CoinMiner Malware: What Is It & How to Remove It from your Mac? [Protection Against Virus]

CoinMiner malware: Protect your Mac from cryptocurrency mining attacks

CoinMiner malware is a malware that uses your Mac hardware resources to mine cryptocurrencies. Your Mac starts running slowly until later on discovering that this is due to the CoinMiner malware. Worse, you don't even know it's installed on your Mac.

This article will share more information about CoinMiner malware, including how it works and how to delete malware on your Mac. Let's get started.

What is CoinMiner malware?

CoinMiner malware can infect your Mac and use it to mine cryptocurrencies like Monero. It runs silently in the background and can be unaware of it for a long time. Additionally, it is a potentially unintended application (PUA) because it enters your Mac through software bundling without your permission.

How does CoinMiner malware work?

The goal of CoinMiner malware is to mine cryptocurrencies. It generates Bitcoin blocks by hacking into your Mac and leveraging its resources to mine cryptocurrencies in the background. This is done without your knowledge until your system speed drops significantly.

How is the CoinMiner malware installed on the computer?

CoinMiner malware is usually installed through a bundled method, where it is part of a third-party package (usually free) without the user's knowledge.

Can you get the virus from the website? Yes, if your web browser has vulnerabilities, hackers can use the website hosting exploit kit to exploit these vulnerabilities and install CoinMiner malware.

CoinMiner malware is a Trojan malware that is usually hidden in the "Custom/Advanced" settings section of the installation process. Many users quickly complete the software download and installation process, which is why they don't notice that they get more than they expected.

Is CoinMiner malware dangerous?

CoinMiner malware is dangerous because it consumes your device's CPU and GPU resources. Sometimes, load on your computer can make it difficult to perform simple tasks, such as opening a web browser. Unfortunately, the load is controlled by the hacker.

Another danger is the potential damage caused by CoinMiner malware to your Mac's GPU. While it has different effects on various Mac models, some Macs may drop more than 20% in a month.

Lastly, CoinMiner malware presents privacy risks, as it can sometimes collect your data, similar to how spyware works. After all, CoinMiner malware can access your Mac, and your data has some value on the dark web. Information that cybercriminals can steal include:

• Position
• IP address
• Personal Information
• Equipment Configuration Settings

How to detect CoinMiner malware

There are several ways to tell if your Mac is infected with CoinMiner malware:

• It overheated and the heat dissipation port made a loud noise.
• Your Mac has dropped significantly and performing simple tasks becomes difficult.
• Your Mac's CPU and GPU usage is still high, and restarting the computer won't improve this.

How to manually remove CoinMiner malware from Mac

Manually removes malware from Mac is a complex task, and CoinMiner is no exception. This is because you have to know the name of the malware you want to remove and where to look it up on your Mac. To manually remove CoinMiner malware from your MacBook:

1. Go to Findor > Applications > Utility > Activity Monitor > CPU. You can now view the application list in descending order of CPU consumption.
2. Find the CoinMiner process in the list (it may be at a higher position in the list due to high resource consumption), select it, click X at the top of the screen, and select forcibly exit .
3. Restart your Mac by clicking Apple menu and selecting Restart option.

How to automatically uninstall CoinMiner

A simpler solution to uninstall CoinMiner malware is to automate this process. We recommend using MacKeeper's Anti-Virus tool to thoroughly scan your Mac for malware threats in unexpected locations, and uninstall them with just one click of a button. Here is how to automatically delete CoinMiner malware:

1. Open MacKeeper on your Mac, click Anti-Virus, Enable Real-time Protection, and then click Start Scan.
Follow the progress of the scan on the screen. If MacKeeper does not find the CoinMiner malware, congratulations, your Mac is currently safe. However, if found, please confirm the operation by selecting
2. Delete > Select again in the pop-up window to delete it.

Step 2. Follow the scan progress and click "Move to Quarantine" > "Delete"

How to protect your Mac from CoinMiner malware

CoinMiner malware, like other malware, does not identify itself as malware. That's why you have to consciously protect your Mac from it. There are some steps you can take to prevent CoinMiner malware infection:

1. Avoid potential sources of malware
2. Avoid providing app cracked versions of websites
3. Use third-party anti-virus software

Please follow the following guides for detailed tips on protecting your Mac from CoinMiner malware.

