Skip to main content

That disruptive crypto mining tool has a dark secret

A tool that claimed to remove all the existing mining limits on several popular Nvidia GPUs has proven to be malware instead.

The Nvidia RTX LHR v2 Unlocker by Sergey was revealed as a program that would modify the BIOS of Nvidia RTX 30-series graphics cards in order to unlock full mining performance. However, following an early launch, it has now been discovered that the creator planned to spread dangerous malware to users.

A cryptocurrency mining rig from a computer graphic card.
A cryptocurrency miner attached to a laptop Getty Images

Initially due for a public beta version release next week on February 28, the tool was released yesterday on the developer’s GitHub page, which has since been removed. According to PCGamer, upon downloading and running the ‘LHRUnlocker Install.msi’ file, powershell.exe is deployed, a Windows service infected with malware. Tom’s Hardware also reports that a malware scan via Joe Sandbox confirms the tool attempts to block Windows Defender from detecting it.

Recommended Videos

As reported by PCMag, Russian data scientist Mikhail Stepanov offered some further insight into the malicious program that was posing as an Ethereum mining unlocker. The installer itself includes a Nvidia GeForce driver file that 18 different antivirus scans recognize as malware.

Stepanov, a cryptocurrency miner himself, attempted to unpack the installer and run it via a virtual machine. As opposed to a tool that could have once again changed the landscape of the GPU market, he found that the installer extracts a harmful driver file from a server located at “drivers.sergeydev[.]com.”

While the exact motive behind the developer’s decision to spread malware remains unclear, Stepanov provided a clue as to what it may have been. “This is a common Trojan,” Stepanov told PCMag. “Most likely they wanted to build a botnet.”

Botnets have become an effective method in installing crypto mining malware on systems, so it’s not farfetched to assume that Sergey may have been planning to generate crypto profits by taking advantage of users who downloaded his file. Of course, it makes perfect sense that Sergey wanted to build a crypto mining botnet. He could have been due to receive a huge financial windfall by mining on thousands or tens of thousands of computers without lifting a finger himself. He would also not have to pay for the electricity costs associated with such activity.

The timing of the Nvidia RTX LHR v2 Unlocker’s announcement was suspicious in and of itself when considering the current state of the cryptocurrency market. With prices falling across the board for some of the most popular coins such as Bitcoin and ETH, the whole crypto space is currently in free fall. Why would someone start mining now when it would take well over a year to even recoup the cost of just the Nvidia GPU?

Tom’s Hardware points out that cryptocurrency mining profitability has been continuing to decrease as of late. A full-speed RTX 3080 Ti will make a miner $3.50 per day. When factoring in the price tag of $1,700 for the GPU itself, it would take nearly 500 days to just break even.

Zak Islam
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Zak Islam was a freelance writer at Digital Trends covering the latest news in the technology world, particularly the…
GPUs are too expensive: how to buy a graphics card right now
The RTX 5080 sitting on a pink background.

It's like it's 2021 all over again. The prices of the best graphics cards are through the roof, and frankly, even the worst GPUs we've seen in the last few years are expensive. Every single card from the current generation is selling well above the recommended list price (MSRP), and unfortunately, what little remains of the previous gens is pricey, too.

If you're struggling to buy a GPU right now, I can relate. I've been through this myself in the last cryptocurrency mining-fueled GPU shortage when my old GTX 1060 was on its last legs and I was desperate to snag a new card. Here's what's happening right now and what you can do to still buy a graphics card right now.
New report says the MSRP is pretty much dead

Read more
Nvidia G-Assist uses AI to configure game settings so you don’t have to
An MSI gaming monitor at CES 2025.

Nvidia's new G-Assist AI assistant is now available on the Nvidia app, ready for GeForce RTX desktop users to try out. The concept first appeared in 2017 as an April Fool's joke before becoming a real tech demo last year, and now, a real-life product.

The assistant is designed to take care of the ever-growing selection of settings PC users need to deal with, including system settings, game settings, and charting performance statistics.

Read more
Prices of Nvidia’s best GPU rise by up to $500 – what it means for you
RTX 5090 vs 4090.

It seems that we're not destined to have some of the best graphics cards at reasonable prices -- at least not just yet. Now, even a manufacturer that was previously known as budget-friendly is racking up the prices in its own online store. The Nvidia partner in question is Zotac, and not only did the company raise the prices of the RTX 5090, but it also removed the card that was previously sold at MSRP.

As spotted by a Reddit user in the r/Nvidia community, the prices of Zotac's versions of the RTX 5090 went up by a whole lot. The flagship card, the Zotac RTX 5090 Amp Extreme Infinity, costs a whopping $3,000. (It should come as no surprise that it's currently sold out, though.)

Read more