This article has been created in order to help explain what is the hostXmrig.exe CPU miner malware and how to remove it and prevent it from mining for cryptocurrencies on your computer system.
New cryptocurrency miner malware which uses the executable hostXmrig.exe to mine for cryptocurrencies has been identified by security experts. The cryptocurrency miner aims to use the resources of your computer, primarily the CPU and GPU power in order to calculate the so called hashes, which add up to generate cryptocurrency tokens. The main two cryptocurrencies which hostXmrig.exe could mine for are known as BitCoin and Monero at the time of writing this, since they are anonymous. If you want to remove the hostXmrig.exe malware from your computer in the event that you believe your PC has been infected, reccomendations are to read this article.
Threat Summary
| Name | hostXmrig.exe |
| Type | CryptoCurrency Miner |
| Short Description | Aims to infect your computer and use it’s CPU, GPU and other resources to turn it into a miner for cryptocurrencies. |
| Symptoms | Hightened CPU and GPU usage and overheating. The victim PC may break if this virus mines for longer periods of time. |
| Distribution Method | Spam Emails, Email Attachments, Executable files |
| Detection Tool |
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss hostXmrig.exe. |
hostXmrig.exe –
Infection
Being a typical miner malware, that is associated with a Trojan Horse infection, the process of infecting computers used by hostXmrig.exe is performed via series of exploits for Windows that may be used by malware authors to spread the virus itself. Those exploits are usually contained in an infection file which is spread via a multitude of ways, including via:
- E-mail.
- Malicious websites.
- Spammed web links on social media.
- Facebook Messenger and other type of online chat software.
The most often used method among all is the conventional infection via e-mail spam messages. Such e-mails often pretend to come from a legitimate vendor, like PayPal, DHL, Fed Ex, etc, and they often contain messages within them that aim to get the vicitm to open the malicious attachment. The attachment is often in a .zip or .rar file and may pose as:
- Order confirmation.
- Receipt for purchase that the victim hasn’t made.
- Banking statement.
- Other types of important documents.
In the event that you want to prevent future infections, you should always update your Windows plus disable some services which are known to have exploits that are used to infect your computer.
hostXmrig.exe Miner – More Information
After your computer has become infected by the hostXmrig.exe miner, it may begin to experience interruptions, slow-downs, system freezes and other types of anomalous occurrences. These are primarily due to the fact that two files are dropped on your computer that are automatically ran in the background of your PC:
- %AppData%\hostXmrig.exe
- %AppData%\NsCpuCNMiner.exe
After the payload of the hostXmrig.exe miner malware is dropped on your computer, the virus may begin to perform various of unwanted activities, beginning with connecting your computer to a mining pool. This results in you being connected to the account of the cyber-criminals who are behind the infection. This may immediately result in your computer beggining to experience performance issues, due to insufficient CPU and GPU power, because most of it is taken by the miners. While the hostXmrig.exe may mine for cryptocurrencies that are minable via a GPU card, the NsCpuCNMiner may use the CPU to try and mine for other cryptocurrencies from the likes of BitCoin, that are only mineable, using CPU power.
In addition to performing it’s mining operations, which may not only slow down your PC, but may also break it’s components, if the virus stays on it for longer periods of time, the malware may also perform other malicious activities. Since it’s partially a Trojan horse, the hostXmrig.exe miner may also:
- Log your keystrokes.
- Obtain vital financial information on your computer.
- Steal passwords, login credentials.
- Steal your files.
- Self-update and migrate to other processes, only tricking you that you have deleted it to remain persistent.
How to Detect and Remove hostXmrig.exe Miner
In order to fully detect and get rid of this malicious software, recommendations are that you focus on following the removal instructions which we have created down below. They are specifically divided in manual and automatic removal manuals so that if you lack the experience in removing hostXmrig.exe manually and it reappears, you may solve the issue automatically. In addition to this, malware researchers strongly recommend that you focus on removing hostXmrig.exe miner automatically to fully delete this virus with maximum effectiveness plus protect your PC against future infections as well.
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 hostXmrig.exe.
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 hostXmrig.exe with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Clean any registries, created by hostXmrig.exe 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 hostXmrig.exe 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 hostXmrig.exe 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.
hostXmrig.exe FAQ
What Does hostXmrig.exe Trojan Do?
The hostXmrig.exe 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 hostXmrig.exe, 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 hostXmrig.exe 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 hostXmrig.exe 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 hostXmrig.exe Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this hostXmrig.exe 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 hostXmrig.exe?
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 hostXmrig.exe threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by trojans, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.