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Hacktool Win32 Keygen is a conspicuous trojan which is as malicious as virus. But it is hard for normal users to detect it without any tools. It can mask itself as a normal files or documents, as well as a system program.
I write this article because I received at least 20 e-mails complaining about “HackTool:Win32/Keygen” since last weekend. Most said that Microsoft Security Essentials detected this threat on their computers but couldn’t remove it permanenty. In fact, HackTool:Win32/Keygen is a controversial “threat” – some PC users consider it as malware; while some think it is a useful tool that helps generate keys for various software products. So, is HackTool:Win32/Keygen malware or not? Should you remove it? How to remove it completely? You will see the answers below.
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Name: | HackTool:Win32/Keygen |
Category: | Malicious Keygen Tool, Malware |
Brief description: | HackTool:Win32/Keygen is a tool used to genereate keys for a variety of illegally-installed software. |
Threat level: | Medium |
Published date: | Mar 14, 2013 |
Infected PCs: | More than 12 million |
Top 3 countries affected: | Brazil, Russia, Italy |
Aliases: | [CAT-QuickHeal], Generic PUP [McAfee], HackTool.Keygen.r3 (Not a Virus), Win32/HackKMS.A potentially unsafe [ESET-NOD32], Malware.Packer.Gen [Malwarebytes], Suspicious_Gen4.ATNVF [Norman], Trojan.Agent/Gen-StartPage [SUPERAntiSpyware], possible-Threat.Hacktool.KMS [Ikarus], Trojan/W32.Genome.128512.B [nProtect], Win.Trojan.Keygen-60 [ClamAV], Keygen (PUA) [Sophos], Win32.Trojan.Agent.ET9SBN [GData], Trojan ( 001946171 ) [K7GW], TrojanDownloader.Delf.lka [Jiangmin], W32/Backdoor.JUQY-0910 [Commtouch], and CRCK_AUTOKMS [TrendMicro-HouseCall] |
Files created: | %ALLUSERSPROFILE%Start MenuProgramsStartupWindows Loader.exe , %WINDIR%BOX_cFosTASK.exe, %APPDATA%MicrosoftWindowsStart MenuProgramsStartupFLOATING_Pa.exe, Password FinderTNODUP.exe, %WINDIR%system32Patch.exe, %WINDIR%KMSAct.exe, %LOCALAPPDATA%InstSchedule.exe |
Know more about HackTool:Win32/Keygen
Some people consider HackTool:Win32/Keygen as a useful tool, because it seems to act as a beneficial key generator that helps them to generate keys for different kinds of software that are obtained illegally. However, it is more a malware threat than a useful tool. Generally, legitimate key generators are distributed by software manufacturers for licensing software in commercial environments where software has been licensed in bulk for an entire site or enterprise. But this tool has been proved to be illegitimately distributed in circumstances of copyright infringement or software piracy. In most cases, users do not realize that they have downloaded this threat until they receive the system alert (see as below) from their antivirus software.
System alert screenshot (1)
System alert screenshot (2)
System alert screenshot (3)
Note: If your antivirus program can detect this threat but is unable to remove it completely, then you can try using the tool below. It is an advanced anti-malware program designed to deal with various types of malware threats. It will help resolve your malware issues effectively!
HackTool:Win32/Keygen can be distributed in various ways. Users can unconsciously download this malware tool on their computers simply by visiting a shady or hacked websites, clicking on a link, opening an email attachment, and downloading sharing files from P2P networks. Surely, some users might install this malware tool on their computers themselves, thinking that it is a great tool that provides them with some necessary activation keys, ignoring the fact that it will pose threat to their computers.
According to the researchers, HackTool:Win32/Keygen may have malware embedded, and once the it is downloaded on users’ computers, the malware could be loaded invisibly at the same time. The malware can be Trojans, worms, adware, browser hijackers, or even ransomware. Besides, this tool itself can bring several potential threats to users:
- Users may have software issues which can cause malware infection. Altough this tool seems to allow users install various types of software without purchasing them, but it actually brings more harm to users. Since these software programs are illegally obtained, users would miss some essential updates from the publishers when needed. As a result, malware can take advantage of the software flaws to attack users’ computers all of a sudden.
- Users’ computer performance will be affacted. When running in the background, HackTool:Win32/Keygen will take up lots of memory space, which drag down the computer running speed. Besides, it will download various malicious files on the targeted computers which can also affect the computer’s performance.
- Users’ computers may be attacked by cyber hackers. This key generator may grant remote access to hackers. Once such access is obtained, cyber hackers can perform a series of malicious activities on the compromised computers.
So you see that HackTool:Win32/Keygen is a big threat to users’ computers. If you have got this malware tool installed on your PC, you should remove it as quickly as possible. Have no ideas how to get rid of it completely? You can refer to the removal guide below.
