This article has been created in order to explain what exactly is the malicious worker.exe process and how to fully remove it from your computer system.
A new malicious process, known as worker.exe has been detected by malware researchers to be associated with crypto-currency mining activities. The miner malware which has been reported to run this process in the background on the infected computers is reported to be a Trojan.Downloader which may use it to mine for the cryptocurrency BitCoin. The worker.exe mines for BitCoin by calculating hashes and these calculation procedures require the usage of your computer’s CPU which may not only slow it down, but may also break it due to overheating if the virus remains for longer periods of time on your computer. If you see the worker.exe process on your Windows Task Manager, recommendations are to immediately focus on removing this process from your computer preferably by reading the following article below.
Threat Summary
| Name | worker.exe |
| Type | BitCoin miner malware. |
| Short Description | Enters your computer via malicious websites or malicious e-mail attachments and aims to use the worker.exe miner process to generate BitCoin tokens at the expense of your computer’s resources. |
| Symptoms | Your computer or mobile device is heavily obstructed in terms of performance and can slow down or even break down. |
| Distribution Method | Via malicious e-mails or malicious websites as well as fake setups or other files. |
| Detection Tool |
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Worker.exe CryptoCurrency Miner – How Does It Infect
The infection methods that may be associated with the worker.exe malware may be more than one and they may include different tools that are used to conceal the malware from any conventional protection software and help spread it across more computers. Such tools may be:
- Malware obfuscators.
- Cryptors that hide the malicious code.
- Trojan.Downloader which drops the payload of the virus.
- Malicious JavaScript to infect via websites that are compromised.
- Malicious macros to infect via compromised Microsoft Office documents.
- Spam bots that are used to spread malicious e-mail attachments.
- Setup creating software to insert the malware on the victim’s PC via a fake installer of a program, etc.
Besides via malicious files, the worker.exe miner may also be uploaded as a JavaScript code on compromised websites. Such sites may get the victim to automatically open a .js file and this may initiate the infection. Besides this method, another method which accounts for most of the malware infection methods today may also be used, which is known as malspam infection or an infection via a malicious spam e-mail. Such e-mails often carry either malicious web links or files that are uploaded as an attachment to the e-mails of the victims. Then, the e-mails are sent via a fake address to unsuspecting users and they often contain an attachment which is described in the e-mail to often be a legitimate:
- Invoice.
- Receipt.
- Order confirmation.
- Reservation cancelation.
Worker.exe Miner Malware – Activity
Since the Worker.exe miner may be also a Trojan horse infection, after the initial trigger, the malware may connect remotely to a command and control server. This results in various different files, known as the malware’s payload to be dropped on multiple different folders in Windows. Those are primarily the following:
- %AppData%
- %Local%
- %LocalLow%
- %Roaming%
- %Temp%
When the malicious files are dropped among which is the worker.exe process, the virus may begin to perform various unwanted activities on the computers of victims, starting with beginning to mine for BitCoin. This takes a large ammount of your CPU’s resources, resulting in the virus being able to slow it down and even make it freze at times. The mining operation connects your PC to the wallet of the cyber-criminal and when he or she infects multiple computers linking to his account, he creates a virtual mining rig of many devices capable to generate him extreme ammount of BitCoins. This results in the miner being able to make profit at the expense of the victims computers.
Besides being a cryptocurrency miner, the worker.exe file may also perform other activities on the computer of the victim, such as:
- Steal important passwords and account names.
- Collect your keystrokes.
- Take screenshots.
- Self-update.
- Send itself to other computers on your network.
These are the main reason why you should immediately take actions to remove the Worker.exe cryptocurrency miner from your computer system.
Remove Worker.exe Fully from Your Computer
In order to delete this unwanted software, it is strongly recommended that you follow the removal instructions down below. They are specifically created in order to help you by showing you how to effectively isolate and delete the malicious objects of this virus. However, if you want to remove Worker.exe the proper way so that no traces of it are left on your computer, security experts strongly advise to use an advanced anti-malware software. This will make it possible to help you delete the malicious files from your computer automatically and make your system protected against future infections, like the worker.exe miner.
Ventsislav Krastev
Ventsislav is a cybersecurity expert at SensorsTechForum since 2015. He has been researching, covering, helping victims with the latest malware infections plus testing and reviewing software and the newest tech developments. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for learning new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management, Network Administration and Computer Administration of System Applications, he found his true calling within the cybersecrurity industry and is a strong believer in the education of every user towards online safety and security.