1. Avoid potential sources of malware

The best way to prevent it is to avoid potential sources of malware. Of course, we won't tell you to avoid the Internet altogether, but you have to practise caution. Here is a list of common malware sources and how to avoid them:

• Email attachment. Some emails may be ignored, so don't open emails from suspicious or unknown senders, and don't make the mistake of downloading attachments. Instead, it should be deleted immediately.
• Software download. Due to the large number of applications and other software on the Internet, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish real software from fake ones. The best practice is to avoid downloading software from unknown or suspicious websites and read the privacy policies and terms and conditions.
• Unpatched software. Avoid unpatched software by not using applications that are no longer maintained or updated by developers. We recommend completely uninstalling old and outdated applications and prompt security updates.
• Fake website. A fake website looks similar to its real counterpart, but if you pay attention to observation, you will notice the difference between the domain name and the logo. Avoid accessing fake websites as they spread malware.
• Magnetic link. Because magnet links may contain malware due to their decentralized nature, download them only from reputable websites you trust. Also, use anti-virus or anti-malware tools to scan the files you downloaded.
• Removable media. Storage devices such as external hard drives and flash drives can spread malware that can be retrieved from infected computers or loaded by hackers. Avoid borrowing removable media from people you are not very familiar with.

2. Avoid providing application cracked versions of websites

Using cracking software is dangerous. Hackers can add malicious code to it and execute it in the background without you noticing it. While this may be tempting, consider the risk: It allows hackers to enter your Mac, use its resources and steal your data. Instead, download the software from a well-known website (preferably on the App Store).

3. Use third-party anti-virus software

At the end of the day, you must use trusted anti-virus software to protect your Mac from viruses and malware such as CoinMiner malware. Use MacKeeper's anti-virus tool, this is a reliable and secure solution that can help you protect against malware. It protects your Mac 24/7 to reduce the likelihood of it getting infected and helps you isolate any threats it finds to keep you safe.

Protect your Mac from CoinMiner malware

CoinMiner malware may sneak into your system and hide there without you knowing it. Unfortunately, with growing interest in cryptocurrencies, it may last for a long time – at least for the foreseeable future. While you can take steps to protect your Mac from malware, such as developing a safe browsing habit and paying attention to what you download, you can only do that much on your own. Why not use a good antivirus solution to do this for you?

MacKeeper's anti-virus tool is the software you need to defend against malware threats like CoinMiner malware. It automatically performs the process of protecting your Mac from viruses and malware, saving you time and energy. With just a few clicks, you can check your Mac for threats and delete it in minutes, giving you peace of mind. In addition, you can access more MacKeeper tools such as Security Clean, Adware Cleaner and VPN Private Connections. FAQ

1. What is the purpose of CoinMiner malware?

Like most other mining malware attacks, the purpose of CoinMiner malware is to make money or generate bitcoin by abusing your Mac's system resources. In addition, sometimes the motivation of hackers is the stimulation of undetected hacking into people's computer systems.

2. How to determine if your Mac is being used for cryptocurrency mining?

A common sign of malware infection is performance-related issues that are caused by the malware consuming a large amount of computer CPU resources. Check for malware on your Mac by looking for suspicious programs in Activity Monitor.

If your Mac is infected with cryptocurrency mining malware, its name may look suspicious or similar to an existing system process. The CoinMiner malware also opens at startup, which explains why the Mac's CPU resource usage immediately soars when you boot the device.

3. What is the biggest problem that CoinMiner malware can cause?

A major consequence of CoinMiner malware infection is that your data is stolen and may be leaked to the dark web. If the goal of CoinMiner malware is to make money, hackers will maximize access to your Mac to achieve that goal.

In addition to privacy risks, CoinMiner malware can also cause a range of performance issues that can make using your Mac a nightmare. If your device becomes dull, it may freeze and in some cases you may not be able to use your web browser.

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