How to remove wscntfy.exe virus

Easy tips to delete wscntfy.exe

wscntfy.exe is a malicious executable that belongs to Trojan horse. It is used for cryptojacking. This malicious might be dropped together with free applications and once gets in, it starts utilizing the system’s resources to mine Bitcoin, Monero or other digital coins for the attackers.

The wscntfy.exe process can be seen running in the background and is usually located in the C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming or C:\Program Files. The main feature of the process is high resource usage as it usually takes up to 30-40% of the CPU power.

If you delete this process by ending its task, it will restart soon you reboot the Windows and the virus creates an auto-start entry of its own. In order to stop the malicious activities, you need to remove the wscntfy.exe virus using some reputable antivirus tool.

Once installed in, the Trojan immediately modifies or creates a new Windows registry key so as to boot with each OS reboot. Additionally, the system becomes sluggish and some of the programs might not respond or open. Therefore, you won’t be able to use the PC generally till you remove wscntfy.exe.

Before its removal, you should have to make sure that it’s actually a malicious file. The file might also be related to to software Microsoft Windows Operating System or NT Kernel & System or LMS or Editor by Microsoft. Thus, deleting it might cause problems to the genuine program.

The original file is typically located in C:\Windows\System32 folder. If you see it on another directory, you should obtain a reputable antivirus tool and run a full system scan using it to completely delete the virus and its process.

The malicious can sneak into the system unnoticed

Most of the time, users are responsible for letting malicious files or programs on their systems. Thus, the wscntfy.exe virus is most likely to infiltrate systems when a user downloads an illegal or corrupt program, installs fake update from pop-up, installs a bogus add-on or browser extension from corrupted site or carelessly installs freeware.

Security experts remind users to stay vigilant and choose credible sources for any software download and update. Keep in mind that only official publishers’ sites including legit updates and programs download.

If you choose any freeware or shareware, you should be attentive during the installation moment. Always opt for Custom/ Advanced setup instead of the Quick/Recommended settings. These settings would allow seeing the additional downloads and de-selecting them.

Remove wscntfy.exe to stop all malicious activities

We do not recommend you perform wscntfy.exe removal on your own. Deleting this file might not solve the problem for long time. The miner consists of several related components that might re-install this executable and continue the malicious activities on the system.

Therefore, you should remove wscntfy.exe automatically using some reputable antivirus tool. It will find the Trojan and delete it together with associated files. Thus, you have to look to the problem in the broader perspective and get rid of the malware instead of the single file.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows Click Here For Mac

Important Note: This malware asks you to enable the web browser notifications. So, before you go the manual removal process, execute these steps.

Google Chrome (PC)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the Menu button
• Select “Settings”. Scroll the mouse downward to choose “Advanced” option
• Go to “Privacy and Security” section by scrolling downward and then select “Content settings” and then “Notification” option
• Find each suspicious URLs and click on three dots on the right side and choose “Block” or “Remove” option

Google Chrome (Android)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the menu button and then click on “Settings”
• Scroll down further to click on “site settings” and then press on “notifications” option
• In the newly opened window, choose each suspicious URLs one by one
• In the permission section, select “notification” and “Off” the toggle button

Mozilla Firefox

• On the right corner of the screen, you will notice three dots which is the “Menu” button
• Select “Options” and choose “Privacy and Security” in the toolbar present in the left side of the screen
• Slowly scroll down and go to “Permission” section then choose “Settings” option next to “Notifications”
• In the newly opened window, select all the suspicious URLs. Click on the drop-down menu and select “Block”

Internet Explorer

• In the Internet Explorer window, select the Gear button present on the right corner
• Choose “Internet Options”
• Select “Privacy” tab and then “Settings” under the “Pop-up Blocker” section
• Select all the suspicious URLs one by one and click on the “Remove” option

Microsoft Edge

• Open the Microsoft Edge and click on the three dots on the right corner of the screen to open the menu
• Scroll down and select “Settings”
• Scroll down further to choose “view advanced settings”
• In the “Website Permission” option, click on “Manage” option
• Click on switch under every suspicious URL

Safari (Mac):

• On the upper right side corner, click on “Safari” and then select “Preferences”
• Go to “website” tab and then choose “Notification” section on the left pane
• Search for the suspicious URLs and choose “Deny” option for each one of them

Manual Steps to Remove wscntfy.exe :

