Remove Monero Miner (Uninstall Guide) - Sep 2017 updated

Monero Miner Removal Guide

Description of Monero Miner virus

Monero Miner gets active in autumn 2017

Monero Miner virus

Monero Miner virus is an illegal software used to mine cryptocurrency on infected computer systems without their users’ knowledge. Cyber security experts say that XMR miners were extremely prevalent in 2016, and today it seems that tendencies hardly changed since then. One of the most widespread programs mining this cryptocurrency is known as Vatico Monero (XMR) CPU Miner.

Also, since Coinhive introduced the new in-browser mining technology, criminals started creating malicious browser extensions to mine cryptocurrency while the user browses the Internet. Besides, some popular websites like The Pirate Bay or Showtime were quick to test new ad-free content monetization technology as well.

It is worth saying that cryptocurrency mining as a process isn’t illegal. However, a fraudster needs a number of computers to generate significant revenue, so one needs to expand the network somehow. Therefore, criminals create cryptocurrency mining botnets by spreading cryptocurrency miners illegally. Victims who install such miners experience system slowdowns while the malicious programs use the CPU power for cryptocurrency mining.

According to the latest news, the most popular miners are CPU Miner, Vnlgp Miner, and Gplyra Miner. It is worth mentioning that such programs can mine different kinds of cryptocurrencies, however, the potentially unwanted software we discuss today clearly aims to provide bookkeeping services to the cryptocurrency network. In other words, mining means providing computer accounting services also known as verifying transactions.

Key problems that users whose computers are infected with illegal cryptocurrency miners experience:

  • System slowdowns;
  • Crashes;
  • Programs stop responding to user’s commands and requests;
  • Difficulties detecting the problem – while operating on the system, miners tend to remain unnoticeable.

Monero Miner malwareMonero Miner is a software designed to silently operate in victim's computer and dig the cryptocurrency for fraudsters.

Versions of Monero Miner malware

Vatico Monero (XMR) CPU Miner virus. This cryptocurrency miner is frequently used by criminal individuals seeking to earn revenue by leveraging victims’ computers’ resources. The malicious program typically emerges in Windows Task Manager as moloko.exe, although it can hide under a different name as well.

As soon as it starts operating, it seizes more than 80% of CPU power. Clearly, this leaves little CPU power for other processes to run, causing frequent system slowdowns or even software crashes.
Vatico Monero Miner gets into the system using distribution style typically used by ransomware developers. It can be downloaded to computers by Trojan horse that sneaks into the system in the form of a legitimate-looking program or part of another (usually illegal) software.

The malicious downloader then opens a VBS file which contains a script set to connect to a remote domain, download and execute the Miner. Once executed, miner connects to xmr-eu.dwarfpool.com:8050 mining pool and starts operating instantly.

SafeBrowse virus. It is a deceptive extension that was caught using Monero Miner to mine digital currency for its developers. The extension promises to lower the number of ads the user sees on the Internet, although at the same time it leverages Coinhive’s JavaScript cryptocurrency mining technology to earn revenue using victim’s computer.

Coinhive technology allows injecting the same JavaScript Crypto Miner into regular Internet sites, offering it as an alternative content monetization method. According to the developers of this technology, this allows website owners earn money and provide ad-free content. Sadly, we do not believe that site visitors will be happy to find out their computers are being used for cryptocurrency mining.

The described in-browser miner has been adapted to many malicious programs and also seen on websites like The Pirate Bay and Showtime.

Ways to install XMR miner

Just like any other unwanted and dangerous program, Monero Miner malware proliferates using typical malware distribution methods. Fraudsters tend to inject the miner into illegal software packs or add them to convincing, yet deceiving emails pushed to thousands of random computer users.

However, Monero Miner can be installed without your knowledge if you happened to install a Trojan virus into your computer earlier. Therefore, it is important to schedule regular system scans using anti-malware software to remove any dangerous programs that manage to slip into your computer unnoticed. Updating your security programs on time is simply a must, too.

In-browser Monero miners such as SafeBrowse extension can be installed from suspicious Internet sites or bundled alongside freeware. To avoid such unwanted browser additions, experts recommend choosing Custom/Advanced software installation settings and avoiding questionable Internet sites cluttered with untrustworthy content (such as ads or download links).

Monero Miner removal guide

Malware analysts suggest that Monero Miner removal is a complicated task that should be accomplished by experienced IT professionals only.

Therefore, if you are a simple computer user, we advise trusting anti-malware solutions provided by known and trustworthy security firms. One of the programs we recommend using to remove Monero Miner is FortectIntego.

Guidelines provided below will help you to prepare your computer in case you can’t find or remove the malicious software because something prevents your security software from running.

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What to do if failed?
If you failed to fix virus damage using Fortect Intego, submit a question to our support team and provide as much details as possible.
Fortect Intego has a free limited scanner. Fortect Intego offers more through scan when you purchase its full version. When free scanner detects issues, you can fix them using free manual repairs or you can decide to purchase the full version in order to fix them automatically.
Alternative Security Tools
Different software has a different purpose. If you didn’t succeed in fixing corrupted files with Fortect, try running SpyHunter 5.
Alternative Security Tools
Different software has a different purpose. If you didn’t succeed in fixing corrupted files with Intego, try running Combo Cleaner.

Getting rid of Monero Miner. Follow these steps

In-depth guide for the Monero Miner elimination

If you can't remove Monero Miner while your computer is running in regular mode, you need to restart it into Safe Mode. Instructions are given below.

