What is Wuapp.exe process? Is Wuapp.exe a virus or is it legitimate file? Why Wuapp.exe is running at 100% CPU?
New cryptocurrency miner infects user computers after which hijackers the legitimate wuapp.exe Windows Update process and uses it in order to mine for the cryptocurrency Monero. The virus makes sure that the victim’s computer is connected to a Monero mining pool and this results in the cryptocurrency being mined at the expense of the victim’s CPU and GPU resources. If your wuapp.exe process is ramping up the temperature of your GPU, there is a good chance that your PC may have been infected with the wuapp.exe miner malware. If this is the case, we advise you to read the following article.
Threat Summary
| Name | wuapp.exe Miner Virus |
| Type | Miner malware. |
| Short Description | Hijacks the Windows Update Service process in order to mine for the cryptocurrency Monero. |
| Symptoms | The wuapp.exe process running in the background with an elevated GPU usage and hightened temperature. |
| Distribution Method | Via malicious websites, malicious e-mails as well as other methods of replication. |
| Detection Tool |
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Wuapp.exe Miner Malware – Infection
In order to infect computers, the wuapp.exe miner does not target any computer in particular, but rather spreads via massive distribution tools, like spam bots that send web links online on forums or chats or files uploaded for free download online. Such files are often:
- Fake setups of a program you may be looking for.
- Key generators.
- Software license activators.
In addition to simply being uploaded passively online, the wuapp.exe miner may also contain various different types of files or infection scripts on URLs that can be spread via malicous spam e-mails that may be sent to you via spam bots, configured to make the spam e-mails appear very realistic and trustworthy, like the fake dropbox e-mail below, containing link to an external malicious site:
Wuapp.exe Miner Malware – More Information
As soon as the wuapp.exe malware has infected your computer, the virus may connect to a remote host and download it’s malicious payload. The payload may consist of more than one file and the files may be of the following file types:
→ .exe, .dll, .tmp, .bat, .vbs, .wsf, .js
As soon as the malicious files of wuapp.exe Monero miner have been downloaded, the virus may set a registry entry in the Run and RunOnce sub-keys of Windows which may result in the malware running automatically on Windows boot. The sub-keys have the following locations:
→ 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
After this has been done, the wuapp.exe monero miner may perform injection of malicious code within the legitimate Microsoft Windows process wuapp.exe, also known as the Windows Update process. The malicious code which is used by the miner malware is the following:
→ wuapp.exe –o pool.minexmr.com:4444 –u {wallet of the hacker} –p x –v 0 –t 2
This command activates the update service as an administrator after the wuapp.exe miner malware has already gained administrative privileges and makes the legitimate Windows Update file to connect to a mining pool via the port 4444 with the wallet ID of the cyber-criminal, who is behind the malware. This results in your computer immediately to begin calculating hashes and hence mine for the Monero cryptocurrency, which requires primarily power from your GPU (Graphics Processor). And since GPU usage is not visible via Task Manager, the process appears to look legitimate and not use a lot of the central processor while mining.
And while the hacker may not mine for a lot of the cryptocurrency from one infected computer, when he adds up hundreds of those, this makes a small mining farm(Figure 1) that generates an insane amount of Monero on his wallet, which is then anonymously sold on the exchanges and black markets. And all of this is done at the user’s expense and if the wuapp.exe miner malware remains on your computer for longer periods of time, it may even damage your video card after overheating it and overusing it.
Figure 1: How a mining operation works.
Remove Wuapp.exe Monero Miner from Your Computer
In order to make sure that the Wuapp.exe miner malware is completely gone from your computer system, it is strongly advisable that you follow the removal instructions, which we have prepared for Wuapp.exe miner down below. They are divided in manual removal instructions and automatic removal ones. If you lack experience in removing malware, like the wuapp.exe miner, which creates a lot of objects on your PC, experts recommend removing this malware, by using a specific malware removal software. Such will not only remove the wuapp.exe miner completely and automatically, but will also make sure that your GPU is safe from intrusive mining injectors in the future 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 wuapp.exe Miner Virus from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of wuapp.exe Miner Virus from Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove wuapp.exe Miner Virus from Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase wuapp.exe Miner Virus from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall wuapp.exe Miner Virus from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove wuapp.exe Miner Virus from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate wuapp.exe Miner Virus from Internet Explorer.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
How to Remove wuapp.exe Miner Virus from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove wuapp.exe Miner Virus
Step 2: Uninstall wuapp.exe Miner 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 wuapp.exe Miner 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 wuapp.exe Miner 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 wuapp.exe Miner Virus from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall wuapp.exe Miner 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 wuapp.exe Miner 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 wuapp.exe Miner Virus files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as wuapp.exe Miner 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 wuapp.exe Miner 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 wuapp.exe Miner 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 wuapp.exe Miner 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 wuapp.exe Miner 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 wuapp.exe Miner Virus will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Eliminate wuapp.exe Miner 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.
