How to remove Bird Miner from the operating system

What is Bird Miner?

Bird Miner is malicious software that uses computer resources to mine cryptocurrency via emulation. Research shows that it runs two miners and, therefore, it consumes extensive resources. Cyber criminals distribute Bird Miner using an installer for a 'cracked' (pirated) version of ValhallaVintageVerb software.

Bird Miner is a malOnce cryptocurrency miner similar to Bird Miner. When installed, it starts using computer resources (e.g., CPU, GPU) to mine cryptocurrency.

Software of this kind achieves this by solving mathematical problems. It can mine cryptocurrency faster on computers with more powerful hardware, and thus generates more revenue for cyber criminals responsible.

Typically, computers that have cryptocurrency miners installed and running on them start operating slower or even at the level where they virtually cannot perform any other tasks. Therefore, the operating system might start crashing or stop responding, which can result in loss of unsaved data, unexpected shutdowns, hardware overheating, etc.

Note that high computer hardware usage caused by cryptocurrency miners causes greater electricity consumption, and hence higher electricity bills.

Research shows that this particular miner is designed not to run on the operating system (not to mine cryptocurrency) when Activity Monitor is launched - this is so that users do not notice its processes running the malicious software and using computer resources to mine cryptocurrency via emulation.

Research shows that it runs two miners and, therefore, consumes significant resources.

Threat Summary:

Name	Bird Miner crypto-malware
Threat Type	Crypto-malware.
Detection Names	AegisLab (Trojan.OSX.BirdMiner.4!c), BitDefender (Trojan.MAC.Generic.6329), Kaspersky (HEUR:Trojan.OSX.BirdMiner.a), Microsoft (Trojan:Win32/Casdet!rfn), Full List (VirusTotal).
Symptoms	Cryptocurrency miners are designed to stealthily infiltrate the victim's computer and remain silent, and thus no particular symptoms are clearly visible on an infected machine.
Distribution methods	Installers for pirated software, infected email attachments, malicious online advertisements, social engineering.
Damage	Higher electricity bills, hardware overheat, system crashes, data loss, decrease in computer performance.
Malware Removal (Mac)	To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your Mac with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner for Mac To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. Limited seven days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Another example of a cryptocurrency miner designed to run on Mac computers is LoudMiner. Generally, users install mining malware inadvertently - cyber criminals use various methods to deceive people into installing software of this kind onto their computers. The most commonly used methods to distribute this and other malware are described below.

How did malware install on my computer?

Bird Miner is distributed via an installer designed to install a pirated/cracked version of the ValhallaVintageVerb program. It is possible that this miner is also distributed through installers that supposedly install other software (e.g., pirated Ableton Live 10 version).

Other common ways to distribute malware are via malspam campaigns, Trojans, third party (fake) software updating tools and untrusted file, and software download sources. Users infect computers through malspam campaigns (emails) when they execute malicious attachments or files that they have downloaded through links in emails received from cyber criminals.

In most cases, cyber criminals send emails that have a malicious Microsoft Office document, PDF document, archive file such as ZIP, RAR, JavaScript file or executable file (.exe) attached to them. A Trojan is a type of malware that can cause chain infections.

Once installed, it installs other malware. Fake software updating tools infect systems by installing malware rather than updates/fixes for the installed software, or by exploiting bugs/flaws of outdated software.

Examples of untrusted file/software download sources used to proliferate malware are Peer-to-Peer networks (e.g., torrent clients, eMule), freeware download websites, free file hosting websites, third party downloaders, and unofficial pages. Malicious software can be distributed through them by disguising malicious files as legitimate.

The rogue programs are installed when users download and open the malicious files.

How to avoid installation of malware

Installed programs must be activated and updated with tools or implemented functions that are provided by the official developers. No other third party, unofficial tools should be used. Note that it is illegal to activate licensed software with ‘cracking’ tools.

Files and programs should be downloaded from official websites and via direct download links. Avoid third party installers and the tools/sources mentioned above. Do not open website links or files in irrelevant emails that are received from unknown, suspicious addresses.

These bogus emails are often disguised as official and important. Regularly, scan your computer with reputable, up-to-date antivirus or anti-spyware software. If your computer is already infected with PUAs, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate them.

Screenshot of the contents of the .dmg file, which supposedly contains the installer for ValhallaVintageVerb:

Screenshot of the installer for pirated version of ValhallaVintageVerb, which is designed to install Bird Miner:

Instant automatic Mac malware removal: Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced computer skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of Mac malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner for Mac By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. Limited seven days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Quick menu:

• What is Bird Miner?
• STEP 1. Remove PUA related files and folders from OSX.
• STEP 2. Remove rogue extensions from Safari.
• STEP 3. Remove rogue add-ons from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove potentially unwanted plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox.

