What you’re seeing
- Task Manager shows CPU at or near 100% around the clock, even with no users working.
- An unfamiliar process, sometimes named to look like a Windows component, uses most of the processor.
- Ending the process works briefly, then it returns within minutes or after a reboot.
- Security tools name XMRig, CoinMiner or a similar detection, or the fans run loud constantly.
- Outbound connections go to mining pool addresses on unusual ports.
Common causes
Every environment is different, but these are the causes our engineers find most often:
- An attacker got in through exposed Remote Desktop, a weak password or an unpatched internet-facing service.
- A vulnerable web application, VPN or remote management tool was exploited to drop the miner.
- Scheduled tasks, services or startup entries were planted to restart the miner whenever it is stopped.
- Pirated software or a fake utility carried the miner as a hidden payload.
Why it matters
A miner steals your server's processing power, so every application on it slows down and the hardware runs hot, shortening its life and increasing power bills. The bigger problem is what the miner proves: someone had enough access to install software and keep it running. The same access can be sold to ransomware groups or used to steal data. Treat the server as compromised and keep it isolated from the rest of the network until it has been investigated.
How AskTechGurus fixes it
Skip the trial and error. A certified engineer works on your actual system, finds the root cause, and fixes it properly.
Tell us what’s happening
Submit a ticket in about two minutes. Paste the error, describe what changed, and pick your tier. No charge to submit.
A certified engineer diagnoses it
A vetted, US-based systems engineer claims your ticket, usually within minutes during business hours, and investigates over a secure remote session you can watch and end at any time.
Fixed and verified with you
The engineer resolves the root cause and confirms with you that it’s working. You don’t just get a workaround, and you get a plain-English summary of what was wrong.
Pay only when it’s resolved
Fixed price from $99, invoiced only after you approve the fix. If it isn’t resolved, you don’t pay.
Frequently asked questions
If we remove the miner, are we safe?
Not by itself. The way the attacker got in and any other access they set up also have to be found and closed, or the miner or something worse will come back.
Did they steal our data?
Miners are usually after computing power, but the access used to install one could also reach your files. That question needs to be answered with a review of the server's activity.