Technology Encyclopedia Home >How to remove mining Trojans?

How to remove mining Trojans?

To remove mining Trojans, follow these steps:

  1. Identify the Infection:

    • Check for unusual CPU/GPU usage in Task Manager (Windows) or Activity Monitor (macOS).
    • Look for unknown processes consuming high resources.
  2. Disconnect from the Internet:

    • Prevent the Trojan from communicating with its command server or downloading additional payloads.
  3. Enter Safe Mode:

    • Restart your computer in Safe Mode to limit the Trojan's functionality.
  4. Use Antivirus/Anti-Malware Tools:

    • Run a full system scan with trusted security software like Malwarebytes, Kaspersky, or Windows Defender.
    • Remove detected threats and restart the system.
  5. Manually Remove Suspicious Files:

    • Delete unknown executables or scripts found in C:\Windows\System32 or /tmp (Linux/macOS).
    • Check browser extensions for mining scripts (e.g., CoinHive).
  6. Update Software and Patches:

    • Ensure your OS, browsers, and plugins are up to date to fix vulnerabilities.
  7. Change Passwords:

    • Reset passwords for critical accounts (email, banking) after removing the Trojan.
  8. Monitor for Recurrence:

    • Use tools like Process Explorer (Windows) or Little Snitch (macOS) to detect suspicious activity.

Example: If your CPU usage spikes to 100% while idle, a mining Trojan like XMRig might be running. Use Malwarebytes to scan and remove it, then update your browser to block malicious extensions.

For cloud environments, Tencent Cloud offers Host Security (CWP) to detect and mitigate malware, including mining Trojans, with real-time alerts and automated remediation.