This article has been created in order to explain what is the WmiPrvSE.exe cryptocurrency miner and how to detect and remove it completely from your computer system.
A new cryptocurrency mining malware has been reported to take advantage of a fake process, named WmiPrvSE.exe in order to mine for cryptocurrencies on the victim’s computer. While the original WmiPrvSE.exe process is a Windows® Management Instrumentation component, the malware uses the name as a pretext to conduct it’s malicious operations. This happens by running the process in the background and using heavily the CPU and GPU resources of the victim’s computer system. This may result in your computer to overheat and if the virus remains on it for longer periods of time, several of your PC’s important components may break down. If you have detected the wmiprfvse.exe on your computer system, it is strongly advisable to read the following article and learn how to remove it plus restore your computer back to normal working state.
Threat Summary
| Name | WmiPrvSE.exe Virus |
| Type | CryptoCurrency miner program. |
| Short Description | Aims to mine for various cryptocurrencies at the expense of the victim’s computer resources. |
| Symptoms | General slowing down of the computer’s performance. The PC may even freeze at times. Wmiprvse.exe runs in the background. |
| Distribution Method | Via bundled installers, fake setups or via other PUP that has already been installed on your PC. |
| Detection Tool |
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WmiPrvSE.exe Miner – How to Detect and Remove It from your computer
The WmiPrvSE.exe miner may create multiple different files in the following Windows directories:
- %AppData%
- %Local%
- %LocalLow%
- %Roaming%
- %Windows%
- %Temp%
In addition to this, the WmiPrvSE.exe cryptocurrency miner may also create various objects in the following Windows Registry entries that may point out the actual location of the files:
→ 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 malware may run an active process, WmiPrvSE.exe which only pretends to be a legitimate one. The process runs in the background in Windows Task Manager, similar to what the image below displays:
You can start by stopping the miner process in order to normalize the functioning of your computer system. But make sure it is the fake process, since the original one is ran under the user name SYSTEM. So if this one is not ran via SYSTEM, it is likely to be the malicious one. The process stopping can happen if you right-click on it via the Windows Task Manager and then click on End Process. If that does not work, you can end it by ending the process tree. If you want to find the location of the file, you can right-click on it, before you end it as a process and then click on Open File location. After you stop it as a process, you can go ahead and delete the executable itself to stop the virus from functioning.
Then, you can go ahead and follow the removal instructions down below to remove the rest of the WmiPrvSE.exe miner‘s malicious files and objects. The instruction steps are divided in manual and automatic removal methods below and we recommend following the manual removal only if you have experience with malware removal and can feel confident that you will remove all of the files and objects completely. Otherwise, it is strongly advisable to remove this malware automatically, as experts would suggest by downloading an advanced anti-malware software. Such will automatically scan for and remove all the malicious objects of the WmiPrvSE.exe cryptocurrency miner on your computer and make sure other malware which may be downloaded is also gone as well and your system stays protected against future infections.
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.
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- Guide 1: How to Remove WmiPrvSE.exe Virus from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of WmiPrvSE.exe Virus from Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove WmiPrvSE.exe Virus from Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase WmiPrvSE.exe Virus from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall WmiPrvSE.exe Virus from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove WmiPrvSE.exe Virus from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate WmiPrvSE.exe Virus from Internet Explorer.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
How to Remove WmiPrvSE.exe Virus from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove WmiPrvSE.exe Virus
Step 2: Uninstall WmiPrvSE.exe Virus 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 WmiPrvSE.exe Virus 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 WmiPrvSE.exe Virus 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 WmiPrvSE.exe Virus from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall WmiPrvSE.exe Virus 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 WmiPrvSE.exe Virus 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 WmiPrvSE.exe Virus files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as WmiPrvSE.exe Virus, 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 WmiPrvSE.exe Virus 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 WmiPrvSE.exe Virus 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 WmiPrvSE.exe Virus 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 WmiPrvSE.exe Virus 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 WmiPrvSE.exe Virus will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Eliminate WmiPrvSE.exe Virus 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.
