Metado.exe executable file is related to a malicious application that can accurately be recognized as a coin miner trojan. That malware form utilizes your hardware to mine cryptocurrencies, primarily – Monero or DarkCoin1. It makes your personal computer almost unfunctional because of high CPU use.
It is better to prevent, than repair and repent!
When we talk about the intrusion of unfamiliar programs into your computer’s work, the proverb “Forewarned is forearmed” describes the situation as accurately as possible. Gridinsoft Anti-Malware is exactly the tool that is always useful to have in your armory: fast, efficient, up-to-date. It is appropriate to use it as an emergency help at the slightest suspicion of infection.
DOWNLOAD NOW
GridinSoft Anti-Malware 6-day trial available.
EULA | Privacy Policy | GridinSoft
Subscribe to our Telegram channel to be the first to know about news and our exclusive materials on information security.
What is Metado.exe process?
Metado.exe is a malicious process created by coin miner virus
As I have actually mentioned in the introduction, Metado.exe is a coin miner trojan virus. The names of the executive file can be different, however, the impacts are usually the same. Considering that coin miners aim at cryptocurrency mining, they utilize all available hardware capacity of your desktop to perform this procedure. This malware doesn’t pay attention to the fact that you probably need to make use of your system for other tasks – it will continuously consume over 80% of your CPU power.
Metado.exe – Very high CPU as well as GPU usage
Besides CPU utilization, some of the coin miners also use GPU power for their operations. In that situation, you will struggle even to see the mouse cursor moving – GPU is often used on 100%. It is not as critical as CPU for system work, so Metado.exe coin miner viruses don’t waste time on trifles and use all of it. It sometimes can result in bad effects.
Shortly about cryptocurrency mining
Crypto mining term means the operation of calculating the transaction block hash. That is a basic element of any project based on the blockchain technology. Since this operation takes a lot of calculations, a strong desktop is needed. Exactly, the GPU is better for this task, because they have more cores available. Cryptocurrency mining farms usually consist of tens and hundreds of video cards to conduct their activity effectively. Such systems are not usable for “classic” purposes, like gaming or browsing the Web. Fraudsters who gain money via this coin miner use someones’ hardware instead, even if they are used for the regular activity.2
List of the typical coin miner symptoms
How dangerous is the Metado.exe miner?
Coin miners does not deal damage to your files. However, they make a lot of unpleasant things with the whole system
First of all, Metado.exe malware makes your PC overloaded. It is unable to run your applications now, as all processor power is consumed by a virus. That malware does not care for your necessities, all it pays attention to is making money on you. Even if you are patient, and you waited until browser is open, you will likely suffer from incredibly sluggish performance. Pages will open for years, any type of logins will take about a minute – just a headache for a person that does a job online.
Metado.exe Technical Summary.
File Name | Metado.exe |
Type | Trojan Coin Miner |
Detection Name | Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner |
Distribution Method | Software bundling, Intrusive advertisement, redirects to shady sites etc. |
Similar behavior | Ftdiunin.exe, Winginx.exe, Xuservice.exe |
Removal | Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware for automatic Metado.exe removal. |
“Visible” harm is not a solitary bad thing coin miners do to your system. Metado.exe coin miner additionally deals damage to your operating system. To execute all malicious functions effectively, it ruins the security mechanisms of your system. You will likely see your Microsoft Defender disabled – malware halts it to avoid detection. If you open the HOSTS file, you will likely see a ton of new notes – they are added by this coin miner to connect your system to a malicious cryptomining network. All these adjustments are about to be reverted to the initial state in the process of computer recovery.
Hardware effects of coin miner activity
Besides decreasing your computer’s performance, running at peak level for a long period of time may trigger damage to your machine as well as increase power costs. Hardware elements are designed to easily get along with high load, but they can do so only when they are in a good shape.
Little and covered processor cooling system is quite hard to broke. Meanwhile, GPUs have big and easy-to-access fans, which can be easily cracked if touched while spinning, for instance, by the user much before the virus injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the very high load caused by Metado.exe can easily lead to graphic card failure3. Graphic cards are also prone to have very fast wearing when utilized for crypto mining. It is likely a bad situation when the performance of your GPU plunges 20-30% only after several weeks of being used in such a way.
