I've noticed that many people encounter the problem of hidden mining on their computers but don't always understand what the core issue is. Here's what's happening: malicious programs use your PC's processing power to mine cryptocurrency in the background, and you're unaware of it.

These viruses belong to the Trojan group and infiltrate the system unnoticed. There are two main types of such threats. The first is cryptojacking embedded directly into the website code. When you visit an infected page, the script activates, and your computer starts mining. Antivirus cannot remove what's on the website's server. The second type is a classic virus file that installs secretly and runs every time the PC is turned on.

Why is this situation dangerous? First, your passwords could be compromised, and data stolen. Second, the hardware is working at its limit: the graphics card and processor overheat and wear out quickly. Laptops are especially affected—they can fail after just a few hours of background mining.

How to tell if your PC is infected? Watch for these signs: the graphics card starts making loud noises and becomes hot, the computer runs noticeably slower, the CPU usage is 60% or higher, memory and internet traffic increase, the browser slows down, and processes with unclear names like asikadl.exe appear in the task manager.

Now, about how to find a miner on your PC yourself. The first step is to run a full antivirus scan. After that, use a program like CCleaner or an equivalent to clean up leftover junk. Then restart your computer.

If the antivirus didn't help, proceed to manual search. Open the registry: press Win+R, type regedit, and click OK. Then use Ctrl+F to search for suspicious processes. These processes often have names made of random characters.

Another method is to check the Task Scheduler. Press Win+R, type taskschd.msc. In the scheduler library, look at which tasks run automatically when you turn on your PC. If you find anything suspicious, disable that task by right-clicking it. This won't delete the virus but will stop its operation. Then check CPU load—if it normalized, you're on the right track.

For deeper analysis, use the free program AnVir Task Manager—it checks startup items. If you need serious disinfection, download Dr. Web for a thorough system scan. It's best to create a backup before deleting anything.

How to find a miner on your PC and protect yourself in the future? Here's what I recommend: install a clean Windows image and restore it every 2-3 months if you suspect infection. Regularly update antivirus databases. Before downloading files, verify the program's information. Scan all downloaded files with antivirus.

Work with antivirus and firewall enabled. Add dangerous sites to your hosts file—there are good lists on GitHub. Do not run programs as administrator unless necessary. Use the utility secpol.msc to create a restricted software launch policy.

Limit port access through antivirus and firewall settings. Set a strong password on your router and disable remote access. Prohibit other users from installing programs. Set a password on Windows.

Do not visit sites without SSL certificates (check for https in the address bar). Block JavaScript in your browser settings—that will prevent malicious scripts from running online. In Chrome, enable built-in mining protection in the privacy section. Install ad blockers like AdBlock or uBlock—they are often used to spread malware.

When you know how to find a miner on your PC and take these measures, the risk of infection significantly decreases. The main thing is not to panic and act systematically.