This blog post has been created to help explain what is the AcruxMiner miner app and how you can try and remove it and prevent it from mining Monero cryptocurrencies on your computer.
A new, very dangerous cryptocurrency miner virus has been detected by security researchers. The malware, called AcruxMiner can infect target victims using a variety of ways. The main idea behind the AcruxMiner miner is to employ cryptocurrency miner activities on the computers of victims in order to obtain Monero tokens at victims’ expense. The outcome of this miner is the elevated electricity bills and if you leave it for longer periods of time AcruxMiner may even damage your computer’s components.
Threat Summary
| Name | AcruxMiner Virus, also known Trojan.Temonde |
| Type | Cryptocurrency Miner Virus |
| Short Description | A crypto miner that aims to use the resources of your computer to mine for cryptocurrencies. |
| Symptoms | Your computer may experience slow-downs, overheating, suspicious processes running and other types of unwanted side effects.. |
| Distribution Method | Bundled downloads. Web pages which may advertise it. |
| Detection Tool |
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss AcruxMiner Virus. |
AcruxMiner Trojan (Trojan.Temonde) — Distribution Methods
The AcruxMiner is a malicious cryptocurrency miner that has been detected in an active distribution campaign. At the moment there is no information about the hacker or criminal collective responsible for its creation or distribution. It is possible that such data will be known in the future.
The first detection of it was made in May 2018 when its activity was discovered for the first time. Further analysis into its origins shows that it is promoted by its developers on various hacker underground markets. This means that prospective buyers can buy the bare threat and add new modules to it or order a complete and customized solution. It can be combined with other threats as well — ransomware, Trojans and etc.
According to the analysis the AcruxMiner malware strains are being distributed as a MaaS (Miner-as-a-Service) which is subscription-based access to the malware sources. This means that the developers behind it can constantly push updates to paying customers.
As soon as the AcruxMiner malware is prepared it will be distributed using some of the popular tactics.
Usually most of these threats are built into the websites via JavaScript code. Once the users visit the respective sites their browsers will automatically run the code and as a result start the miner code. Other sources of infection include the following:
- Email Messages — The scripts that start the cryptocurrency miner can also be included in email messages. All interactive contents placed in the body message can lead to the execution of such code. The emails themselves impersonate well-known senders such as services and companies.
- Documents — Macro-infected documents of all popular types can serve as infection sources: presentations, databases, rich text documents and spreadsheets. Once they are opened a prompt will appear asking them to enable the built-in scripts. If this is done the miner code will be launched.
- Application Installers — The hackers can embed the miner code in setup files of popular software. Examples include system utilities, productivity applications and creativity solutions.
- Browser Hijackers — These are malicious extension made for the popular web browsers. These strains are uploaded to their respective repositories and include counterfeit user reviews and even developer credentials. Their descriptions will promote feature additions and various performance optimizations in order to coerce the users into installing them. When this is done modifications to the browser settings will be made to redirect the victims to a hacker-controlled site. Following this step the miner will be loaded.
Many security software also recognized it under its alternative name Trojan.Temonde.
AcruxMiner Trojan (Trojan.Temonde) — Analysis
As soon as the AcruxMiner malware is deployed it will start the built-in behavior pattern. The first step is to launch the associated miner code. It will connect to a hacker-controlled server using a preset configuration. It will “feed” the machine complex mathematical tasks that take advantage of the available hardware resources. The miner samples have been found to take advantage of both the CPU and video card (GPU) along with the memory and hard disk space. The advanced and higher tier miner has a few additional features:
- Custom Mining Algorithm — The updated and higher tier AcruxMiner strains can scan the system and generate a report of the installed hardware components. According to the list an optimized algorithm will be selected to optimize performance.
- Persistent Installation — The AcruxMiner malware can be installed in a way which will modify the operating system and boot configuration options in order to automatically start the engine every time the computer starts. A consequence is the inability to access certain recovery menu, this can render most manual removal instructions non-working.
- Multi-factor Auto-load Option — This option will automatically download samples in a way which will optimize the jobs and tasks completion.
The AcruxMiner malware uses an encrypted wallet which cannot be accessed by the users or system administrators. It is only used to collect and synchronize the generated income. All captured versions also feature an auto-infect capability that will scan the computer for any connected removable devices. If such are found they will be infected.
The AcruxMiner is distributed alongside a rootkit infection that will make it very difficult to remove using most methods. Other options available to the threat include the ability to monitor the clipboard and also interact with the Windows volume manager and network shares. This allows the miner to spread to other hosts on the local network thus being a localized botnet.
It is very possible that the perpetrators of the miner originate from Russia as the network connections to the miner servers are primarily to Russian IP addresses.
The captured samples associated with the threat also include a Trojan component that will set-up a secure connection to a hacker-controlled server. This allows the operators to spy on the victim machines, execute certain commands and also infect them with additional payloads.
Other signatures under which the threat is known includes the following:
BehavesLike.Win32.Pate.vc
DeepScan:Generic.Application.CoinMiner.1.31B24370
HEUR/QVM19.1.0757.Malware.Gen
PUA.VMProtect
Packed-GV!570A9CC9FD20
Packed.Vmpbad!gen38
TROJ_GEN.R002C0OKD18
TScope.Malware-Cryptor.SB
Trojan.Agent.Miner
Trojan.Win32.CoinMiner.2542080
Trojan/Win32.Miner.C2834012
Trojan:Win32/Fuerboos.C!cl
Win.Dropper.Temonde-6571898-0
Win32.Application.CoinMiner.T@gen
Win32.Trojan.Miner.Stkk
Trojan.Temonde
a variant of Win32/CoinMiner.EQ potentially unwanted
Removal of AcruxMiner is strongly recommended, since you risk not only a big electricity bill if it’s running on your PC, but the miner may also perform other unwanted activities on it and even damage your PC permanently.
