What Is Bitcoin Miner Virus?
BitCoin miner virus also known as Trojan.MacOS.BitCoinMiner.EB is a dangerous infection that may use your CPU and/or GPU to obtain crypto cryptocurrency illegally. Cryptocurrency miners keep hitting computers and trying to use their resources to generate revenue for their developers. Even though this type of infection is called BitCoinMiner, it does mine for digital currencies such as Monero, Electroneum, and others.
Since crypto-mining is a process that requires extremely powerful hardware components, cybercriminals utilise malicious software that enables them to hijack users’ computers and use them to collectively mine cryptocurrencies. By doing this they avoid all expensive costs. Affected users, in return, start facing lots of problems with their computers.
Trojan.Bitcoinminer Summary
| Name | BitCoin Mining Virus also known / detected as Trojan.Bitcoinminer or Trojan.MacOS.BitCoinMiner.EB / Trojan.MacOS.BitCoinMiner.EC or Trojan.Bitcoinminer.FDC / Trojan.Bitcoinminer.LA |
| Type | CryptoCurrency Mining, Trojan, Spyware |
| Removal Time | Less than 15 minutes (for a full system scan) |
| Removal Tool |
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How to Know If You Have a Trojan.Bitcoinminer
This type of infection can hardly be noticed as it does not open any windows. It is just silently running in the background of all other active processes. If you want to detect a such an infection you should open the task manager and look for any unknown processes. In addition, pay attention to the following symptoms:
- In the Task Manager you see more than 50% CPU utilization all the time.
- Programs load slow.
- Programs become unresponsive.
- The computer starts to freeze.
- Sudden reboots occur and prevent you from saving your data.
- The machine generates excessive heat.
- Games run slower.
Here are some of the detection names given to such crypto malware:
PUA.CoinMiner
Trojan.BitMine
Riskware.BitcoinMiner
W32/CoinMiner
Application.BitCoinMiner
Trojan.BtcMine
Riskware.Miner
Win.Trojan.Bitcoinminer-72
If you believe you are infected with this crypto obtaining viruses, we advise you to read this article to learn how to remove it from your computer and protect yourself in the future as well.
Such infections are shaping up to be the next big thing in cyber-security, and it will not go away soon. One such virus is the latest discovered infection. This infection has the only purpose to mine Monero, Ethereum, Dashcoin, or other cryptocurrencies on the computer it has infected.
For cryptocurrency mining to occur, the BitCoin infection may run processes on the infected machine that may result in the significant over-usage of its CPU and GPU resources. This, in turn, sometimes leads to a total slowing down of the system. And the worst part is that there are no files on your computer, meaning it is very difficult to detect it.
We have detected a lot of new crypto obtaining threats out there with different capabilities. Some such viruses were as harmless as to only mine your PC, while others, hastier were completely able to display ads and also infect your PC with information-stealing infection that directly provides your data to cybercriminals.
The malicious activity of the infection is comprised of executing multiple malicious scripts on the infected PC by a backdoor and remote code execution which the infection runs beforehand. These scripts have the purpose to connect the threat to a control and command server. It the mining infection uses different classes to execute further scripts that allow for various actions to take place:
- Remove control of the virus.
- Download the cryptocurrency mining software and execute it filelessly.
- Add the victim PC to a mining pool network in which all infected computers are also added.
In some cases the infection process is conducted with the aid of one of the zero-day or other exploits used in the WannaCry and NotPetya ransomware outbreaks which came out earlier this year. The exploit is known by the name EternalBlue and is a zero-day type of exploit for Windows versions from Windows XP up to Windows 10. Fortunately, Microsoft has released patches for the exploit, so anyone who has a legitimate Windows installation should immediately:
- Disable the WMI service.
- Disable SMB and Download the latest security patches from Microsoft.
Some crypto threats that are misusing the Windows Management Instrumentation service (WMI) – scrcons.exe, to execute malicious scripts. As a result, the miner becomes completely invisible, because it does not drop any types of files on the computers infected by it.
Such threats have continued to evolve adding new technologies to them that enable them to not only act as a Worm to infect as many computers as possible but also to use the infected machine to its full extent and clear example for that is the WannaMine Cryptoworm infection, imitating the notorious WannaCry ransomware. And with Bitcoin price scoring a high-level price in August 2020 we could expect new mining viruses and improved versions of existing ones to be released in the wild.
Besides this the usage of JavaScript has further evolved and become more sophisticated with RAT features in some viruses, like the Webmine.pro JavaScript miner. In addition to this, viruses have begin to imimtate system processes very well.
