I wrote this article to help you remove CPU Miner. This CPU Miner removal guide works for all Windows versions.

CPU Miner is a program for mining digital cryptocurrency. The tool’s activity is illegal and so is the way it conducts its operations. CPU Miner uses two processes, Minerd.exe and Cgminer.exe, to mine the web for Bitcoins. This is the most popular cryptocurrency at this point in time. Another task the clandestine program carries out is to connect itself to a mining pool. It established a connection to a website called pool2.ipominer.com which is used to mine for Darkcoins. This cryptocurrency is less common on the market and has lower value. The more important aspect is that mining for Darkcoins also goes against the international legislation. To sum things up, all forms of web mining are illegal.

Using CPU Miner is in itself a cyber crime. However, having the application installed to your device does not automatically criminalize you. If you did not willingly add the rogue tool to your machine, you are a victim. CPU Miner is a product of IZABELCOIN Ltd., a company with unknown origins. Due to the character of its tasks, the utility has been categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP). The furtive software executes its processes without authorization. The propagation vectors it uses work in the same way. CPU Miner tricks its way into people’s computers. There are a couple of ways for this to happen. We will explain how the distribution methods work and how to avoid them.

The predominant vector is software bundling. CPU Miner has been discovered in the setup files of freeware, shareware and pirated applications. The PUP travels with unlicensed software because it provides an easy entry point. Having extra tools added to the installation does not require the user’s approval. The default option can be set to include the additional programs. If you keep the original settings, the wizard will execute the install of all programs from the list. There can be several bonus tools. Our advice is to always choose the custom or advanced installation option and review the end user license agreement (EULA) in detail. This way, you will know what you are agreeing on.

The technique for spreading CPU Miner is via spam emails. The PUP gets merged with a document, attached to the letter. The person behind the fake message will try to make it legitimate. To do so, he can misrepresent an existing entity, copy its contacts and insert its logo into the message. He will tell you that the attached file is an official statement on an important matter, like a delivery package, an invoice, a bill, a fine, a court hearing or something else you would find important. Opening the file is all it takes to allow the PUP into your machine. To filter spam from genuine notifications, check the email address the letter has been sent from. It should belong to the entity in question. You can find reference on its official website.

Upon penetrating your computer, CPU Miner will start working on the background. The furtive tool has a few tasks on its malicious agenda. As we already mentioned, the Minerd.exe and Cgminer.exe processes mine for Bitcoins. The pool2.ipominer.com domain allows the sinister program to collect Darkcoins. The scheduled tasks use up a large amount of virtual memory. In fact, this is where CPU Miner got its name from. The potentially unwanted program uses up about 95% of the total system CPU. This brings down the device’s performance speed and its capabilities. Your computer will have trouble completing your assigned tasks. It will often stall, freeze and crash. The more sophisticated operations will become impossible to execute.

Finally, we need to address the security risk CPU Miner exposes users to. The PUP is set to monitor your online sessions and record various kinds of details from your browser. This encompasses your surfing history, tracking cookies, keystrokes, IP address, email account, telephone number, zip code, geographic location, user names and passwords. The gathered information will be traded on darknet markets. You will not be asked for permission to have input collected from your browser. The people behind the PUP will not even notify you of their intentions. The aftermath from the tracking activity can be devastating if you possess any financial accounts or if you have entered personal data online. Your personal details can be used to drain your funds and register fake accounts under your name.

CPU Miner Uninstall

Run the Task Manager by right clicking on the Taskbar and choosing Start Task Manager.

Look carefully at the file names and descriptions of the running processes. If you find any suspicious one, search on Google for its name, or contact me directly to identify it. If you find a malware process, right-click on it and choose End task.