Recently, I noticed that many people are unaware of how dangerous hidden mining viruses can be. I decided to explore this topic in more detail and share my observations.

The essence of the problem is that malicious programs covertly use your computer's resources to mine cryptocurrencies. This is not just an annoying bug — it’s a serious threat that can disable hardware within hours. Laptops are especially vulnerable.

Mining viruses come in two types. The first is cryptojacking embedded in websites. When you visit an infected page, a script activates and runs in the background. Antivirus software doesn’t detect it because it doesn’t load onto the disk. The second type is a classic file virus, which installs itself as an archive and runs every time the PC is turned on.

How to check your computer for miners? There are several obvious signs. If your graphics card starts making strange noises, the fan is running at maximum, and the case is hot — that’s the first signal. You can check the load using GPU-Z. The second sign is that your computer has become sluggish. Open Task Manager and look at CPU usage. If it stays at 60% or higher without an apparent reason, it’s time to scan. Also, pay attention to RAM consumption and network traffic.

Now about the methods of checking. Start with an antivirus — run a full scan. Then use CCleaner or a similar tool to clean system junk. Reboot your PC.

If you want a more thorough check for miners, use built-in Windows tools. Open the registry with Win+R and type regedit. You can find suspicious processes by searching there. Look for processes with names like asikadl.exe or other unfamiliar tasks.

Another method is to check the Task Scheduler. Enter taskschd.msc in the same Win+R window. In the scheduler library, look for tasks that run at startup. Check the triggers and actions — if anything looks suspicious, disable that task. If after doing so your CPU returns to normal, you’ve found the culprit.

For deeper inspection, use the program AnVir Task Manager — it specializes in finding autoloaded tasks. If regular methods don’t help, run a comprehensive system scan with Dr. Web.

Regarding protection, a comprehensive strategy is key. Install antivirus software and keep its databases updated regularly. Avoid visiting dubious sites without an SSL certificate — check for https. Disable JavaScript in your browser if it’s not critical — this removes the possibility of browser-based miners. Chrome has built-in protection against mining in its privacy settings.

I recommend creating system backups every 2-3 months. If you suspect infection that can’t be removed with standard methods, restoring from a clean Windows image is the last line of defense.

A few more practical tips: set a strong password on your router, disable remote access. Don’t run programs as administrator unless necessary — miners will gain maximum resource access. Use AdBlock or uBlock to filter malicious scripts.

In general, it’s better to prevent than to fight later. Verify program sources before downloading, scan all downloaded files with antivirus, and keep your firewall enabled. If you stay vigilant and perform regular diagnostics, the risk of infection is minimal. The main thing is not to ignore the first signs of trouble.