This article provides information how cpuminer-x86.exe miner virus infects the PC and a guide that shows how to remove cpuminer-x86.exe miner from the system.
Cpuminer-x86.exe is a cryptocurrency miner malware that infects computer systems worldwide. It is designed to use system resources and mine one or more cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Monero. The infection may be triggered by a Trojan Horse installed on the computer. Once the Trojan executes the miner, it will utilize the CPU and GPU power that may irreversibly damage them. In case that you notice the mining process Cpuminer-x86.exe running on your computer, it is recommended to remove it immediately.
Threat Summary
| Name | cpuminer-x86.exe |
| Type | Miner Trojan Horse |
| Short Description | Aims to use the resources of your computer to mine for cryptocurrencies at your CPU’s or GPU’s expense. |
| Symptoms | After infection the miner elevates the CPU and GPU usage to up to 100% which cause PC overheating and misbehaving. |
| Distribution Method | Via malicious e-mail spam attachments or fake files uploaded online. |
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cpuminer-x86.exe Miner – Distribution Methods
There are several ways for distribution of cryptocurrency mining viruses like cpuminer-x86.exe. The most preferred method appears to be via other malware such as Trojans, injectors, worms and malicious JavaScrips.
These infections are usually sent to you as an e-mail that pretends to deliver valuable information from banking institutions, online stores, popular websites, and other legitimate organizations. The text messages may be trying to convince you that you should download a file attachment that contains the malware code. Except corrupted file attachments malicious intenders might inject the malicious miner script into a web page and then post the link in the e-mail message.
The Cpuminer-x86.exe miner malware may enter your computer via deceptive buttons, banners and sites generated in your browser after the installation of a potentially unwanted program or via fake setups.
cpuminer-x86.exe Miner – More Details
Once the infection file that contains the cryptocurrency miner virus cpuminer-x86.exe is running on the system, it may drop additional data needed for the mining process. There are several folders where the files may be located, and they are:
After the malware arms with all necessary components, it initiates a sequence of malicious actions to fulfill the attack. First, it may access the Windows Registry Editor to add registry entries that ensure its persistence on the system. Usually, the process cpuminer-x86.exe is set to run automatically on each Windows load due to modification of the Run and RunOnce registry sub-keys.
As the miner virus may act like a typical Trojan Horse after infection it may install a keylogger to track your keystrokes and send screenshots of your desktop to hackers in real time. Furthermore, the malware may be designed to steal your files, obtain your passwords and browser logins and gather information about all devices connected to the same network so it can easily infect them.
However, the primary aim of Cpuminer-x86.exe is to connect your computer to a cryptocurrency mining pool and utilize its resources to mine one or more cryptocurrencies for its developers. As a result, you may notice that the CPU or the GPU of the computer are overheating which in long term can cause them permanent damage.
Remove cpuminer-x86.exe Miner Virus from Your Computer
The removal of the destructive process cpuminer-x86.exe is possible either manually or automatically. Both approaches are listed in the step-by-step instructions below. Have in mind that cpuminer-x86.exe is a persistent threat that may keep appearing after the manual removal. Security experts recommend the help of advanced anti-malware tool as it provides maximum efficiency and complete removal of all malicious components associated with the cpuminer-x86.exe miner virus. What’s more it will protect your system from nasty infections like cpuminer-x86.exe in future.
Gergana Ivanova
Gergana has a bachelor's degree in Marketing. She has been with the STF team for five years, researching malware, reporting on the latest computer infections, and following digital marketing trends.
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- Guide 1: How to Remove cpuminer-x86.exe from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of cpuminer-x86.exe from Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove cpuminer-x86.exe from Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase cpuminer-x86.exe from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall cpuminer-x86.exe from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove cpuminer-x86.exe from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate cpuminer-x86.exe from Internet Explorer.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
How to Remove cpuminer-x86.exe from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove cpuminer-x86.exe
Step 2: Uninstall cpuminer-x86.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 cpuminer-x86.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 cpuminer-x86.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 cpuminer-x86.exe from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall cpuminer-x86.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 cpuminer-x86.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 cpuminer-x86.exe files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as cpuminer-x86.exe, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. SpyHunter for Mac 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 cpuminer-x86.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 cpuminer-x86.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 cpuminer-x86.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 cpuminer-x86.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 cpuminer-x86.exe will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Eliminate cpuminer-x86.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.
