Tsetso Mihailov is a tech-geek and loves everything that is tech-related, while observing the latest news surrounding technologies. He has worked in IT before, as a system administrator and a computer repair technician. Dealing with malware since his teens, he is determined to spread word about the latest threats revolving around computer security.
Tsetso Mihailov is a tech-geek and loves everything that is tech-related, while observing the latest news surrounding technologies. He has worked in IT before, as a system administrator and a computer repair technician. Dealing with malware since his teens, he is determined to spread word about the latest threats revolving around computer security.
Tsetso Mihailov is a tech-geek and loves everything that is tech-related, while observing the latest news surrounding technologies. He has worked in IT before, as a system administrator and a computer repair technician. Dealing with malware since his teens, he is determined to spread word about the latest threats revolving around computer security.
Note! Your computer might be affected by CoinCube and other threats.
Threats such as CoinCube may be persistent on your system. They tend to re-appear if not fully deleted. A malware removal tool like SpyHunter will help you to remove malicious programs, saving you the time and the struggle of tracking down numerous malicious files. SpyHunter’s scanner is free but the paid version is needed to remove the malware threats. Read SpyHunter’s EULA and Privacy Policy
Tsetso Mihailov is a tech-geek and loves everything that is tech-related, while observing the latest news surrounding technologies. He has worked in IT before, as a system administrator and a computer repair technician. Dealing with malware since his teens, he is determined to spread word about the latest threats revolving around computer security.
This article will help you to see what is CoinCube, and how to remove it completely from your computer. You can follow the removal instructions for the related malware given at the end of the article.
CoinCube is the name of a cryptojacking miner script. The miner script is delivered with various malware applications, including the adware bundle called “FileTour”. That malicious script is designed to mine cryptocurrency for somebody or do even worse things to your computer. If you have the CoinCube related malware, it will use a lot of your computer’s resources, mainly from your computer’s CPU, so you are advised to remove it.
Threat Summary
Name
CoinCube
Type
Cryptojacking, Miner Malware, Script
Short Description
The CoinCube is a cryptocurrency miner, that can appear on your computer through malware such as the “FileTour” adware bundle.
Symptoms
You will see a rise in the usage of your computer’s resources, especially in CPU usage, while your computer will accordingly consume more electricity and may overheat over time.
The CoinCube malware can spread in a few ways. Third-party installer setups could have put a Trojan horse on your computer system via bundling. These installations typically arrive with freeware and application packages. CoinCube is known to spread via some adware bundles, such as the “FileTour” one. Without your knowledge, additive content could be installed to your computer, which could execute a JavaScript file that can act as a cryptojacker. Avoiding such applications being inserted is possible if you find Custom or Advanced settings in the installation setup.
CoinCube can also spread if you come across unknown websites through redirects and advertisements which have some sort of scripts in themselves and load them when you visit a site or click on an advert. Pop-ups, pop-unders, as well as banners could have links inside of them that can redirect you. When visiting such websites, especially with an unknown origin, they could inject the malware inside your computer device. That can happen via any browser.
CoinCube – In-Depth Information
CoinCube is the name of a cryptojacking miner script. The miner script is delivered with various malware applications, including the adware bundle called “FileTour”. FileTour in itself is a cracks or cheats for games and other software. It is unconfirmed but possible that the bundle also has a password-stealing Trojan implemented with it.
The adware creates an autorun script inside Windows which automatically launches the Google Chrome browser and connects to an in-browser mining page when any user logs into Windows. The launched cryptomining page in Chrome is also invisible.
The launch command can be seen in Chrome’s properties as seen below:
This is how the related CoinCube website page looks like if you load it yourself:
CoinCube will try tricking victims into thinking that it is the harmless CloudFlare service loading.
The command connects to the URL address seen on the image above, via remote debugging on port 9222, without GPU (video card) acceleration.
Some users have indicated that the CoinCube script that loads is indeed intended as a cryptojacking miner script. Although the malware tries to deceive users with a captcha form that looks identical with the CloudFlare one if they visit the URL address, doing the captcha does not do anything. On top of that, victims report that they see a 70% to 97% spike in CPU usage from that single Chrome tab as displayed in the screenshot down here:
The CoinCube malware is highly likely to add some more components that will help it to achieve its goals to maximum effectiveness. Thus, after it being executed on the system, it may establish a remote connection to a command and control server where all other malicious files are available such as an information-stealing Trojan. There are some essential Windows folders in which the malicious files can be dropped:
%AppData%
%Local%
%LocalLow%
%Roaming%
%Temp%
The following registry key entry might be present on your computer system:
The entry listed above will make the miner to launch with every restart or boot of your computer device. Below you can see some useful tips that can help you to prevent similar miner malware to install onto your personal computer, in the future:
Run programs inside a sandbox environment
Install an advanced anti-malware protection
Update your mostly-used programs and software in general
Update your OS with security updates
Install an ad-blocker application
Be wary around your e-mails and don’t open them unless you know the source
Disable macros in Microsoft Office Applications
Disable JavaScript
Keep your firewall ON
It is highly recommended that you remove this threat, because with the CoinCube malware being active you might degrade your system’s lifespan. Not to mention that this might cause your computer to overheat and crash.
Remove CoinCube Cryptojacking Miner Completely
To remove CoinCube manually from your computer, follow the step-by-step removal tutorial written down below. In case this manual removal does not get rid of the miner malware completely, you should search for and remove any leftover items with an advanced anti-malware tool. Such software can keep your computer secure in the future.