Remove AcruxMiner Miner from Your PC
If you want to remove this miner from your PC, be advised that it can delete your files. This is why, we advise you to backup all your important files if on your PC before removing this virus.
To remove AcruxMiner miner automatically from your PC, we advise you to follow the removal manual below. It is separated In manual and automatic removal, since this will effectively help delete the virus files permanently. If manual removal does not help, however, we recommend what most researchers advise and that is to download an advanced anti-malware software to run a scan with it on your infected PC. Such program will automatically take care of the AcruxMiner miner virus from your computer and will make sure that it’s removed completely plus your PC stays protected in the future too.
Martin Beltov
Martin graduated with a degree in Publishing from Sofia University. As a cyber security enthusiast he enjoys writing about the latest threats and mechanisms of intrusion.
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Preparation before removing AcruxMiner Virus.
Before starting the actual removal process, we recommend that you do the following preparation steps.
- Make sure you have these instructions always open and in front of your eyes.
- Do a backup of all of your files, even if they could be damaged. You should back up your data with a cloud backup solution and insure your files against any type of loss, even from the most severe threats.
- Be patient as this could take a while.
- Scan for Malware
- Fix Registries
- Remove Virus Files
Step 1: Scan for AcruxMiner Virus with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Clean any registries, created by AcruxMiner Virus on your computer.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by AcruxMiner Virus there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
Tip: To find a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and click "Modify" to see which file it is set to run. If this is the virus file location, remove the value.Step 3: Find virus files created by AcruxMiner Virus on your PC.
1.For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10.
For Newer Windows Operating Systems
1: On your keyboard press + R and write explorer.exe in the Run text box and then click on the Ok button.
2: Click on your PC from the quick access bar. This is usually an icon with a monitor and its name is either “My Computer”, “My PC” or “This PC” or whatever you have named it.
3: Navigate to the search box in the top-right of your PC's screen and type “fileextension:” and after which type the file extension. If you are looking for malicious executables, an example may be "fileextension:exe". After doing that, leave a space and type the file name you believe the malware has created. Here is how it may appear if your file has been found:
N.B. We recommend to wait for the green loading bar in the navigation box to fill up in case the PC is looking for the file and hasn't found it yet.
2.For Windows XP, Vista, and 7.
For Older Windows Operating Systems
In older Windows OS's the conventional approach should be the effective one:
1: Click on the Start Menu icon (usually on your bottom-left) and then choose the Search preference.
2: After the search window appears, choose More Advanced Options from the search assistant box. Another way is by clicking on All Files and Folders.
3: After that type the name of the file you are looking for and click on the Search button. This might take some time after which results will appear. If you have found the malicious file, you may copy or open its location by right-clicking on it.
Now you should be able to discover any file on Windows as long as it is on your hard drive and is not concealed via special software.
AcruxMiner Virus FAQ
What Does AcruxMiner Virus Trojan Do?
The AcruxMiner Virus Trojan is a malicious computer program designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to a computer system. It can be used to steal sensitive data, gain control over a system, or launch other malicious activities.
Can Trojans Steal Passwords?
Yes, Trojans, like AcruxMiner Virus, can steal passwords. These malicious programs are designed to gain access to a user's computer, spy on victims and steal sensitive information such as banking details and passwords.
Can AcruxMiner Virus Trojan Hide Itself?
Yes, it can. A Trojan can use various techniques to mask itself, including rootkits, encryption, and obfuscation, to hide from security scanners and evade detection.
Can a Trojan be Removed by Factory Reset?
Yes, a Trojan can be removed by factory resetting your device. This is because it will restore the device to its original state, eliminating any malicious software that may have been installed. Bear in mind that there are more sophisticated Trojans that leave backdoors and reinfect even after a factory reset.
Can AcruxMiner Virus Trojan Infect WiFi?
Yes, it is possible for a Trojan to infect WiFi networks. When a user connects to the infected network, the Trojan can spread to other connected devices and can access sensitive information on the network.
Can Trojans Be Deleted?
Yes, Trojans can be deleted. This is typically done by running a powerful anti-virus or anti-malware program that is designed to detect and remove malicious files. In some cases, manual deletion of the Trojan may also be necessary.
Can Trojans Steal Files?
Yes, Trojans can steal files if they are installed on a computer. This is done by allowing the malware author or user to gain access to the computer and then steal the files stored on it.
Which Anti-Malware Can Remove Trojans?
Anti-malware programs such as SpyHunter are capable of scanning for and removing Trojans from your computer. It is important to keep your anti-malware up to date and regularly scan your system for any malicious software.
Can Trojans Infect USB?
Yes, Trojans can infect USB devices. USB Trojans typically spread through malicious files downloaded from the internet or shared via email, allowing the hacker to gain access to a user's confidential data.
About the AcruxMiner Virus Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this AcruxMiner Virus how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific trojan problem.
How did we conduct the research on AcruxMiner Virus?
Please note that our research is based on an independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, thanks to which we receive daily updates on the latest malware definitions, including the various types of trojans (backdoor, downloader, infostealer, ransom, etc.)
Furthermore, the research behind the AcruxMiner Virus threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by trojans, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.