Is your computer lagging? It might be mining crypto in the background without your knowledge.

Currently, many users are unaware that their PCs are running at full power for someone else’s benefit. A hidden miner virus is a trojan that secretly uses your machine’s GPU and CPU to mine cryptocurrency. Often, a regular antivirus won’t detect it.

What should you pay attention to?

If you notice these signs, it’s time to check:

• Your computer suddenly started lagging – CPU is loaded at 60%+ for no obvious reason
• Graphics card is extremely hot and noisy – the cooler is constantly running at maximum
• Internet traffic spikes – the miner is active 24/7 and constantly sending data
• Unknown processes in Task Manager – like Asikadl.exe or a string of random characters
• Browser is extremely sluggish – if a virus script is embedded on a website

How to get rid of it in 10 minutes?

Option 1: Quick method

1. Run your antivirus (even the built-in Windows Defender) – give it a deep scan
2. After that, run CCleaner – it will clean up the junk left by the virus
3. Restart your computer

Option 2: Manually via the registry (if the antivirus found nothing)

• Win+R → type regedit → OK
• Ctrl+F → search by the suspicious process name
• Delete all found entries → restart

Option 3: Through Task Scheduler

• Win+R → type taskschd.msc → OK
• Find the “Task Scheduler Library” folder
• Check all tasks for suspicious names
• Right-click → “Disable” or “Delete”

If nothing helps, install Dr. Web; it does a deeper scan than standard antivirus programs.

How to avoid getting a miner?

• Always update Windows and your antivirus
• Don’t visit suspicious sites without https://
• Scan files before downloading
• Don’t run programs as administrator without a reason
• In Chrome/Firefox with built-in crypto-mining protection, disable JavaScript in your browser
• Block dangerous sites through the hosts file (there are lists on GitHub)

Lifehack: Install AdBlock or uBlock – they often block browser-based mining before it starts.