This article has been created in order to explain what is minerd.exe Cryptocurrency miner virus and how to remove it completely from your computer system.
Miner malware has seen quite the detection rate the last few months. The viruses have begin evolving and have newer and newer features added to them. Minerd.exe which is the process of a miner malware is not an exclusion to these series. The cryptocurrency miner malware aims to perform series of malicious activities, which result in overloading your CPU or GPU (or both) in order to generate cryptocurrency tokens for the cyber-criminals who are behind this nasty infection. In the event that your computer has been attacked by the Minerd.exe cryptocurrency miner, reccomendations are to read this article and learn how to remove this malware and restore your PC back to a working state.
Threat Summary
| Name | minerd.exe |
| Type | CryptoCurrency miner malware. |
| Short Description | Aims to mine for different cryptocrurencies, using your computer’s resources. |
| Symptoms | Your computer becomes slow, freezes at times and it’s cooling fans run constantly. The process minerd.exe may or may not be encountered in Windows Task Manager. |
| Distribution Method | Spam Emails, Email Attachments, Executable files |
| Detection Tool |
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss minerd.exe. |
Minerd.exe CryptoCurrency Miner – How Does It Infect
The minerd.exe miner Trojan uses the standard methods of propagation. The virus may be encountered as a fake type of file that may exist in the form of an executable. The fake files it may resemble are usually programs, games, installers of programs or game patches and cracks. The encountering of software license activators is also a possibility.
In addition to pretending to be a legitimate file that is uploaded on suspicious sites, the minerd.exe Trojan may also exist in other places, like as a fake document that may be sent to you by spammed e-mail messages like the following:
- Fake invoice.
- Receipt of an order.
- Fake order confirmation.
Minerd.exe Miner Trojan – Malicious Activity
The main activity of the minerd.exe Trojan is to drop it’s malicious files and activate them as an administrator on the victim’s computer after infecting it. The files may be located in the following Windows directories:
- %Temp%
- %Local%
- %AppData%
- %Roaming%
- %Windows%
- %LocalLow%
In additiont to this, the minerd.exe Trojan is also the type of threat that adds registry entries in the following Windows Registry sub-keys in order to elevate it’s privileges and run automatically on system boot:
→ 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
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Authentication\LogonUI\Background
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\ScreenSaveTimeOut
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
Furthermore, the minerd.exe ransomware virus may also begin to perform other activities on the computer of the victim, typical to any Trojan horse. Such include the following:
- Download updates of itself to stay undetected for longer periods of time.
- Control your internet connection.
- Sniff internet traffic.
- Take screenshots on your PC.
- Log your keystrokes.
- Steal your files.
- Obtain financial information.
- Copy your secret passwords and logins to websites.
The main purpose of the minerd.exe Trojan however is to connect your computer to a mining pool (the image below). Such mining pools are often created to make it possible that the computers infected by the attacker work together to calculate the so-called hashes. Such hashes are linked to the cryptocurrency wallet of the cyber-criminal who is behind minerd.exe miner and he or she generates tokens at the expense of the important resources on your computer. This may result in multiple negative consequences for your PC and besides bad performance it’s components may also break down if you let the minerd.exe virus remain on it for longer periods of time.
How to Remove minerd.exe CryptoCurrency Miner
In order to fully erase this cryptocurrency miner malware, it is recommended to follow either the manual or the automatic removal instructions below. In case you lack the experience in manually removing amlware, like the minerd.exe virus, experts advise doing so automatically by downloading and installing an advanced anti-malware software. Such is guaranteed to scan your PC and get rid of any malware and malicious objects plus protect it against future infections from the likes of minerd.exe virus.
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 minerd.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 minerd.exe with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Clean any registries, created by minerd.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 minerd.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 minerd.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.
minerd.exe FAQ
What Does minerd.exe Trojan Do?
The minerd.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 minerd.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 minerd.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 factory reset.
Can minerd.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 minerd.exe Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this minerd.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 minerd.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 minerd.exe threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by trojans, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.