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Preparation before removing worker.exe.
Before starting the actual removal process, we recommend that you do the following preparation steps.
- Make sure you have these instructions always open and in front of your eyes.
- Do a backup of all of your files, even if they could be damaged. You should back up your data with a cloud backup solution and insure your files against any type of loss, even from the most severe threats.
- Be patient as this could take a while.
- Scan for Malware
- Fix Registries
- Remove Virus Files
Step 1: Scan for worker.exe with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Clean any registries, created by worker.exe on your computer.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by worker.exe there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
Tip: To find a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and click "Modify" to see which file it is set to run. If this is the virus file location, remove the value.Step 3: Find virus files created by worker.exe on your PC.
1.For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10.
For Newer Windows Operating Systems
1: On your keyboard press + R and write explorer.exe in the Run text box and then click on the Ok button.
2: Click on your PC from the quick access bar. This is usually an icon with a monitor and its name is either “My Computer”, “My PC” or “This PC” or whatever you have named it.
3: Navigate to the search box in the top-right of your PC's screen and type “fileextension:” and after which type the file extension. If you are looking for malicious executables, an example may be "fileextension:exe". After doing that, leave a space and type the file name you believe the malware has created. Here is how it may appear if your file has been found:
N.B. We recommend to wait for the green loading bar in the navigation box to fill up in case the PC is looking for the file and hasn't found it yet.
2.For Windows XP, Vista, and 7.
For Older Windows Operating Systems
In older Windows OS's the conventional approach should be the effective one:
1: Click on the Start Menu icon (usually on your bottom-left) and then choose the Search preference.
2: After the search window appears, choose More Advanced Options from the search assistant box. Another way is by clicking on All Files and Folders.
3: After that type the name of the file you are looking for and click on the Search button. This might take some time after which results will appear. If you have found the malicious file, you may copy or open its location by right-clicking on it.
Now you should be able to discover any file on Windows as long as it is on your hard drive and is not concealed via special software.
worker.exe FAQ
What Does worker.exe Trojan Do?
The worker.exe Trojan is a malicious computer program designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to a computer system.
It can be used to steal sensitive data, gain control over a system, or launch other malicious activities.
Can Trojans Steal Passwords?
Yes, Trojans, like worker.exe, can steal passwords. These malicious programs are designed to gain access to a user's computer, spy on victims and steal sensitive information such as banking details and passwords.
Can worker.exe Trojan Hide Itself?
Yes, it can. A Trojan can use various techniques to mask itself, including rootkits, encryption, and obfuscation, to hide from security scanners and evade detection.
Can a Trojan be Removed by Factory Reset?
Yes, a Trojan can be removed by factory resetting your device. This is because it will restore the device to its original state, eliminating any malicious software that may have been installed. Bear in mind, that there are more sophisticated Trojans, that leave backdoors and reinfect even after factory reset.
Can worker.exe Trojan Infect WiFi?
Yes, it is possible for a Trojan to infect WiFi networks. When a user connects to the infected network, the Trojan can spread to other connected devices and can access sensitive information on the network.
Can Trojans Be Deleted?
Yes, Trojans can be deleted. This is typically done by running a powerful anti-virus or anti-malware program that is designed to detect and remove malicious files. In some cases, manual deletion of the Trojan may also be necessary.
Can Trojans Steal Files?
Yes, Trojans can steal files if they are installed on a computer. This is done by allowing the malware author or user to gain access to the computer and then steal the files stored on it.
Which Anti-Malware Can Remove Trojans?
Anti-malware programs such as SpyHunter are capable of scanning for and removing Trojans from your computer. It is important to keep your anti-malware up to date and regularly scan your system for any malicious software.
Can Trojans Infect USB?
Yes, Trojans can infect USB devices. USB Trojans typically spread through malicious files downloaded from the internet or shared via email, allowing the hacker to gain access to a user's confidential data.
About the worker.exe Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this worker.exe how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific trojan problem.
How did we conduct the research on worker.exe?
Please note that our research is based on an independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, thanks to which we receive daily updates on the latest malware definitions, including the various types of trojans (backdoor, downloader, infostealer, ransom, etc.)
Furthermore, the research behind the worker.exe threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by trojans, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.