Important! →
The elimination guide can appear too difficult if you are not tech-savvy. It requires some knowledge of computer processes since it includes system changes that need to be performed correctly. You need to take steps carefully and follow the guide avoiding any issues created due to improper setting changes. Automatic methods might suit you better if you find the guide too difficult.

Step 1. Launch Safe Mode with Networking

Safe Mode environment offers better results of manual virus removal

Windows 7 / Vista / XP
  1. Go to Start.
  2. Choose Shutdown, then Restart, and OK.
  3. When your computer boots, start pressing the F8 button (if that does not work, try F2, F12, Del, etc. – it all depends on your motherboard model) a few times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
  4. Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.
    Safe Mode option
Windows 10 / Windows 8
  1. Right-click the Start button and choose Settings.
    Settings of the system
  2. Scroll down to find Update & Security.
    Update & security section in settings
  3. On the left, pick Recovery.
  4. Scroll to find Advanced Startup section.
  5. Click Restart now.
    Restarting
  6. Choose Troubleshoot.
    troubleshooting
  7. Go to Advanced options.
    Troubleshooting options
  8. Select Startup Settings.
    Advanced section
  9. Press Restart.
    Choose the Safe Mode
  10. Choose 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking.

Step 2. End questionable processes

You can rely on Windows Task Manager that finds all the random processes in the background. When the intruder is triggering any processes, you can shut them down:

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to open Windows Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details.
    More options of Task manager
  3. Scroll down to Background processes.
  4. Look for anything suspicious.
  5. Right-click and select Open file location.
    Task manager
  6. Go back to the Process tab, right-click and pick End Task.
  7. Delete the contents of the malicious folder.

Step 3. Check the program in Startup

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard again.
  2. Go to the Startup tab.
  3. Right-click on the suspicious app and pick Disable.
    Disable process

Step 4. Find and eliminate virus files

Data related to the infection can be hidden in various places. Follow the steps and you can find them:

  1. Type in Disk Cleanup in Windows search and press Enter.
    Disk cleanup option
  2. Select the drive (C: is your main drive by default and is likely to be the one that has malicious files in) you want to clean.
  3. Scroll through the Files to delete and select the following:

    Temporary Internet Files
    Downloads
    Recycle Bin
    Temporary files

  4. Pick Clean up system files.
    Choose the disk clean up
  5. You can also look for other malicious files hidden in the following folders (type these entries in Windows Search and press Enter):

    %AppData%
    %LocalAppData%
    %ProgramData%
    %WinDir%

After you are finished, reboot the PC in normal mode.

Eliminate Monero Miner using System Restore

  • Step 1: Restart your computer in Safe Mode with Command Prompt
    Windows 7 / Vista / XP
    1. Go to Start Shutdown Restart OK.
    2. As soon as your computer starts, start pressing F8 key repeatedly before the Windows logo shows up.
    3. Choose Command Prompt from the list Choose 'Safe Mode with Command Prompt' option

    Windows 10 / Windows 8
    1. Click on the Power button at the Windows login screen, and then press and hold Shift key on your keyboard. Then click Restart.
    2. Then select Troubleshoot Advanced options Startup Settings and click Restart.
    3. Once your computer starts, select Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt from the list of options in Startup Settings. Choose 'Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt' option
  • Step 2: Perform a system restore to recover files and settings
    1. When the Command Prompt window appears, type in cd restore and press Enter. Type 'cd restore' without quotes and hit 'Enter'
    2. Then type rstrui.exe and hit Enter.. Type 'rstrui.exe' without quotes and hit 'Enter'
    3. In a new window that shows up, click the Next button and choose a restore point that was created before the infiltration of Monero Miner and then click on the Next button again. When 'System Restore' wizard comes up, click 'Next'. Choose a preferable restore point and click 'Next'
    4. To start system restore, click Yes. Hit 'Yes' and start system restore
    After restoring the computer system to an antecedent date, install and check your computer with FortectIntego to uncover any remains of Monero Miner.

It is strongly recommended to take precautions and secure your computer from malware attacks. To protect your PC from Monero Miner and other dangerous viruses, you should install and keep a powerful malware removal tool, for instance, FortectIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes.

How to prevent from getting malware

A proper web browser and VPN tool can guarantee better safety

As online spying becomes an increasing problem, people are becoming more interested in how to protect their privacy. One way to increase your online security is to choose the most secure and private web browser. But if you want complete anonymity and security when surfing the web, you need Private Internet Access VPN service. This tool successfully reroutes traffic across different servers, so your IP address and location remain protected. It is also important that this tool is based on a strict no-log policy, so no data is collected and cannot be leaked or made available to first or third parties. If you want to feel safe on the internet, a combination of a secure web browser and a Private Internet Access VPN will help you.

Recover files damaged by a dangerous malware attack

Despite the fact that there are various circumstances that can cause data to be lost on a system, including accidental deletion, the most common reason people lose photos, documents, videos, and other important data is the infection of malware.

Some malicious programs can delete files and prevent the software from running smoothly. However, there is a greater threat from the dangerous viruses that can encrypt documents, system files, and images. Ransomware-type viruses focus on encrypting data and restricting users’ access to files, so you can permanently lose personal data when you download such a virus to your computer.

The ability to unlock encrypted files is very limited, but some programs have a data recovery feature. In some cases, the Data Recovery Pro program can help recover at least some of the data that has been locked by a virus or other cyber infection.

About the author
Lucia Danes
Lucia Danes - Virus researcher

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