Rundll32.exe

Rundll32.exe is a legitimate process that comes with every Windows OS distribution. It is tasked with handling the correct launch of DLL files especially when it involves interacting with certain other applications. Normally, users shouldn't even notice the file, as it performs its duties in the background of the system. However, this may not always be the case. Harmful Trojans and other malware threats could disguise their abnormal and intrusive processes as Rundll32.exe.

If users observe their computers exhibiting any unusual symptoms, such as frequent freezes, slowdowns, crashes, etc., then they may have an unwanted intruder lurking on them. Specifically, if you see Rundll32.exe among the active process and that it has started taking up a considerable amount of hardware resources. This fact almost certainly points towards the possibility that a coin-miner Trojan is masquerading as the legitimate process.

Coin-miners are threats designed specifically to overtake the hardware capacity of the infected system and utilize it to mine for a chosen cryptocurrency such as Monero, Ethereum, etc. Some coin-miners could try to hide their activities by lowering the exploited resources, while the system is under active use. However, others lack that subtlety and will always keep the system's CPU or GPU under high pressure even reaching 100% of the available capacity.

Users should keep in mind that due to the actions of the Trojan, the hardware components could start to generate excessive amounts of heat. If the cooling system of the device fails to dissipate this heat properly, it could cause severe damage to the hardware.