Remove the related items of wscntfy.exe using Control-Panel

Windows 7 Users

Click “Start” (the windows logo at the bottom left corner of the desktop screen), select “Control Panel”. Locate the “Programs” and then followed by clicking on “Uninstall Program”

Windows XP Users

Click “Start” and then choose “Settings” and then click “Control Panel”. Search and click on “Add or Remove Program’ option

Windows 10 and 8 Users:

Go to the lower left corner of the screen and right-click. In the “Quick Access” menu, choose “Control Panel”. In the newly opened window, choose “Program and Features”

Mac OSX Users

Click on “Finder” option. Choose “Application” in the newly opened screen. In the “Application” folder, drag the app to “Trash”. Right click on the Trash icon and then click on “Empty Trash”.

In the uninstall programs window, search for the PUAs. Choose all the unwanted and suspicious entries and click on “Uninstall” or “Remove”.

After you uninstall all the potentially unwanted program causing wscntfy.exe issues, scan your computer with an anti-malware tool for any remaining PUPs and PUAs or possible malware infection. To scan the PC, use the recommended the anti-malware tool.

How to Remove Adware (wscntfy.exe ) from Internet Browsers

Delete malicious add-ons and extensions from IE

Click on the gear icon at the top right corner of Internet Explorer. Select “Manage Add-ons”. Search for any recently installed plug-ins or add-ons and click on “Remove”.

Additional Option

If you still face issues related to wscntfy.exe removal, you can reset the Internet Explorer to its default setting.

Windows XP users: Press on “Start” and click “Run”. In the newly opened window, type “inetcpl.cpl” and click on the “Advanced” tab and then press on “Reset”.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 Users: Press the Windows logo, type inetcpl.cpl in the start search box and press enter.  In the newly opened window, click on the “Advanced Tab” followed by “Reset” button.

For Windows 8 Users: Open IE and click on the “gear” icon. Choose “Internet Options”

Select the “Advanced” tab in the newly opened window

Press on “Reset” option

You have to press on the “Reset” button again to confirm that you really want to reset the IE

Remove Doubtful and Harmful Extension from Google Chrome

Go to menu of Google Chrome by pressing on three vertical dots and select on “More tools” and then “Extensions”. You can search for all the recently installed add-ons and remove all of them.

Optional Method

If the problems related to wscntfy.exe still persists or you face any issue in removing, then it is advised that your reset the Google Chrome browse settings. Go to three dotted points at the top right corner and choose “Settings”. Scroll down bottom and click on “Advanced”.

At the bottom, notice the “Reset” option and click on it.

In the next opened window, confirm that you want to reset the Google Chrome settings by click on the “Reset” button.

Remove wscntfy.exe plugins (including all other doubtful plug-ins) from Firefox Mozilla

Open the Firefox menu and select “Add-ons”. Click “Extensions”.  Select all the recently installed browser plug-ins.

Optional Method

If you face problems in wscntfy.exe removal then you have the option to rese the settings of Mozilla Firefox.

Open the browser (Mozilla Firefox) and click on the “menu” and then click on “Help”.

Choose “Troubleshooting Information”

In the newly opened pop-up window, click “Refresh Firefox” button

The next step is to confirm that really want to reset the Mozilla Firefox settings to its default by clicking on “Refresh Firefox” button.

Remove Malicious Extension from Safari

Open the Safari and go to its “Menu” and select “Preferences”.

Click on the “Extension” and select all the recently installed “Extensions” and then click on “Uninstall”.

Optional Method

Open the “Safari” and go menu. In the drop-down menu, choose “Clear History and Website Data”.

In the newly opened window, select “All History” and then press on “Clear History” option.

Delete wscntfy.exe (malicious add-ons) from Microsoft Edge

Open Microsoft Edge and go to three horizontal dot icons at the top right corner of the browser. Select all the recently installed extensions and right click on the mouse to “uninstall”

Optional Method

Open the browser (Microsoft Edge) and select “Settings”

Next steps is to click on “Choose what to clear” button

Click on “show more” and then select everything and then press on “Clear” button.

Conclusion

In most cases, the PUPs and adware gets inside the marked PC through unsafe freeware downloads. It is advised that you should only choose developers website only while downloading any kind of free applications.  Choose custom or advanced installation process so that you can trace the additional PUPs listed for installation along with the main program.