Note! Your computer system may be affected by CoinCube and other threats. Scan Your PC with SpyHunter SpyHunter is a powerful malware removal tool designed to help users with in-depth system security analysis, detection and removal of threats such as CoinCube. Keep in mind, that SpyHunter’s scanner is only for malware detection. If SpyHunter detects malware on your PC, you will need to purchase SpyHunter’s malware removal tool to remove the malware threats. Read our SpyHunter 5 review. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter’s EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria.
To remove CoinCube follow these steps:
1. Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove CoinCube files and objects
OFFER
Manual Removal Usually Takes Time and You Risk Damaging Your Files If Not Careful!
We Recommend To Scan Your PC with SpyHunter
Keep in mind, that SpyHunter’s scanner is only for malware detection. If SpyHunter detects malware on your PC, you will need to purchase SpyHunter’s malware removal tool to remove the malware threats. Read our SpyHunter 5 review. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter’s EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria
Boot Your PC Into Safe Mode
1. For Windows XP, Vista and 7. 2. For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10. Fix registry entries created by malware and PUPs on your PC.
For Windows XP, Vista and 7 systems:
1. Remove all CDs and DVDs, and then Restart your PC from the “Start” menu. 2. Select one of the two options provided below:
– For PCs with a single operating system: Press “F8” repeatedly after the first boot screen shows up during the restart of your computer. In case the Windows logo appears on the screen, you have to repeat the same task again.
– For PCs with multiple operating systems: Тhe arrow keys will help you select the operating system you prefer to start in Safe Mode. Press “F8” just as described for a single operating system.
3. As the “Advanced Boot Options” screen appears, select the Safe Mode option you want using the arrow keys. As you make your selection, press “Enter“.
4. Log on to your computer using your administrator account
While your computer is in Safe Mode, the words “Safe Mode” will appear in all four corners of your screen.
Step 1: Open up the Start Menu.
Step 2: Click on the Power button (for Windows 8 it is the little arrow next to the “Shut Down” button) and whilst holding down “Shift” click on Restart.
Step 3: After reboot, a blue menu with options will appear. From them you should choose Troubleshoot.
Step 4: You will see the Troubleshoot menu. From this menu choose Advanced Options.
Step 5: After the Advanced Options menu appears, click on Startup Settings.
Step 6: From the Startup Settings menu, click on Restart.
Step 7: A menu will appear upon reboot. You can choose any of the three Safe Mode options by pressing its corresponding number and the machine will restart.
Some malicious scripts may modify the registry entries on your computer to change different settings. This is why cleaning your Windows Registry Database is recommended. Since the tutorial on how to do this is a bit long and tampering with registries could damage your computer if not done properly you should refer and follow our instructive article about fixing registry entries, especially if you are unexperienced in that area.
2. Find files created by CoinCube on your PC
Find files created by CoinCube
1. For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10. 2. For Windows XP, Vista, and 7.
For Newer Windows Operating Systems
Step 1:
On your keyboard press + R and write explorer.exe in the Run text box and then click on the Ok button.
Step 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.
Step 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 navination box to fill up in case the PC is looking for the file and hasn’t found it yet.
For Older Windows Operating Systems
In older Windows OS’s the conventional approach should be the effective one:
Step 1:
Click on the Start Menu icon (usually on your bottom-left) and then choose the Search preference.
Step 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.
Step 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.
Use SpyHunter to scan for malware and unwanted programs
3. Scan for malware and unwanted programs with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Scan your PC and Remove CoinCube with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool and back up your data
1. Install SpyHunter to scan for CoinCube and remove them.2. Scan with SpyHunter, Detect and Remove CoinCube. Back up your data to secure it from malware in the future.
Step 1: Click on the “Download” button to proceed to SpyHunter’s download page.
It is recommended to run a scan before purchasing the full version of the software to make sure that the current version of the malware can be detected by SpyHunter. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter’s EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria.
Step 2: Guide yourself by the download instructions provided for each browser.
Step 3: After you have installed SpyHunter, wait for it to update automatically.
Step 1: After the update process has finished, click on the ‘Malware/PC Scan’ tab. A new window will appear. Click on ‘Start Scan’.
Step 2: After SpyHunter has finished scanning your PC for any files of the associated threat and found them, you can try to get them removed automatically and permanently by clicking on the ‘Next’ button.
Step 3: If any threats have been removed, it is highly recommended to restart your PC.
Back up your data to secure it against attacks in the future
IMPORTANT! Before reading the Windows backup instructions, we highly recommend to back up your data with a cloud backup solution and insure your files against any type of loss, even from the most severe threats. We recommend you to read more about it and to download SOS Online Backup.
Tsetso Mihailov is a tech-geek and loves everything that is tech-related, while observing the latest news surrounding technologies. He has worked in IT before, as a system administrator and a computer repair technician. Dealing with malware since his teens, he is determined to spread word about the latest threats revolving around computer security.
Tsetso Mihailov is a tech-geek and loves everything that is tech-related, while observing the latest news surrounding technologies. He has worked in IT before, as a system administrator and a computer repair technician. Dealing with malware since his teens, he is determined to spread word about the latest threats revolving around computer security.
1. For Windows XP, Vista and 7.
2. For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10.
Fix registry entries created by malware and PUPs on your PC.
1. Install SpyHunter to scan for CoinCube and remove them.
Back up your data to secure it from malware in the future.
