What is Update64.exe process?

As I have mentioned earlier, Update64.exe is a coin miner trojan. The names of the executive file can be different, however, the consequences are almost always the identical. Considering that coin miners focus on cryptocurrency mining, they use all available hardware capacity of your PC to perform this process. This virus does not take note of the fact that you probably want to use your device for other tasks – it will consistently take over 80% of your CPU power.

Update64.exe – Very high CPU/GPU usage

Besides CPU usage, some of the coin miners additionally use GPU power for their tasks. In that case, you will probably struggle even to see the mouse arrow moving – GPU is usually utilized on 100%. It is not as crucial as processor for system work, so Update64.exe coin miner viruses don’t waste time on trifles and use all of it. It sometimes can cause bad effects.

Cryptocurrency mining is a term that means the operation of calculating the transaction block hash. That is a integral part of anything based on the blockchain technology. Since this operation takes a lot of calculations, a strong computer is required. Exactly, the graphic card is better for this purpose, because they have more cores available. Cryptomining farms are usually constructed of tens and hundreds of GPUs to conduct their activity effectively. Such systems are not usable for “normal” purposes, like gaming or web browsing. 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 Update64.exe miner?

Initially, Update64.exe malware makes your PC overloaded. It is not able to run your applications anymore, because all CPU power is consumed by a virus. That malware does not care for your wants, all it focuses on is making money on you. Even if you are patient, and you waited until web browser is open, you will likely suffer from exceptionally sluggish efficiency. Pages will open for years, any type of logins will take about a minute – just a nightmare for a person who does a job online.

Update64.exe Technical Summary.

“Visible” damage is not a solitary bad thing coin miners do to your system. Update64.exe coin miner additionally deals damage to your operating system. To execute all malevolent functions properly, it wrecks the security mechanisms of your system. You will likely see your Microsoft Defender disabled – malware halts it to avoid recognition. If you check the HOSTS file, you will likely see a number of new entries – they are brought in by this coin miner to connect your PC to a malicious cryptomining network. All these changes shall be reverted to the original in the process of PC recovery.

Hardware effects of coin miner activity

Besides decreasing your system’s performance, running at peak level for a long period of time can cause damage to your machine and raise power costs. Hardware elements are created to easily deal with high load, but they are good with it only when they are in a good shape.

Small and well-protected CPU fan is hard to crack. Meanwhile, graphic cards have large and easy-to-access fans, which can be easily cracked if affected while running, for instance, by the user much before the virus injection. Malfunctioning cooling system, together with the really high load caused by Update64.exe virus can easily lead to graphic processing unit failure³. GPUs are also prone to have fast wearing when used for crypto mining. It is surely an unwanted situation when your GPU’s performance decreases on 20-30% only after 1-2 weeks of being used in such a way.

How did I get Update64.exe coin miner virus?

Coin miners are one of the most prevalent malicious programs through “major” viruses. Adware often acts as a carrier for Update64.exe malware injection: it shows you the banners, which include a link to malware downloading. Yes, this abstract “malware” may belong to any kind – yet another adware, spyware, rogue or backdoor. But the statistics show that around 30% of all viruses spread through the malicious banners are coin miners – and Update64.exe is just with them.⁴

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 suspicious web page as a part of a program. People who spread hacked versions of favored programs (which do not need the license key) have small chances to make money. Therefore, there is a huge lure to add malware to the final package of the hacked app and acquire a coin for each setup. Before criticizing these individuals for hacking and also malware distribution, ask yourself – is it okay to avoid buying the program in such a way? It is more affordable to pay $20-$30 at once than to pay a much bigger figure for antivirus software and new parts for your computer.

How to remove the Update64.exe miner from my PC?

Eliminating such a virus requires the use of specific app. Effective security tool should have high efficiency at scanning and be lightweight – in order to create no problems with usage also on weak systems. On top of that, it is better to have proactive protection in your security tool – to prevent the virus even before it launches. Microsoft Defender does not have these elements for various factors. That’s why I’d suggest you to use a third-party anti-malware program for that reason. GridinSoft Anti-Malware is a great option that fits each of the mentioned qualities.⁵

Before the malware removal, it is important to boot your system into Safe Mode with Networking. Since Update64.exe miner takes a lot of processor capacity, it is needed to halt 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 system is in Safe Mode, all third-party software, along with the majority of non-crucial Windows components, are not launched with the system start. That allows you to clean the system without dealing with high processor usage of the coin miner.

Remove Update64.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.

References

1. Read about why Monero and DarkCoin are so popular amongst cybercriminals.
2. Detailed explanation of how does cryptomining work.
3. About unwanted effects for GPUs in the process of cryptomining.
4. Read more about various malware type on GridinSoft Threat Encyclopedia.
5. Our review on GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

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