Remove WinstarNssmMiner Trojan

This article can help you to remove WinstarNssmMiner Virus. The step by step removal works for every version of Microsoft Windows.

WinstarNssmMiner falls into the category of Trojan Horse viruses. This malicious software can cause severe damage to the victim’s computer. The thing is, its stealthy nature makes it very difficult to detect. And once it finds its way in the system, it doesn’t necessarily start the attack straight away. You never know when the virus will hit. But when it does, it uses all power resources it can find and concentrates them in a process for mining cryptocoins. And that’s not all. This virus can bring along other serious infections without the user’s knowledge or permission. Also, the WinstarNssmMiner Trojan can easily steal the victim’s personal information and send it to other cyber criminals for a profit. You don’t want that happening to you, do you? Read on to find about how such threat can get on your computer and how you can remove it before your private data gets compromised.

How did I get infected with?

Trojan viruses are lurking in so many places, just waiting for their next victim. Such sources may be, but not limited to spam emails, attachments and executable files from suspicious senders, fake updates, free software bundles, malicious ad content, etc. It is advisable not to open emails or attachments from unknown origin because more often than not, they turn out to be malware in disguise. WinstarNssmMiner Trojan is highly dangerous because of the many damages it leaves behind. If you notice a change in your computer’s overall behavior, you should definitely take actions. One of the most commonly seen symptom of this infection is the sudden speed decrease in the system’s performance. So if you notice that your computer is experiencing difficulties running simple programs and applications, it is very likely that you have become a victim of a virus that is using your CPU and graphics card power to mine cryptocurrency.

Why is this dangerous?

Trojan viruses are feared by so many people for a reason. The consequences of the WinstarNssmMiner are highly dangerous. It can seriously mess up with your system and downright destroy the entire computer. In most cases, the virus works undetected, because it has a way of disabling any security programs, as well as delete important system files and multiply itself on their place. Furthermore, this Trojan Horse is able to block vital processes such as Control Panel, task Manager, etc. It can also make itself run automatically on the system startup without the victim even knowing. Other effect of this malicious software is its ability to create backdoor access on the computer, so other hackers can benefit from the private data of the user. Such information can be IP addresses, passwords, bank account information, credit card numbers, browsing history, personal files like photos, documents, executable files, etc. If you suspect that this virus has infiltrated your computer, here are some steps that you can take in order to remove it.

Manual WinstarNssmMiner Removal Instructions

The WinstarNssmMiner infection is specifically designed to make money to its creators one way or another. The specialists from various antivirus companies like Bitdefender, Kaspersky, Norton, Avast, ESET, etc. advise that there is no harmless virus.

If you perform exactly the steps below you should be able to remove the WinstarNssmMiner infection. Please, follow the procedures in the exact order. Please, consider to print this guide or have another computer at your disposal. You will NOT need any USB sticks or CDs.

STEP 1: Track down WinstarNssmMiner related processes in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate WinstarNssmMiner startup location

STEP 3: Delete WinstarNssmMiner traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down WinstarNssmMiner related processes in the computer memory

• Open your Task Manager by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+ESC keys simultaneously
• Carefully review all processes and stop the suspicious ones.

• Write down the file location for later reference.

Step 2: Locate WinstarNssmMiner startup location

Reveal Hidden Files

• Open any folder
• Click on “Organize” button
  
• Choose “Folder and Search Options”
• Select the “View” tab
• Select “Show hidden files and folders” option
• Uncheck “Hide protected operating system files”
• Click “Apply” and “OK” button

Clean WinstarNssmMiner virus from the windows registry

• Once the operating system loads press simultaneously the Windows Logo Button and the R key.

• A dialog box should open. Type “Regedit”

• WARNING! be very careful when editing the Microsoft Windows Registry as this may render the system broken.

Depending on your OS (x86 or x64) navigate to:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]

• and delete the display Name: [RANDOM]

• Then open your explorer and navigate to: %appdata% folder and delete the malicious executable.

Clean your HOSTS file to avoid unwanted browser redirection

Navigate to %windir%/system32/Drivers/etc/host

If you are hacked, there will be foreign IPs addresses connected to you at the bottom. Take a look below:

Step 4: Undo the possible damage done by WinstarNssmMiner

This particular Virus may alter your DNS settings.

Attention! this can break your internet connection. Before you change your DNS settings to use Google Public DNS for WinstarNssmMiner, be sure to write down the current server addresses on a piece of paper.

To fix the damage done by the virus you need to do the following.

• Click the Windows Start button to open the Start Menu, type control panel in the search box and select Control Panel in the results displayed above.
• go to Network and Internet
• then Network and Sharing Center
• then Change Adapter Settings
• Right-click on your active internet connection and click properties. Under the Networking tab, find Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4). Left click on it and then click on properties. Both options should be automatic! By default it should be set to “Obtain an IP address automatically” and the second one to “Obtain DNS server address automatically!” If they are not just change them, however if you are part of a domain network you should contact your Domain Administrator to set these settings, otherwise the internet connection will break!!!

 

• Check your scheduled tasks to make sure the virus will not download itself again.

How to Permanently Remove WinstarNssmMiner Virus (automatic) Removal Guide

Please, have in mind that once you are infected with a single virus, it compromises your whole system or network and let all doors wide open for many other infections. To make sure manual removal is successful, we recommend to use a free scanner of any professional antimalware program to identify possible virus leftovers or temporary files.