How did I get Metado.exe coin miner virus?
Coin miners are spread through different ways, but their main sources are malicious banners and programs from dubious sources
Coin miners are one of the most widespread malevolent programs through “severe” malware. Adware frequently acts as a carrier for Metado.exe malware infiltration: it shows you the banners, which include a link to malware downloading. Sure, this abstract “malware” may belong to any type – an additional adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. However, the statistics say that around 30% of all viruses spread through the malevolent banners are coin miners – and Metado.exe is just one of them.
The example of malicious banners you can see in the Internet
An additional way you could get this item on your PC is by downloading it from the dubious web page as a part of a program. Users that spread hacked versions of popular programs (which do not need the license key) have small chances to make money. Hence, there is a huge temptation to add malware to the final package of the hacked application and get a coin for each setup. Prior to blaming these guys for hacking and also malware distribution, ask yourself – is it okay to avoid paying for the program in such a way? It is much cheaper to pay $20-$30 one time than to pay a much greater figure for antivirus program and new parts for your PC.
How to remove the Metado.exe miner from my PC?
The best way to get rid of this coin miner virus is to use anti-malware software
Removing such a virus requires the use of specific tool. Proper antivirus must have high performance at scanning and also be lightweight – in order to make no problems with usage even on weak PCs. On top of that, it is better to have on-run security in your protection tool – to prevent the virus even before it starts. Microsoft Defender lacks these functions for various reasons. That’s why I’d suggest you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that goal. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is an ideal choice that fits each of the mentioned features.4
Download GridinSoft Anti-Malware
Prior to the malware removal, it is important to reboot your operating system into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Metado.exe miner consumes a lot of processor capacity, it is required to stop it before launching the security program. Otherwise, your scan will last for years, even though the GridinSoft program is pretty lightweight.
Booting the PC into Safe Mode with Networking
Press the Start button, then choose Power, and click on Reboot while holding the Shift key on the keyboard.
Windows will reboot into recovery mode. In that mode, choose Troubleshoot→ Startup Settings→ Safe Mode with Networking. Press the corresponding button on your keyboard to choose that option.
When your computer is in Safe Mode, all third-party programs, just like the majority of non-crucial Windows components, are not launched with the system start. That allows you to clean the PC without dealing with high processor usage of the coin miner.
Remove Metado.exe coin miner virus with GridinSoft Anti-Malware
Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware. You can use this anti-malware program for free during its 6-day trial period. In that term, all functions are available, and it takes no payments to remove malware from your system.
After activating your free trial, start Full scan. It may last up to 10 minutes. You may use the PC as usual.
When the scan is finished, press the Clean Now button to remove all detected elements from your system. This procedure takes less than a minute.
Now, you are good to go. Reboot your PC into a normal Windows mode and use just as there was nothing malicious.
Remove Metado.exe Virus ⛏️ Trojan Coin Miner
Name: Metado.exe
Description: The Metado.exe is a Trojan Coin Miner that uses the infected computer’s sources to mine electronic money without your authorization. This Metado.exe will create your CPU to go for very warm temperatures for prolonged periods of time, which could reduce the life of the CPU.
Operating System: Windows
Application Category: Trojan
Sending
User Review
3.2 (5 votes)
Comments Rating 0 (0 reviews)
References
- Read about why Monero and DarkCoin are so popular amongst cybercriminals.
- Detailed explanation of how does cryptomining work.
- About unwanted effects for GPUs in the process of cryptomining.
- Our review on GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
Spanish Turkish
FAQs
How do I get rid of CoinMiner Trojan? ›
- On your computer, open CleanMyMac X.
- In the sidebar, select Malware Removal.
- Then, click the Scan button.
- When the scan is done, select the malware it found and click Remove.
Trojan CoinMiner Explained. Coin Miner is a malware that concentrates on earning cryptocurrencies by mining them on victims' CPU or GPU. You may be interested in taking a look at our other antivirus tools: Trojan Killer, Trojan Scanner.