Video showing how to remove adware and browser hijackers from a Mac computer:

Potentially unwanted applications removal:

Remove potentially unwanted applications from your "Applications" folder:

Click the Finder icon. In the Finder window, select "Applications". In the applications folder, look for "MPlayerX", "NicePlayer", or other suspicious applications and drag them to the Trash. After removing the potentially unwanted application(s) that cause online ads, scan your Mac for any remaining unwanted components.

Remove bird miner crypto-malware related files and folders:

Click the Finder icon, from the menu bar. Choose Go, and click Go to Folder...

Check for adware-generated files in the /Library/LaunchAgents folder:

In the Go to Folder... bar, type: /Library/LaunchAgents

In the “LaunchAgents” folder, look for any recently-added suspicious files and move them to the Trash. Examples of files generated by adware - “installmac.AppRemoval.plist”, “myppes.download.plist”, “mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist”, “kuklorest.update.plist”, etc. Adware commonly installs several files with the same string.

Check for adware generated files in the /Library/Application Support folder:

In the Go to Folder... bar, type: /Library/Application Support

In the “Application Support” folder, look for any recently-added suspicious folders. For example, “MplayerX” or “NicePlayer”, and move these folders to the Trash.

Check for adware-generated files in the ~/Library/LaunchAgents folder:

In the Go to Folder bar, type: ~/Library/LaunchAgents

In the “LaunchAgents” folder, look for any recently-added suspicious files and move them to the Trash. Examples of files generated by adware - “installmac.AppRemoval.plist”, “myppes.download.plist”, “mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist”, “kuklorest.update.plist”, etc. Adware commonly installs several files with the same string.

Check for adware-generated files in the /Library/LaunchDaemons folder:

In the Go to Folder... bar, type: /Library/LaunchDaemons

In the “LaunchDaemons” folder, look for recently-added suspicious files. For example “com.aoudad.net-preferences.plist”, “com.myppes.net-preferences.plist”, "com.kuklorest.net-preferences.plist”, “com.avickUpd.plist”, etc., and move them to the Trash.

 Scan your Mac with Combo Cleaner:

If you have followed all the steps in the correct order you Mac should be clean of infections. To be sure your system is not infected run a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus. Download it HERE. After downloading the file double click combocleaner.dmg installer, in the opened window drag and drop Combo Cleaner icon on top of the Applications icon. Now open your launchpad and click on the Combo Cleaner icon. Wait until Combo Cleaner updates it's virus definition database and click "Start Combo Scan" button.

Combo Cleaner will scan your Mac for malware infections. If the antivirus scan displays "no threats found" - this means that you can continue with the removal guide, otherwise it's recommended to remove any found infections before continuing.

After removing files and folders generated by the adware, continue to remove rogue extensions from your Internet browsers.

Bird Miner crypto-malware removal from Internet browsers:

Remove malicious extensions from Safari:

Remove bird miner crypto-malware related Safari extensions:

Open Safari browser, from the menu bar, select "Safari" and click "Preferences...".

In the preferences window, select "Extensions" and look for any recently-installed suspicious extensions. When located, click the "Uninstall" button next to it/them. Note that you can safely uninstall all extensions from your Safari browser - none are crucial for normal browser operation.

• If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Safari.

Remove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:

Remove bird miner crypto-malware related Mozilla Firefox add-ons:

Open your Mozilla Firefox browser. At the top right corner of the screen, click the "Open Menu" (three horizontal lines) button. From the opened menu, choose "Add-ons".

Choose the "Extensions" tab and look for any recently-installed suspicious add-ons. When located, click the "Remove" button next to it/them. Note that you can safely uninstall all extensions from your Mozilla Firefox browser - none are crucial for normal browser operation.

• If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Mozilla Firefox.

Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Remove bird miner crypto-malware related Google Chrome add-ons:

Open Google Chrome and click the "Chrome menu" (three horizontal lines) button located in the top-right corner of the browser window. From the drop-down menu, choose "More Tools" and select "Extensions".

In the "Extensions" window, look for any recently-installed suspicious add-ons. When located, click the "Trash" button next to it/them. Note that you can safely uninstall all extensions from your Google Chrome browser - none are crucial for normal browser operation.

• If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Google Chrome.

Click to post a comment