This article has been created in order to help explain what is Coin Miner mobile malware and how to remove it from your Android device effectively.
Mobile devices hashing for cryptocurriencies is something that is out of a science fiction movie. However, an experiment did take place using old Samsing Galaxy smartphones to mine for crypto. The fact that smartphones hashing power can also be used for mining crypto has brought mining malware to mobile devices as well, hiding behind malicious applications on the Google PlayStore. According to Trend Micro, those apps were advertised as legitimate applications seem helpful. In reality however, they begin to use the mobile device’s resources in order to mine for cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Monero as well as multiple altcoins. Since they both belong to the Coin Miner family of viruses, if you have seen your smartphone to become slow, and freeze at times, recommendations are to read this article and learn how to remove the Android Coin Miner malware effectively from your computer.
Threat Summary
| Name | Android Miner Virus |
| Type | Android Miner Malware |
| Short Description | Uses JavaScript to mine for cryptocurrencies on your smartphone or tablet Android device. |
| Symptoms | A “lid” named folder, created on your Android device’s flash memory. |
| Distribution Method | Via applications uploaded on Google Play store, containing malicious JavaScript code.. |
| Detection Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by Android Miner Virus Download Malware Removal Tool | User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss Android Miner Virus. |
Android Miner Virus How Did I Get It
There are several variations of the Android Miner family of viruses, most of them using the Coinive JavaScript to connect the victim’s Android device to a Coinhive miner account. The detections are known to be the following, according to Trend Micro’s report:
- ANDROIDOS_JSMINER
- ANDROIDOS_CPUMINER
- ANDROIDOS_KAGECOIN
There is one way that these apps use to slither onto your computer – false advertising. They are reported to pretend to be legitimate applications that can help improve your smartphone experience In one way or another. The following applications have been flagged since the first detection, but malware researchers feel convinced that there may be more of those types:
Source: Trend Micro
Android Miner Virus – Analysis
The way these apps work is after you download them and install them on the Android device, they trigger the Coinhive JavaScript library code:
Source: Trend Micro
This code connects your device to a mining pool for the crypto-currency Monero. This results in the miner malware being able to mine for the crypto-currency BitCoin. This may result in the cryptocurrency being mined to the account of the cyber-criminals at your smartphone’s expense. The cyber-crooks strongly rely on infecting as many devices as possible, because unlike with computers, on smartphones you cannot have the possibility to check which process is using your GPU and CPU to mine. They also expect to infect a lot of devices, because the hashing power strongly increases, so Android users, beweare.
Some of those miners do not only connect to big cryptocurrencies, but use easily minable ones, such as:
- Magicoin
- Feathercoin
- VertCoin
- MiriyadCoin
- Unitus
The mining procedure also results in a folder created on the Android device’s flash memory. The mining operaion can generate a lot of money for cyber-crooks, especially if a lot of devices are infected. Researchers believe that such applications and malware is only likely to increase by the numbers in the future.
Remove Android Miner Virus from Your Android
In order to remove this malware, a simple deletion of the app won’t cut it, because a JavaScript code is created on your Android device. This results in the malware being able to stay persistent on your device, even after you remove the app. This is why we have created the removal instructions down below. They are designed in order to help you by showing how to delete this virus completely. Furthermore, be advised that according to security experts, the most effective way to remove this malware is to use an advanced anti-malware solution which will automatically scan for the malicious files of the Android Miner Virus and remove them completely and automatically, while securing your smartphone against future infections.
Since manually removing Android Miner Virus may erase your data, we have suggested several methods to do it effectively and safely in case you have an Android device in the step-by-step instructions below. If you want to skip these steps and remove Android Miner Virus automatically, we suggest that you download an advanced anti-malware solution which will protect your device against any future intrusions.