What is Trojan Win32 CoinMiner MSR? ›TrojanDownloader:Win32/CoinMiner.
A is a trojan that silently downloads and installs other programs without consent. This could include the installation of additional malware or malware components to an affected computer.
You can remove some Trojans by disabling startup items on your computer which don't come from trusted sources. For the best results, first reboot your device into safe mode so that the virus can't stop you from removing it.
Can trojans be deleted? ›Can Trojan viruses be removed? Trojan viruses can be removed in various ways. If you know which software contains the malware, you can simply uninstall it. However, the most effective way to remove all traces of a Trojan virus is to install antivirus software capable of detecting and removing Trojans.
Can a Trojan virus spy on you? ›A trojan horse, or trojan, is malware that invades your computer disguised as legitimate software. Cybercriminals use it to spy on your online activity, control your device, and steal your sensitive data.
Is Trojan virus warning real? ›Is a Trojan spyware alert legitimate? No, a Trojan spyware alert is a pop-up that aims to trick users into believing it's legitimate by pretending to be Windows or Apple. It will ask you to call a number to remove the threat so you can pay for unnecessary software or grant remote access to your laptop.
What will happen if Trojan is detected? ›Depending on what type of Trojan horse or virus you have, intruders may have access to your personal information and may even be using your computer to attack other computers. You can stop this activity by turning off your Internet connection.
How to tell if your computer is being used for crypto mining? ›Cryptojacking definition
The only signs they might notice is slower performance, lags in execution, overheating, excessive power consumption, or abnormally high cloud computing bills.
Cryptomining malware, or 'cryptojacking,' is a malware attack that co-opts the target's computing resources in order to mine cryptocurrencies like bitcoin. This malware uses a systems CPU and sometimes GPU to perform complex mathematical calculations that result in long alphanumeric strings called hashes.
Do I have a crypto miner virus? ›
A dangerous crypto mining malware mostly infects through downloads and browser-based attacks. Slow performance, lagging, and overheating are warning signs of mining malware infection.
How do I get rid of Trojan virus on Win32? ›- Download. Download our free removal tool: rmvirut.exe.
- Run the tool. To remove infected files, run the tool. ...
- Update. After your computer has restarted, make sure your antivirus is up-to-date and then run a full computer scan.
You can search for the suspect program on Google to confirm whether it is malware. If yes, you can right-click on that entry and select Delete to remove it from Windows Registry. After you delete the entry, the Registry malware should be removed.
Does factory reset remove Trojans? ›If you've had a malware attack on your device, you may want to consider performing a factory reset. This hard reset will wipe out the device data. When that happens, the dangerous viruses get deleted. A hard reset will also clear out unnecessary clutter on your phone.
How much does it cost to remove a Trojan virus? ›The cost to remove an infection is greatly going to depend on the infection(s) and the damage that has been done. The average removal will cost between $60 and $120 (When the work is done in my office).
Can reinstalling Windows remove Trojan virus? ›Running a factory reset, also referred to as a Windows Reset or reformat and reinstall, will destroy all data stored on the computer's hard drive and all but the most complex viruses with it. Viruses can't damage the computer itself and factory resets clear out where viruses hide.
Should I quarantine or remove Trojans? ›Quarantined malware is harmless. If it's a virus, it won't be able to spread and infect other parts of your computer's storage drive. If the malware is a trojan, it won't be able to execute its malicious code. Regardless of the type of malware, quarantining will render it harmless.
Can Trojan infect your Wi-Fi? ›A trojan attack tricks you into downloading malware hiding a virus that then tramples all over your phone, tablet, or computer. A router virus can ride inside a trojan, waiting to sniff out vulnerable public or home Wi-Fi networks to infect.
Is Trojan a hacker? ›A Trojan Horse Virus is a type of malware that downloads onto a computer disguised as a legitimate program. The delivery method typically sees an attacker use social engineering to hide malicious code within legitimate software to try and gain users' system access with their software.
