With the recent rise in the cryptomining fad, hackers have found creative ways of deploying cryptomining malware entities to the computers of unsuspecting victims to mine cryptocurrencies. While a novel idea for them, it is not that exciting for many of the victims because of the performance issues that their computers experience in the process.
In most cases, msvc.exe is a harmless Windows file, but cybercriminals have found creative ways of naming this malware so that it appears to be a genuine Windows file.
An example of such trickery involves naming a notorious cryptominer as msvc.exe. When a user logs into his PC, the file will load automatically and take up most of the computing resources available. Some of the symptoms of the msvc.exe infection file include unresponsiveness, crushes, reduced performance, overheating, and a general failure of programs to launch quickly.
Is the msvc.exe a Malware or a Virus?
The word malware is a shortened version of “malicious software,” which refers to all software and programs that affect a computer negatively. With this definition in mind, one can rightly refer to the msvc.exe file as a malware. More specifically, msvc.exe is a computer virus that is able to replicate itself and modify other programs so that they perform its goals.
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How to Remove msvc.exe from Your Computer
If you really want to get rid of the msvc.exe file from your computer, then you need to use a premium anti-malware solution such as Outbyte Antivirus. It is the only way to tell whether or not mscve.exe is genuine or not.
An anti-malware solution will help protect your computer against most viruses, Trojan horses, bots, worms and all other unwanted programs. In the case of the msvc.exe file, the anti-malware tool will scan your computer, trace and remove all the files and folders related to the msvc.exe file. This, of course, can be done manually, but it is a daunting task to trace all the files and folders that are associated with the malware as they are mostly deeply embedded inside the PC.
Another reason why using an antivirus for this kind of situation is important is because the antivirus will keep guard and prevent future infections.
When it comes to cryptominers such as the msvc.exe process, you might also want to use a PC repair tool as it will clear all junk files, especially in the %Temp% folder. This folder serves as the base of operations for most cryptominers. A PC repair tool also repairs any corrupt or broken registry entries while making it easier for you to remove problematic apps.
What other options do you have when it comes to removing the msvc.exe virus? The word is plenty; the Windows OS has lots of recovery options that you can readily use to remove or undo any changes to your PC without affecting your files and folders. Here are a few of these:
Task Manager
The Task Manager is a systems monitor and start-up manager that is part of the Windows OS. It allows users to see what processes, apps, and services are running on their computer at any one time. The app can also be used to end tasks that take up too much computing resources.
Here is how to use the Windows Task Manager to locate and remove a file from your computer:
- Type ‘task manager’ into the search bar. Alternatively, press the Ctrl, Alt and Delete keys.
- On the Windows Task Manager, go to the Processes tab and look for the msvc.exe process. If you are not sure which process is msvc.exe, look for the one that is consuming most computing resources.
- Right-click to Open file location.
- Right-click again to End task.
- Now, go to the file location and empty all its contents.
If you are using a Mac, you will need to use the Activity Monitor which works the same way as the Windows Task Manager. To get to the Activity Monitor, just type ‘Activity monitor’ on the Spotlight search field.
System Restore
System Restore is a Windows process that lets you revert any changes to your Windows computer and system files past a certain restore point. Say your PC started acting up after installing a certain program, then you can use the system restore option to remove the app. Activate a restore point that was created prior to the app being installed. Assuming that you have restore points on your computer, the following are the steps to take:
- Into the Windows search box, type ‘create a restore point’.
- On the System Properties app, go to the System Protection tab and click System restore.
- Choose a restore point.
- Follow the on-screen directions to complete the process.
At some point in the system restore process, you will be shown a list of settings, apps, and configurations that will no longer be available once the system restore process is complete. Just make sure that the app you want to remove makes it to that list.
macOS does not have a system restore option but a functionality called Time Machine. You can use this to achieve the same objective of restoring your computer to good health.
What other options do you have? Well, you can always use the nuclear option, which is to reset your computer to its default apps and settings.
How wWas msvc.exe Installed on mMy cComputer?
It is good that you asked this question as there are many potential avenues that malware use to infect computers. Here are a few of them:
Infected Emails
Malware is mostly spread through phishing campaigns that target bad email habits such as clicking on links and attachments without verifying their source or authenticity. Refrain from clicking on any email that comes your way.
Unsecure Sites
Have you recently visited a site that is not secure? If so, then this could explain why your computer got infected in the first place. Unsecure sites are among the most common avenues used by cybercriminals to spread malware.
Pirated Software
Pirated software is a well-known source of malware infection. If you could, buy rather than pirate.
That will be all about the msvc.exe process. Just to clarify again, the mscv.exe process is usually a harmless Windows process, so unless your anti-malware solution confirms that it is a virus, don’t go about removing it.