A compromised Hola Browser delivery path for Windows may have left a cryptominer on some PCs. If you installed or updated Hola Browser recently, check the Hola installation folder for me.exe or HolaMonitorService.exe, then check whether the Windows service hola_monitor_svc is present and verify that no miner persistence remains.
The Sophos report, published on June 4, 2026, says the finding came from AppEsteem certification testing and Sophos telemetry. Hola told Sophos that the affected delivery pipeline was halted and rebuilt, and said the incident affected about 0.1% of users with no user data accessed or exfiltrated. That still leaves a clear endpoint question: if the miner landed on a Windows PC, it can waste CPU/GPU resources, run when the host is idle, and weaken defenses by adding a Microsoft Defender exclusion.
What Sophos Found
Sophos identified me.exe as an undeclared component in Hola Browser version 1.251.91.0. The file was not code signed, had no timestamp, contained obfuscated code, and was detected by Sophos as Troj/GoMiner-B. The same report says the binary includes strings tied to XMRig-style idle mining and, when run with administrative privileges, copies itself to C:\Program Files\Hola\HolaMonitorService.exe.
| Indicator | Why it matters |
|---|---|
C:\Program Files\Hola\me.exe |
Unexpected executable Sophos analyzed as a cryptominer payload. |
HolaMonitorService.exe |
Copy of the miner used for Windows service persistence. |
hola_monitor_svc |
Autostart service name reported by Sophos. |
| Defender exclusion added | A miner that excludes itself from scanning can survive longer and hide cleanup failure. |
| High CPU/GPU while idle | Matches the reported behavior of an idle cryptominer. |
Who Should Check Their PC
Check your system if you installed or updated Hola Browser for Windows recently, especially if the PC became hot, loud, slow, or showed unexpected CPU/GPU activity while idle. The case is also relevant if a security product flagged me.exe, HolaMonitorService.exe, GoMiner, or a suspicious service under the Hola folder.
This is different from a normal browser hijacker or unwanted Chromium clone. A browser may be annoying when it changes search settings, but a miner with a Windows service and Defender exclusion requires persistence cleanup. If you are comparing this to other unwanted-browser cases, the broader Carbonate Browser safety check explains the PUA side, while the Service Miner Removal Guide covers the persistence pattern.
What To Do Now
- Uninstall Hola Browser from Windows settings if you do not explicitly need it.
- Open Task Manager and check for
me.exe,HolaMonitorService.exe, or unexplained CPU/GPU use after the PC sits idle. - Open an elevated Command Prompt and run
sc query hola_monitor_svc. If the service exists, stop using the browser until the miner persistence is removed. - Check Microsoft Defender exclusions for unexpected Hola paths or miner files, then remove exclusions you did not create.
- Run a full system scan. Gridinsoft Anti-Malware can be used as a second-opinion cleanup pass for the miner file, related services, scheduled tasks, and unwanted browser leftovers.
- After cleanup, reboot and re-check Task Manager, Services, Defender exclusions, and the Hola folder. If the service or file returns, treat it as persistence rather than a simple uninstall problem.
Remove the Miner with Gridinsoft Anti-Malware
Gridinsoft Anti-Malware is useful here because the cleanup is not limited to one browser file. A full scan can detect the miner payload, related PUA/browser leftovers, service persistence, scheduled tasks, startup entries, and other files that may have arrived through the same delivery path.
- Download Gridinsoft Anti-Malware from the official site: https://gridinsoft.com/antimalware.
- Run a Full Scan, not only a quick browser cleanup, because the reported payload can create a Windows service.
- Use Treat or Clean Now for detections tied to
me.exe,HolaMonitorService.exe, suspicious Hola folder leftovers, miner modules, or unwanted browser components. - Reboot Windows, then run a second scan to confirm the miner does not return.
- After the scan, verify manually that
hola_monitor_svcis gone and that no unexpected Microsoft Defender exclusion still points to the Hola folder.
If Gridinsoft Anti-Malware still finds the same file after reboot, treat the case as active persistence: disconnect the PC from risky accounts, export the detection report, and check startup/service entries before signing back in to browsers, wallets, or work tools.
After uninstalling the suspicious app or deleting the threat, scan all drives to catch hidden folders, startup entries, and bundled files.
Download Anti-MalwareIf you downloaded Hola Browser from an unofficial mirror, cracked bundle, or ad-driven installer, widen the check. A miner may be only one visible symptom. Look for proxyware, suspicious VPN components, browser extensions, and outbound traffic you cannot explain; the upWire.exe Trojan.Proxy article shows a related risk pattern where a “network utility” can expose the user’s IP address to third-party traffic.
FAQ
Is Hola Browser itself confirmed malware?
The Sophos report focuses on an unexpected me.exe component delivered through a compromised or inconsistent distribution pipeline. Hola told Sophos it fixed the delivery pipeline. The safe user decision is to check for the reported files and service instead of assuming every install is clean.
What is the most important file to search for?
Start with C:\Program Files\Hola\me.exe and C:\Program Files\Hola\HolaMonitorService.exe. Also check whether the service name hola_monitor_svc exists.
Should I only delete me.exe?
No. Deleting one file may leave a Windows service, Defender exclusion, scheduled task, or browser component behind. Remove the application, remove persistence, scan the system, reboot, and verify that the indicators do not return.
Were passwords stolen?
Hola told Sophos that no user data was accessed or exfiltrated. The reported payload is a miner, so the immediate endpoint concern is resource abuse and persistence. Change passwords only if you also find other malware, suspicious browser extensions, or account activity.
References
- Sophos X-Ops. “You do surprise me.exe: An unexpected executable in Hola Browser.” Sophos, published June 4, 2026; accessed June 5, 2026. https://www.sophos.com/en-us/blog/you-do-surprise-me-exe-an-unexpected-executable-in-hola-browser
- Microsoft Learn. “Configure and validate Microsoft Defender Antivirus exclusions.” Microsoft, updated May 22, 2026; accessed June 5, 2026. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-endpoint/configure-extension-file-exclusions-microsoft-defender-antivirus
- Microsoft Learn. “sc query.” Microsoft, updated May 7, 2026; accessed June 5, 2026. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/sc-query
