Miner on your computer? Here's how to check your PC and find the malware

When was the last time you checked your computer for miners? If not — now is the perfect time. With the crypto boom, new threats have emerged, and miner viruses have become a real problem for ordinary users. These parasites operate in the shadows, stealing your device’s computing power and generating profits for cybercriminals.

Why are miners so dangerous?

Miner viruses use your PC’s CPU and GPU to mine Bitcoin, Monero, and other cryptocurrencies. The main trick is that they operate covertly, disguised as legitimate processes. Sounds harmless? In reality, it’s a direct theft of your resources.

Legal mining is a user’s choice. Crypto-jacking, however, is a crime that freezes your system, kills performance, and shortens hardware lifespan.

How to tell if your computer is infected?

If you’re unsure whether your computer has a miner, look for these signs:

System slows down without reason
Even simple tasks are difficult to perform. The browser freezes, programs open slowly, and the system periodically “breathes heavily.” This is the first warning sign to check.

CPU and GPU are at maximum load
Is the load at 70-100% during idle? Open Task Manager and see what is consuming power. Usually, nothing should be active there.

Fan is humming like an airplane
If the coolers run at maximum and you’re not doing anything, it’s a sure sign. The computer heats up because something inside is working continuously.

Electricity bills have skyrocketed
Crypto-jacking is energy-intensive. If your expenses have increased without visible reasons, it’s time to check your PC for miners.

Unfamiliar processes in Task Manager
Processes with names like “sysupdate.exe,” “miner64.exe,” or just strange English names? That’s a reason to analyze them.

Browser behaves strangely
New extensions appear that you didn’t install? Tabs open by themselves? This could be a web miner embedded in a website script.

Step-by-step guide: how to check your computer for miners

Step 1: Analyze load

This is the first thing to do to check your PC:

1. Open Task Manager

   • Windows: press Ctrl + Shift + Esc
   • Mac: launch “Activity Monitor”

2. Go to the “Processes” tab (or “CPU” on Mac)

3. Sort by resource usage — click on the CPU or GPU column

4. Look for anomalies — processes consuming 30-100% of power without apparent reason

If you find something suspicious, remember its name — you’ll need it later.

Step 2: Antivirus scan

A professional antivirus is the main way to check your computer for miners:

Best options:

• Kaspersky — specializes in crypto-jacking
• Malwarebytes — detects hidden parasites
• Bitdefender — fast and effective

Scan process:

1. Install and update your antivirus to the latest version
2. Run a full system scan (this will take 1-3 hours)
3. Check quarantine — where threats are detected
4. Remove everything starting with “Trojan.CoinMiner” or similar names
5. Reboot

Step 3: Check startup items

Miners often set themselves to autorun to operate every time the PC is turned on.

For Windows:

• Press Win + R
• Type “msconfig”
• Open the “Startup” tab
• Disable all suspicious programs
• Reboot

For Mac:

• Open “System Preferences” → “Users & Groups”
• Select your profile
• Go to “Login Items”
• Remove unknown applications

Step 4: Browser — a common entry point

Web miners embed in website scripts and activate upon visiting.

What to check:

1. Browser extensions

   • Chrome: “Settings” → “Extensions”
   • Firefox: “Add-ons and Themes”
   • Remove all unfamiliar plugins

2. Clear cache and cookies — this removes scripts that could initiate mining

3. Install an ad blocker — MinerBlock or AdBlock Plus prevent web mining

If your browser hangs even on simple sites, it’s a clear sign of crypto-jacking.

Step 5: Advanced tools

For experienced users, there are specialized programs:

Process Explorer (Windows)

• Download from the official Microsoft site
• Launch and look for processes with high load
• Right-click → “Check online” for analysis

Resource Monitor

• Built into Windows
• Shows in real-time what consumes resources

Wireshark

• Traffic sniffer
• Miners often send data to hacker servers — you’ll see suspicious connections

How to interpret network activity?

If basic checks yield nothing, look at network connections:

1. Open Command Prompt (Win + R → cmd)
2. Type netstat -ano
3. Look for suspicious IP addresses and ports
4. Match PID with processes in Task Manager

If a process sends data to an unknown server — that might be your answer on how to check your computer for miners.

Where do these viruses come from?

To protect yourself, it’s important to know attack vectors:

• Pirated software and cracks — every second contains a bonus in the form of a miner
• Malicious links — in emails, social networks, messengers
• Vulnerabilities in OS — if your system hasn’t been updated for months
• Infected websites — just visiting can activate crypto-jacking

How to get rid of a miner?

If you find malware:

1. Stop the process in Task Manager — right-click → “End task”
2. Find the file — check the process properties for the path
3. Delete manually or use antivirus
4. Clean residuals — run CCleaner
5. Reinstall OS (as a last resort) — if the miner is deeply embedded in the system

How to protect yourself?

Prevention is easier than treatment:

• Use licensed software, not pirated versions
• Regularly update your system and browsers
• Install quality antivirus and scan regularly
• Use VPNs to protect against malicious sites
• Disable JavaScript on suspicious sites
• Do not open attachments from unknown sources
• Do not click on strange links

If you invest in crypto, monitoring your computer’s security is part of protecting your digital assets. A compromised device is a risk to your wallets too.

Summary

A virus-miner works unnoticed, but symptoms are very real: slowdown, overheating, high bills. Knowing how to check your computer for miners allows you to quickly find and remove the threat.

Use Task Manager for diagnostics, antivirus for scans, browser tools for protection — and you won’t miss an infection. Regularly checking your PC preserves its performance and extends hardware life.

Don’t delay — check your computer right now. If you notice even one sign, run a scan. A healthy PC is the foundation of security in the crypto ecosystem.