How do I get rid of Trojan virus for free? ›The best way to clean up a Trojan infection is to use Malwarebytes' free trojan scanner, and then consider Malwarebytes Premium for proactive protection against future Trojan infections. Malwarebytes Premium will initiate a scan for Trojans and then remove Trojans so they can't cause further damage.
Can a Trojan virus hack your phone? ›
Spyware like Pegasus, trojans (sometimes called “trojan viruses”), phishing attacks, and unsafe Wi-Fi networks are just some of the threats that can affect your iPhone or iPad. Jailbreaking your iPhone — removing Apple's built-in, manufacturer restrictions — makes it just as vulnerable to malware as an Android device.
Can iphones get Trojans? ›Although viruses are uncommon on the iPhone, it's possible to get infected with an iPhone Trojan or spyware that can expose your phone's activity to a third party. Keeping your iOS up to date can greatly reduce the chances of this happening.
What is an example of cryptojacking? ›Coinhive was a cryptocurrency mining service that was launched in 2017. It allowed website owners to embed a JavaScript code on their websites, which would then use the website visitor's computer to mine the Monero cryptocurrency. This was known as “in-browser mining,” and it was a form of cryptojacking.
What are some signs that you have a Cryptomining malware installed on a computer? ›Some common signs of a potential cryptojacking breach are slower computer speeds, unusually high CPU usage, and overheating hardware. But some cryptojackers take measures to mask these signs.
What does cryptojacking do to your computer? ›Unlike other types of malware, cryptojacking scripts do not damage computers or victims' data. However, they do steal computer processing resources. For individual users, slower computer performance might simply be an annoyance.
Can you get hacked from crypto mining? ›Cryptojacking: How to Detect and Avoid. Modern hackers now look to take advantage of the mining boom by building malware that can hijack one or more systems and remotely use the hardware for financial gain. Such attacks are known as cryptojacking and continue to affect more and more internet users.
What is the name of the malware for crypto mining? ›Short bio. Trojan. BitCoinMiner is Malwarebytes' generic detection name for crypto-currency miners that run on the affected machine without the users' consent.
What is the crypto mining virus called? ›Examples of Crypto Malware
XMRig: XMRig is an open-source cryptojacking malware that is commonly incorporated into other types of malware. It is designed to mine the Monero or Bitcoin cryptocurrency.
Right-click on the Start button in the taskbar, then select “Programs and Features”. This will take you directly to your list of installed programs. Search for malicious program and uninstall it. The “Programs and Features” screen will be displayed with a list of all the programs installed on your computer.
How do you detect cryptojacking? ›
Central processing unit (CPU) use spikes in response to cryptojacking. Victims with Windows can check their CPU use in Activity Monitor or Task Manager when visiting sites that run little or no media content. If users notice an odd spike, this may indicate a cryptojacking cyber attack.
How to remove Trojan virus from USB using command prompt? ›- Step 1: On a Windows device, open a new Command Prompt window on your computer.
- Step 2: Click Start and type CMD into the search bar.
- Step 3: In the new window, type in attrib -h -r -s and then hit Enter.
- Step 4: Type del autorun. ...
- Step 5: Click Enter.
- Open Chrome.
- Click on the three dots in the top right corner to open the drop-down menu.
- Scroll down to Settings.
- Once in settings, go to Advanced > Reset and clean up.
- Click Clean up computer and select Find harmful software.
- Delete any malicious programs found in the browser.
- Power off the phone and reboot in safe mode. Press the power button to access the Power Off options. ...
- Uninstall the suspicious app. ...
- Look for other apps you think may be infected. ...
- Install a robust mobile security app on your phone.
Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner.
Microsoft Defender Antivirus detects and removes this threat.
- Step 1: Shut down the site. ...
- Step 2: Clear your browser data on Chrome. ...
- Step 3: Reset your Chrome browser settings. ...
- Step 4: Uninstall any suspicious apps. ...
- Step 5: Perform an antivirus scan.
- Download. Download our free removal tool: rmvirut.exe.
- Run the tool. To remove infected files, run the tool. ...
- Update. After your computer has restarted, make sure your antivirus is up-to-date and then run a full computer scan.