable security program.
Select 'Safe Mode with Networking'
Select 'Enable Safe Mode with Networking'
Select 'Safe Mode with Command Prompt'
Select 'Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt'
Enter 'cd restore' without quotes and press 'Enter'
Enter 'rstrui.exe' without quotes and press 'Enter'
When 'System Restore' window shows up, select 'Next'
Select your restore point and click 'Next'
Click 'Yes' and start system restore
Adware may install harmful miner on your computer
Typically, this trojan spreads via the bundled download/installation process. It means that you can get infected when you install other regular applications. Following safe browsing and software installation rules will help to avoid the need of Wise XMRig removal.
A vast of computer users tend to skip many steps in order to install the program quickly. You should avoid doing that since the potentially unwanted program (PUP) is hidden among the optional components of the regular app.
Once you choose Quick/Recommended settings, you are not able to un-tick the box that confirms your consent to install the trojan. The developers take advantage of rushing users and exploit their computer’s power.
You should opt for Custom/Advanced option and carefully follow all the steps. If you notice being offered to install any unauthorized programs, un-tick that box and scan your computer using a verified security software.
Also, avoid clicking on ads because they redirect to suspicious websites. This way you will protect your computer from being infected not only with CPU Miner virus but with many other malware. Finally, this dangerous program can arrive in phishing emails, so never open questionable digital messages you find in Inbox. You can find some useful tips on how to identify malicious emails on NoVirus.uk site[3].
Easy steps to remove XMRig CPU Miner from your computer
When trying to delete the described malware, there are two options to choose from – the automatic or the manual Wise XMRig virus removal.
If you decide to go for the automatic option, choose a reliable security software and download it from a trustworthy source. Use a direct link if possible because the web is full of deceiving ads where useless security software is promoted. Fake advertisements may redirect you to websites with malicious content. You can find reliable links to download recommended anti-spyware or anti-malware options below the article.
Then, restart your computer to Safe Mode and scan your system. It will quickly detect infected files and remove XMRig CPU Miner from it. We strongly recommend choosing automatic elimination since your data might be compromised with other malware you are not aware of.
To remove Wise XMRig virus, follow these steps:
Remove Wise XMRig using Safe Mode with Networking
To delete WiseXMRig Miner virus from Windows, prepare the computer system using the Safe Boot tutorial provided below.
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Step 1: Reboot your computer to Safe Mode with Networking
Windows 7 / Vista / XP- Click Start → Shutdown → Restart → OK.
- When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
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Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list
Windows 10 / Windows 8- Press the Power button at the Windows login screen. Now press and hold Shift, which is on your keyboard, and click Restart..
- Now select Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings and finally press Restart.
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Once your computer becomes active, select Enable Safe Mode with Networking in Startup Settings window.
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Step 2: Remove Wise XMRig
Log in to your infected account and start the browser. Download Reimage or other legitimate anti-spyware program. Update it before a full system scan and remove malicious files that belong to your ransomware and complete Wise XMRig removal.
If your ransomware is blocking Safe Mode with Networking, try further method.
Remove Wise XMRig using System Restore
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Step 1: Reboot your computer to Safe Mode with Command Prompt
Windows 7 / Vista / XP- Click Start → Shutdown → Restart → OK.
- When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
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Select Command Prompt from the list
Windows 10 / Windows 8- Press the Power button at the Windows login screen. Now press and hold Shift, which is on your keyboard, and click Restart..
- Now select Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings and finally press Restart.
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Once your computer becomes active, select Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt in Startup Settings window.
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Step 2: Restore your system files and settings
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Once the Command Prompt window shows up, enter cd restore and click Enter.
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Now type rstrui.exe and press Enter again..
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When a new window shows up, click Next and select your restore point that is prior the infiltration of Wise XMRig. After doing that, click Next.
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Now click Yes to start system restore.
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Once the Command Prompt window shows up, enter cd restore and click Enter.
Finally, you should always think about the protection of crypto-ransomwares. In order to protect your computer from Wise XMRig and other ransomwares, use a reputable anti-spyware, such as Reimage, Malwarebytes MalwarebytesCombo Cleaner or Plumbytes Anti-MalwareMalwarebytes Malwarebytes
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References
- ^ Money-making machine: Monero-mining malware. WeLiveSecurity. News, Views, and Insight from the ESET Security Community.
- ^ Evgeny Lopatin, Vladas Bulavas. Miners on the Rise. Securelist. Information about Viruses, Hackers and Spam.
- ^ NoVirus. NoVirus. Security and Spyware News.