This Coinminer arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.
However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible. It uses the system's central processing unit (CPU) and/or graphical processing unit (GPU) resources to mine cryptocurrency.
Arrival Details
This Coinminer arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.
Installation
This Coinminer adds the following folders:
(Note: %ProgramData% is a version of the Program Files folder where any user on a multi-user computer can make changes to programs. This contains application data for all users. This is usually C:\ProgramData in Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)
It drops the following files:
- %ProgramData%\ADwXcSSGvY\windrvmgr32
- %ProgramData%\ADwXcSSGvY\cfg
- %ProgramData%\ADwXcSSGvY\cfgi
- %ProgramData%\ADwXcSSGvY\r.vbs
(Note: %ProgramData% is a version of the Program Files folder where any user on a multi-user computer can make changes to programs. This contains application data for all users. This is usually C:\ProgramData in Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)
Autostart Technique
This Coinminer drops the following file(s) in the Windows User Startup folder to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
- %Start Menu%\Programs\Startup\LtHgNeMqRB.url
(Note: %Start Menu% is the current user's Start Menu folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Start Menu or C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)
Other Details
This Coinminer connects to the following possibly malicious URL:
- http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}7.153/c.txt
However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.
It uses the system's central processing unit (CPU) and/or graphical processing unit (GPU) resources to mine cryptocurrency. This behavior makes the system run abnormally slow.
Step 1
Before doing any scans, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.
Step 2
Note that not all files, folders, and registry keys and entries are installed on your computer during this malware's/spyware's/grayware's execution. This may be due to incomplete installation or other operating system conditions. If you do not find the same files/folders/registry information, please proceed to the next step.
Step 3
Restart in Safe Mode
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To restart in Safe Mode:
• For Windows 2000 users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 when you see the Starting Windows bar at the bottom of the screen.
- Choose the Safe Mode option from the Windows Advanced Options menu then press Enter.
• For Windows XP users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 after the Power-On Self Test (POST) routine is done. If the Windows Advanced Options menu does not appear, try restarting then pressing F8 several times when the POST screen appears.
- Choose the Safe Mode option from the Windows Advanced Options menu then press Enter.
• For Windows Server 2003 users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 after Windows starts up. If the Windows Advanced Options menu does not appear, try restarting again and pressing F8 several times afterward.
- On the Windows Advanced Option menu, use the arrow keys to select Safe Mode then press Enter.
• For Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 after the Power-On Self Test (POST) routine is done. If the Advanced Boot Options menu does not appear, try restarting and then pressing F8 several times after the POST screen is displayed.
- On the Advanced Boot Options menu, use the arrow keys to select the Safe Mode option, and then press Enter.
• For Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 users
- Access the Charms bar by moving your mouse pointer to the upper right corner of the screen.
- Move your mouse pointer down and click Settings>Change your PC Settings.
- In the left panel, click General.
- In the right panel, scroll down to the bottom to find the Advanced startup section, then click the Restart now button and wait for the system to restart.
- In the Advanced Startup menu, click Troubleshoot>Advanced Options>Startup Settings>Restart and wait for the system to restart.
- In the Startup Settings menu, press 4 to enable safe mode.
Step 4
Search and delete this file
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There may be some files that are hidden. Please make sure you check the
Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the "More advanced options" option to include all hidden files and folders in the search result.
- %ProgramData%\ADwXcSSGvY\windrvmgr32
- %ProgramData%\ADwXcSSGvY\cfg
- %ProgramData%\ADwXcSSGvY\cfgi
- %ProgramData%\ADwXcSSGvY\r.vbs
- %Start Menu%\Programs\Startup\LtHgNeMqRB.url
To manually delete a malware/grayware file from an affected system:
• For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003:
- Right-click Start then click Search....
- In the File name* input box, type the following:
- %ProgramData%\ADwXcSSGvY\windrvmgr32
- %ProgramData%\ADwXcSSGvY\cfg
- %ProgramData%\ADwXcSSGvY\cfgi
- %ProgramData%\ADwXcSSGvY\r.vbs
- %Start Menu%\Programs\Startup\LtHgNeMqRB.url
- In the Look In drop-down list, select My Computer then press Enter.
- Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
*Note: The file name input box title varies depending on the Windows version (e.g. Search for files or folders named or All or part of the file name.).
• For Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012:
- Open a Windows Explorer window.
- For Windows Vista, 7, and Server 2008 users, click Start>Computer.
- For Windows 8, 8.1, and Server 2012 users, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, then click File Explorer.
- In the Search Computer/This PC input box, type:
- %ProgramData%\ADwXcSSGvY\windrvmgr32
- %ProgramData%\ADwXcSSGvY\cfg
- %ProgramData%\ADwXcSSGvY\cfgi
- %ProgramData%\ADwXcSSGvY\r.vbs
- %Start Menu%\Programs\Startup\LtHgNeMqRB.url
- Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
*Note: Read the following Microsoft page if these steps do not work on Windows 7.
Step 5
Search and delete this folder
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Please make sure you check the
Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the More advanced options option to include all hidden folders in the search result.
To delete the malware/grayware folder:
- Right-click Start then click Search... or Find..., depending on the version of Windows you are running.
- In the Named input box, type:
- In the Look In drop-down list, select My Computer, then press Enter.
- Once located, select the folder then press SHIFT+DELETE to permanently delete the folder.
Step 6
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as Coinminer.Win32.MALXMR.ANZ. If the detected files have already been cleaned, deleted, or quarantined by your Trend Micro product, no further step is required. You may opt to simply delete the quarantined files. Please check this Knowledge Base page for more information.
