The following article will help you remove the Marlin.exe cryptocurrency (coin) miner which uses users’ GPUs to mine for an altcoin – SiaCoin. Once the miner is installed on a victim’s system in the form of a Trojan, the victim will have their GPU’s processor abused for mining purposes. As a result of the Marlin.exe process running in the backgrounds of the infected system, the victim will have the entire GPU’s processing power of their machine used for cryptocurrency mining. This may lead to various other outcomes.It belongs to the so-called BitCoin miner virus type of threats. Continue reading to learn what to do in case of an infection with the Marlin.exe coin miner and how то remove it entirely.
Threat Summary
| Name | Marlin.exe |
| Type | Miner Trojan |
| Short Description | Mining for SiaCoin cryptocurrency at the expense of the victim’s computer. |
| Symptoms | Excessive GPU usage; marlins.exe will be running in the task manager. |
| Distribution Method | Via bundled installers, fake setups or via other PUP that has already been installed on your PC. |
| Detection Tool |
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss Marlin.exe. |
Marlin.exe Trojan Miner – Distribution Techniques
Q: How Did Marlin.exe Enter My System?
A: If you have noticed high GPU usage coming from the Marlin.exe process, note that your system has been infected with a cryptocurrency Trojan miner. One of the most common distribution methods for cryptocurrency miners is via spam delivered to your email inbox. These spam messages usually contain malware-carrying email attachments that prompt you to enable macros. Hence, you should be extremely careful with emails that are luring you into downloading attachments. Watch out for the following extensions:
.docm, .vbs, .wsf, .js, .exe
Also keep in mind that the Marlin.exe cryptocurrency miner may have infiltrated your system via compromised web pages deployed for malvertising campaigns.
However, these are not the only ways that the Marlin.exe Trojan miner may have entered your system. Since this is a Trojan infection, the miner may have been bundled in torrent downloads. This means that you may have downloaded it alongside some other program unknowingly. Be careful with torrent websites as they often carry malware infections to unsuspecting users. One of the best ways to protect your operating system is by employing powerful anti-malware protection.
In a nutshell, this cryptocurrency miner may have entered your computer via:
- Malicious web links posted as spam messages.
- Web links that exist in various forms, e.g. buttons or banners on a website as a result of having a potentially unwanted program running on your computer.
Malicious e-mail attachments containing a tricky message pushing you to open it.- Malicious torrents, freeware bundles
Marlin.exe Trojan Miner – Malicious Activities
Q: What Symptoms Will My PC Have If Infected with Marlin.exe Miner?
A: Look for excessive GPU usage. This excessive usage of GPU processing power will have your graphics card run at very hot temperatures for lengthy periods of time. Besides that, there are other symptoms that will point to an infection with the Marlin.exe coin miner.
The symptoms are the following:
- A process named marlins.exe will be running in the task manager of an infected system. As a result, the GPU will be affected.
- Another process will also be present in the task manager – VMProtectks.exe – which will have a _Kill_ description.
- Overall worsened performance of the graphics card and the computer itself.
Other Symptoms of the Marlin.exe Trojan Miner Infection
After infection, the Marlin.exe will drop its payload which may consist of multiple files residing in the following Windows directories:
%AppData%
%Local%
%Roaming%
%Temp%
In addition, the Marlin.exe miner malware may also add several different registry entries in the following Windows Registry sub-keys:
→ HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\
HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\INTERNET ACCOUNT MANAGER\ACCOUNTS\
HKCU\IDENTITIES\
HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\OFFICE\OUTLOOK\OMI ACCOUNT MANAGER\ACCOUNTS
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
Once the alterations above are done, the Marlin.exe miner may connect your computer to a mining pool.
Marlin.exe Trojan Miner – Removal Guide
Q: What Should I Do to Remove All Traces of Marlin.Exe?
A: Before proceeding with the removal of this threat, keep in mind that the Marlin.exe coin miner is a persistent threat that may remain on your system for undefined periods of time, unless you pay close attention to the symptoms described in the article above. Considering the type of the threat carried by the Marlin.exe process, it is highly recommended to use an anti-malware tool to detect and remove the miner and all associated files completely, with no leftovers. In addition, such a program will continue to guard your system against the various malware threats lurking online.
Nonetheless, if you feel confident enough, you can also follow the manual removal steps also provided in the removal guide below.
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Preparation before removing Marlin.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 Marlin.exe with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Clean any registries, created by Marlin.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 Marlin.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 Marlin.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.
Marlin.exe FAQ
What Does Marlin.exe Trojan Do?
The Marlin.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 Marlin.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 Marlin.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 Marlin.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 Marlin.exe Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Marlin.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 Marlin.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 Marlin.exe threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by trojans, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.