Happily, Google Chrome which is the most widely used web browser has been updated to block the web browser extensions that have JavaScript mining codes in them. This means that Google Chrome is more secure against miners and it is recommended that you use it, if you have recently had problems caused by such extensions. Note that this move by Google does not eliminate such viruses since they are still very active via Trojan Horses and on other browsers’ extensions as well. Furthermore, CryptoCurrency mining viruses are still evolving and some of them are now capable of acting on themselves.
Here are some of the most notorious crypto threats which have made the most impact out of all:
- Service_box.exe
- RevServicesXapp_loader.exe
- Valhalla
- Debug.exe
- WaterMiner
- Miner.exe
- JS:Cryptonight
- Moloko Trojan
- Auto Refresh Plus Adware
- Harvest
- Android Mobile
- Svchost.exe
- Brocoiner Coinhive
- Websock.exe
- Digmine Facebook Messenger
- CPU Miner (gw64.exe)
- CCminer.exe
- SiaCoin
- Bitcoinminer.sx
- Upup.exe
- WDF.EXE CryptoMiner Trojan
One of the latest crypto-mining cases reported regards the legitimate Synapse X program. An executable file called Synapse X.exe has been spotted to be acting oddly on computer systems by occupying more than 90% of the CPU/GPU usage for a long period of time. This, in turn, means that the process may be misused by malicious actors to abuse victims’ computer resources in order to transfer Dash, Monero, or another cryptocurrency directly to cybercriminals’ wallets.
How is BitCoin Infection Installed on a Computer?
At this point, it is not clear as to what the exact infection method of this mining malware is. However, it may appear on your computer as a result of executing multiple different types of miners previously executed on your computers, such as Trojans, Worms, and others. The methods of distribution and infection vary, but they may be conducted via:
- Malicious web links posted as a spam message online.
- Web links that exist in various forms, as fake buttons or altered banners on a website as a result of having a PUP on your computer.
- Via malicious e-mail spam attachment with a convincing message to open it.
As of recent months, new crypto miners have emerged out in the wild. The viruses are spread via multiple different methods. It is most likely that they are embedded on websites via malicious JavaScript code on the websites visited by victims.
BitCoin Miner Virus on Mac
Such threats have started to spread across various devices, including Macs, hence they are also referred to as Crypto Miner Mac threats. Some of the most recent Mac threats that perform cryptocurrency mining activities have been reported to be the following:
- OSX.CoinMiner Virus
- MacOS-AS
- Creative Update Mac
Mining infection is more widespread on Mac systems according to malware researchers and the recent AV-TEST. The reason behind it is that some of the higher-end Mac machines are equipped with powerful hardware, which the miners want to use the resources of, to mine for digital currency since last year.
More than 1,305 malware samples of the crypto mining on Mac category were detected by AV-TEST. Trojans and other threats, different from the malware showed fewer results in the samples infecting Apple computer systems.
How to Remove Bitcoin Miner Virus
The best practice to detect the malicious processes associated with mining malware that are running in the background of your computer is to automatically scan for them with a reliable anti-malware/anti-virus software. By doing this you will also be sure that these malicious objects will be removed safely, without taking the risk to damage critical Windows Components during a manual removal process. For more information and options on how to get rid of the mining malware follow the SensorsTechForu.com instructions below.
Ventsislav Krastev
Ventsislav is a cybersecurity expert at SensorsTechForum since 2015. He has been researching, covering, helping victims with the latest malware infections plus testing and reviewing software and the newest tech developments. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for learning new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management, Network Administration and Computer Administration of System Applications, he found his true calling within the cybersecrurity industry and is a strong believer in the education of every user towards online safety and security.
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Preparation before removing BitCoin Miner 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 BitCoin Miner Virus with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Clean any registries, created by BitCoin Miner 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 BitCoin Miner 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 BitCoin Miner 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.
BitCoin Miner Virus FAQ
What Does BitCoin Miner Virus Trojan Do?
The BitCoin Miner 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 BitCoin Miner 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 BitCoin Miner 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 BitCoin Miner 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 BitCoin Miner Virus Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this BitCoin Miner 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 BitCoin Miner 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 BitCoin Miner Virus threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by trojans, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.
Hello, It seems that i have caught a nasty BitCoin miner virus on my computer with a random name. It asks for admin permissions and says error messages, like “Access Denied”. If i try to delete it or stop the process it returns “owner currently unknown” message and doesn’t give me to eliminate it. Can you help?
My gpu randomly started running at 100% at idle and the only fix was resetting windows but that was temporary, then it started back at 100% use when doing anything like Chrome games, opening anything. Thanks to instructions here it seems to be gone now. Cool!