Finding and Removing a Hidden Mining Virus from Your Computer

While browsing online, you risk infecting your computer with a hidden mining virus. These programs can independently use your PC or laptop to mine cryptocurrency without your knowledge. Unfortunately, antivirus software isn’t always effective against such programs, and removing them can be challenging.

What is a Hidden Mining Virus?

Hidden miners belong to the Trojan virus family. They silently penetrate Windows systems and begin exploiting your computer’s hardware resources to mine cryptocurrency. Once you discover such mining operations running on your PC, you must immediately eliminate the malicious program.

Why is a Mining Virus Dangerous?

When a Trojan infects your Windows system, using your computer becomes risky. The malware can calculate passwords and potentially delete or steal your data.

Mining Trojans specifically harm your graphics card and processor. Working on an overloaded PC becomes uncomfortable, and hidden mining accelerates hardware wear. Laptops are particularly vulnerable to such loads and might fail after just a few hours of background mining. That’s why removing these hidden programs as quickly as possible is crucial.

Types of Hidden Mining Viruses

Mining viruses fall into two main categories:

Hidden Cryptojacking

This type doesn’t download to your PC but exists as an online script embedded in websites. When you visit an infected page, the script activates, and your computer’s resources start mining cryptocurrency. Since the mining program is integrated into the site, antivirus software can’t remove it. You’ll notice increased CPU load when a harmful script begins running.

Classic Mining Virus

This virus appears as an archive or file and installs unnoticed against your will. Without removal, it launches every time you turn on your computer. Typically, such programs have one function: using your PC for cryptocurrency mining. Sometimes you might “catch” a hidden virus that monitors user wallets and transfers funds to hacker accounts.

How to Know Your PC is Infected

To remove a mining virus, you must first recognize it. Scan your computer with antivirus software and look for infected files if you notice these symptoms:

• GPU overload: Your graphics card becomes noisy (due to intense cooling fan rotation) and hot to touch. You can check the load using the free GPU-Z program.
• Slow PC: When your computer slows down, check processor load through Task Manager. If it’s 60% or higher, your system might be infected.
• Increased RAM consumption: Hidden miners use all available computer resources, including RAM.
• Files, information, or settings disappearing without your consent.
• Increased internet traffic consumption: Hidden miners are constantly active, and Trojans might be part of botnets used for DDOS attacks.
• Browser performance slowing: Connection interruptions or tabs closing during browsing.
• Task Manager showing unknown process names like “asikadl.exe.”

Finding and Removing a Hidden Mining Virus

If you detect any symptoms, scan your Windows system with antivirus software to combat and remove the malware. Afterward, run CCleaner or equivalent to remove system junk. Restart your computer to complete the uninstallation process.

Some mining viruses can add themselves to trusted programs lists, making them invisible to antivirus software. Newer miners might detect Task Manager and shut it down before appearing on screen. Regardless, check all processes.

Manual Search for a Hidden Miner

To manually check your computer, open the registry:

1. Press Win+R
2. Type “regedit” in the window
3. Click OK

In the registry, detect suspicious processes by:

• Pressing Ctrl+F
• Entering the harmful task name in the search bar
• Clicking “Find”

This helps identify resource-consuming processes, often named as random character strings. Delete all suspicious entries found and restart your computer.

Finding a Hidden Miner via Task Scheduler

To detect hidden mining through Windows 10 scheduler:

• Press Win+R
• Type “taskchd.msc” in the “Open” field
• Click OK

In the Task Scheduler window, find and open the “Task Scheduler Library” folder. Check the “Triggers” and “Actions” tabs for each process, paying attention to those that activate every time you turn on your PC.

Remove suspicious processes by right-clicking the task name and selecting “Disable” or “Delete.” Check processor load afterward to confirm improvement.

For more thorough startup checking, use free programs like AnVir Task Manager. For more complex malware detection and removal, download specialized antivirus software that performs deep system scans.

Protecting Your Computer from Mining Viruses

These tips will help protect your PC:

• Install a clean, tested Windows image and restore it every 2-3 months if infection signs appear
• Install antivirus software and regularly update its databases
• Research programs before downloading them
• Scan all downloaded files with antivirus software
• Browse with antivirus and firewall enabled
• Add dangerous sites to your host file (GitHub offers lists for browser mining detection)
• Don’t run actions as administrator
• Allow only trusted programs to execute
• Set permission to use only certain ports
• Set a complex router password and disable password detection and remote online access
• Prevent other users from searching for and installing programs
• Set a Windows password to prevent unauthorized PC use
• Avoid dubious sites without online certificates (look for SSL/https)
• Block JavaScript scripts in browser settings
• Enable mining detection and protection in Chrome settings
• Install ad-blocking filters like AdBlock or uBlock