Gergana has completed a bachelor degree in Marketing from the University of National and World Economy. She has been with the STF team for three years, researching malware and reporting on the latest infections. She believes that in times of constantly evolving dependency of network connected technologies, people should spread the word not the war.
Gergana has completed a bachelor degree in Marketing from the University of National and World Economy. She has been with the STF team for three years, researching malware and reporting on the latest infections. She believes that in times of constantly evolving dependency of network connected technologies, people should spread the word not the war.
Gergana has completed a bachelor degree in Marketing from the University of National and World Economy. She has been with the STF team for three years, researching malware and reporting on the latest infections. She believes that in times of constantly evolving dependency of network connected technologies, people should spread the word not the war.
Note! Your computer might be affected by cpuminer-x86.exe and other threats.
Threats such as cpuminer-x86.exe 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
Gergana has completed a bachelor degree in Marketing from the University of National and World Economy. She has been with the STF team for three years, researching malware and reporting on the latest infections. She believes that in times of constantly evolving dependency of network connected technologies, people should spread the word not the war.
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.
Detection Tool
See If Your System Has Been Affected by cpuminer-x86.exe
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.
Note! Your computer system may be affected by cpuminer-x86.exe 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 cpuminer-x86.exe. 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 cpuminer-x86.exe follow these steps:
1. Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove cpuminer-x86.exe 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 cpuminer-x86.exe on your PC
Find files created by cpuminer-x86.exe
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 cpuminer-x86.exe with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool and back up your data
1. Install SpyHunter to scan for cpuminer-x86.exe and remove them.2. Scan with SpyHunter, Detect and Remove cpuminer-x86.exe. 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.
Gergana has completed a bachelor degree in Marketing from the University of National and World Economy. She has been with the STF team for three years, researching malware and reporting on the latest infections. She believes that in times of constantly evolving dependency of network connected technologies, people should spread the word not the war.
Gergana has completed a bachelor degree in Marketing from the University of National and World Economy. She has been with the STF team for three years, researching malware and reporting on the latest infections. She believes that in times of constantly evolving dependency of network connected technologies, people should spread the word not the war.
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 cpuminer-x86.exe and remove them.
Back up your data to secure it from malware in the future.
