This article aims to help you by explaining how to remove the WDF.exe CryptoMiner malware completely from your computer system and protect your CPU fin the future as well.
New minining malware has been reported by cyber-security experts. The virus is from the cryptocurrency mining kind, meaning that it uses the CPU of your computer system in order to mine for cryptocurrencies, like BitCoin or Monero. While WDF.exe pretends to be Windows Desktop Firewall, it is nothing like that and may use over 90% of your CPU, thus resulting in your computer slowing down in performance. In the event that you PC has been infected by WDF.exe miner malware we recommend that you read the following article in order to learn how to remove WDF.exe from your computer and restore your encrypted files
Threat Summary
| Name | WDF.exe |
| Type | Ransomware, Cryptovirus |
| Short Description | Aims to use your computer to mine for cryptocurrencies by using cryto mining software embedded in it. |
| Symptoms | Elevated CPU usage. Slow PC. Your computer may freeze at times. |
| Distribution Method | Comes from visiting malicious websites or via clicking on e-mail spam attachments or web links. |
| Detection Tool |
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss WDF.exe. |
WDF.exe Crypto Miner – How Does It Infect
The primary method which is used to infect computers with WDF.exe malware has been reported to be via malicious web links. Such may be advertised to you by having adware or other PUP installed on your computer. Furthermore, since mining malware has spread all across the globe, you may also encounter a JavaScript infection by simply visiting a website which has this JavaScript embedded in it. Such sites have so far been detected to be torrent sites, online vlogs, blogs and other forms of sites that are generally with low reputation rating.
Besides this, other methods of infection could also be a likely scenario. One of those is if you have opened a malicious e-mail spam attachment. Such attachments are primarily disguised as legitimate ones and their primary purpose is to convince the victim that they are important documents, like invoices, receipts and others.
In addition to those methods, you may also become a victim of the WDF.exe files virus if you open a fake setup, key generator, software license activator or other type of file disguised as a legitimate file.
WDF.exe Miner Virus – More Information
Once the WDF.exe malicious process is dropped on your computer after infection, it may be ran in the background of your Task Manager. The process Is not hidden, but it name resembles the Windows Desktop Firewall process. The difference here is that the original Windows Firewall does not take over 90% of your central processor all the time, so if you have seen this happen to you, it is likely caused by the WDF.exe miner malware.
Futhermore, since the WDF.exe malware may obtain administrative permissions on your computer, the virus may also perform different types of activities on your computer that may cause a lof of headaches to you, such as:
- Steal your passwords and login information.
- Steal any information about cryptocurrency account.
- Obtain network information about other computers on your network.
- Obtain your system information.
After the WDF.exe process has been ran, it may be configured to access a third-party host via an unsecured port from your computer. Then, the malware may transfer information from the site it has connected to and even update itself to remain undetected for as long as possible by any security software installed on your computer.
In addition to this, the malware, also connects to a mining pool, which is basically a network of many computers that mine for a cryptocurrency, like BitCoin for example. From there, it begins to use your computer in order to generate tokes for the wallet of the cyber-criminal who has infected your computer with it.
How to Remove WDF.exe Crypto Miner from Your Computer
In order to remove this cryptocurrency mining software from your PC, we recommend you to follow the removal instructions at the end of this article. They are divided in manual and automatic removal instructions and they aim to help you remove WDF.exe either manually or automatically from your computer. For maximum effectiveness during the removal process, experts strongly advise to use an advanced anti-malware software whose primary purpose is to scan for and detect all intrusions on your PC and secure it against future infections as well.
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.
Follow Me:
- Guide 1: How to Remove WDF.exe from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of WDF.exe from Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove WDF.exe from Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase WDF.exe from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall WDF.exe from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove WDF.exe from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate WDF.exe from Internet Explorer.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
How to Remove WDF.exe from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove WDF.exe
Step 2: Uninstall WDF.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 WDF.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 WDF.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 WDF.exe from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall WDF.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 WDF.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 WDF.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 WDF.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 WDF.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 WDF.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 WDF.exe will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Eliminate WDF.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.
