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 | See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware Download Malware Removal Tool | 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 has been covering the latest malware, software and newest tech developments at SensorsTechForum for 3 years now. He started out as a network administrator. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for discovery of new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management and then Network Administration, he found his passion within cybersecrurity and is a strong believer in basic education of every user towards online safety.
Follow Me:
- Guide 1: How to Remove minerd.exe from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of minerd.exe from Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove minerd.exe from Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase minerd.exe from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall minerd.exe from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove minerd.exe from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate minerd.exe from Internet Explorer.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
How to Remove minerd.exe from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove minerd.exe
Step 2: Uninstall minerd.exe and related software from Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps that should be able to uninstall most programs. No matter if you are using Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program are left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, errors with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.Step 3: 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.Before starting "Step 4", please boot back into Normal mode, in case you are currently in Safe Mode.
This will enable you to install and use SpyHunter 5 successfully.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Get rid of minerd.exe from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall minerd.exe and remove related files and objects
1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:
- Go to Finder.
- In the search bar type the name of the app that you want to remove.
- Above the search bar change the two drop down menus to “System Files” and “Are Included” so that you can see all of the files associated with the application you want to remove. Bear in mind that some of the files may not be related to the app so be very careful which files you delete.
- If all of the files are related, hold the ⌘+A buttons to select them and then drive them to “Trash”.
In case you cannot remove minerd.exe via Step 1 above:
In case you cannot find the virus files and objects in your Applications or other places we have shown above, you can manually look for them in the Libraries of your Mac. But before doing this, please read the disclaimer below:
You can repeat the same procedure with the following other Library directories:
→ ~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Tip: ~ is there on purpose, because it leads to more LaunchAgents.
Step 2: Scan for and remove malware from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts, programs and malware, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. Combo Cleaner offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove minerd.exe from Google Chrome.
Step 1: Start Google Chrome and open the drop menu
Step 2: Move the cursor over "Tools" and then from the extended menu choose "Extensions"
Step 3: From the opened "Extensions" menu locate the unwanted extension and click on its "Remove" button.
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Google Chrome by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Erase minerd.exe from Mozilla Firefox.
Step 1: Start Mozilla Firefox. Open the menu window
Step 2: Select the "Add-ons" icon from the menu.
Step 3: Select the unwanted extension and click "Remove"
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Uninstall minerd.exe from Microsoft Edge.
Step 1: Start Edge browser.
Step 2: Open the drop menu by clicking on the icon at the top right corner.
Step 3: From the drop menu select "Extensions".
Step 4: Choose the suspected malicious extension you want to remove and then click on the gear icon.
Step 5: Remove the malicious extension by scrolling down and then clicking on Uninstall.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove minerd.exe from Safari.
Step 1: Start the Safari app.
Step 2: After hovering your mouse cursor to the top of the screen, click on the Safari text to open its drop down menu.
Step 3: From the menu, click on "Preferences".
Step 4: After that, select the 'Extensions' Tab.
Step 5: Click once on the extension you want to remove.
Step 6: Click 'Uninstall'.
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall the extension. Select 'Uninstall' again, and the minerd.exe will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Eliminate minerd.exe from Internet Explorer.
Step 1: Start Internet Explorer.
Step 2: Click on the gear icon labeled 'Tools' to open the drop menu and select 'Manage Add-ons'
Step 3: In the 'Manage Add-ons' window.
Step 4: Select the extension you want to remove and then click 'Disable'. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected extension, and some more add-ons might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click 'Disable'.
Step 5: After the unwanted extension has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red 'X' button located at the top right corner and start it again.
