Home Malware Programs Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUPs) VPNTop CPU Miner

VPNTop CPU Miner

Posted: October 16, 2017

Threat Metric

Threat Level: 8/10
Infected PCs: 26
First Seen: October 16, 2017
Last Seen: May 12, 2023
OS(es) Affected: Windows

The VPNTop CPU Miner is a stealthy application, which is known for using the CPU resources of its users to mine various cryptocurrencies. The software is not distributed as a miner and, instead, its publisher promotes VPNTop as the Best VPN for China and Best VPN for UAE Dubai. Users who opt to install this application will be asked whether they'd like to take advantage of the free trial that can give them a glimpse at the features and speed that VPNTop possesses immediately. However, what the trial offer might not mention is that all users who opt to participate in the trial will end up allowing a CPU mining utility to run on their computers unknowingly.

The VPNTop CPU Miner is very stealthy, and users might not notice anything suspicious until they try to run an application that requires more hardware resources. Software that requires lots of processing power might underperform because the VPNTop CPU Miner will consume most of the CPU's resources to carry out the cryptocurrency mining operations. Another way to notice this threat is to check the list of processes running currently – the VPNTop CPU Miner is tied to the processes 'Service.exe' and 'winsock.exe.'

Apart from having a negative impact on the computer's performance, the VPNTop CPU Miner may also reduce the lifespan of the CPU and its cooler. This may happen because the software will keep the CPU under constant load, therefore increasing the speed at which the cooler works, as well as increasing the temperature at which the processor operates. The short-term consequences of this are none, but having the miner running for months may reduce the lifetime of the PC components listed above slightly.

If you suspect that the VPNTop CPU Miner utility might be running on your computer, then it is better if youtake the necessary measures to ensure this program's removal. Keep in mind that simply uninstalling VPNTop is unlikely to solve the issue, and you should use a reputable anti-virus scanner to ensure the miner's complete removal.

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