Guide to Remove HackTool:Win32/Keygen Completely
It is important that you remove this malware tool from your PC promptly, or else your computer’s overall performance will be affacted and many other serious problems will occur. To completely remove this malware tool, you need to find out and delete all its related files and traces. Generally, I recommend using a malware removal tool (such as SpyHunter and Max Spyware Detector) to do this job, since it is much easier, safer and more effective. Besides, you can try System Restore – a method commonly used by users to remove malware. But please note that, this method does not always ensure a satisfactory removal result.
Here are three methods for you to choose:
Method 2: Remove HackTool:Win32/Keygen by using Max Spyware Detector.
Method 3: Remove HackTool:Win32/Keygen by performing System Restore.
Method 1: Remove HackTool:Win32/Keygen with SpyHunter (Recommended).
What Is SpyHunter?
SpyHunter is a real-time anti-malware program manufactured by Enigma Group. It can thoroughly scan a computer system to detect and remove malware programs and potentially unwanted programs that can be harmful. The program is even equipped with live technical support. SpyHunter is available for a free trial download for users to install and try before they decide to buy.
- Click the button below to download SpyHunter setup file on your PC.
- Double click on SpyHunter-installer.exe and click the Run button in the dialog box that pops up.
- Select the language you prefer and click the OK button.
- Click the CONTINUE button to proceed.
- Select I accept the EULA and Privacy Policy and click the INSTALL button.
- Now you can see that SpyHunter is being installed on your PC. Please wait for a while.
- When the installation is done, click the FINISH button.
- Then, SpyHunter will automatically run on your PC. When you see its main screen, you can find and click on Scan Computer Now to run a full scan of your computer system.
- SpyHunter now will start scaning your system for any existing threats. This process may take a long time and you need to be paitent.
- When the scanning finishes, you will be shown all threats found in your system. If you want to remove all these threats, you can click the Fix Threats button (if you haven’t purchase SpyHunter, you will be prompted to upgrade to the registered version first).
Warm Tip:The free version of SpyHunter only supports malware dection. Only after you buy its registered version can you receive its ongoing malware protection, definition & program updates, custom fixes to their specific malware problems, and advanced technical support from our Spyware-Helpdesk.
Method 2: Remove HackTool:Win32/Keygen by using Max Spyware Detector.
What is Max Spyware Detector?
Max Spyware Detector is a powerful security tool designed to safeguard users’ computers from all types of malware threats. It has an ever growing database of threat definition that enables it to hlep detect and remove all the latest malware. Besides, this tool offers 24×7 live chat and email based support, which gives you access to round-the-clock technical support conveniently.
- Download Max Spyware Detector Manager file and save it to your computer desktop.
- Double click on the icon of the file you have download just now and click the Run button.
- Now you will see that Max Spyware Detector setup file is being downloaded.
- Once the setup file has been downloaded, run it and then follow the setup wizard to install Max Spyware Detector on your computer.
- When you finish the installation, launch Max Spyware Detector and do a malware scan by clicking on the Quick Scan button.
- When the scan is completed, click onFix Issues Now button to remove the threats detected from your computer.
Warm Tip: You can first upgrade to the full version of Max Spyware Detector so that you can not only effectively remove the detected threats, but also enjoy other advanced features, such as daily threats definition updates, product live updates, networking monitoring, etc.
Method 3: Remove HackTool:Win32/Keygen by performing System Restore.
![Virus Virus](/uploads/1/2/5/8/125847646/661276435.png)
System Restore will help restore your computer’s system files to an earlier point in time. Whenever your Windows behave unpredictably caused by the programs installed on your PC, and uninstalling the programs doesn’t help fix the problem, you can try restoring your computer’s system to an earlier date when everything worked correctly. Some users would prefer Spystem Restore when their computers are infected by malware. However, this method is not always effective, especially when the malware has infected the restore points.
Neverthless, you still can have a try. please follow the steps below to performing the System Restore.
For Windows 7/Vista:
- Click the Start menu and enter system restore into the search box. Then, click System Restore from the result list.
- In the popup window, select the option of Recommended restore or Choose a different restore point (if the malware infection occurred earlier than the date of the Recommend restore , you need to choose the later option).
- Then, you’ll be presented with a list of restore points you have created previously. If you want more options, check Show More Restore Points. Then, you can Select an acceptable restore point and click Next.
- Confirm your restore point and click on Finish.
- A dialog box will pop up and ask you to confirm that you really want to perform a system restore. If you’re sure to do so, click Yes. This will start the system restore.
- Please wait while your Windows files and settings are being restored.
- After the System Restore completes, please log into your account.
- Then, you will see a dialog box as below once the desktop loads up.
For Windows XP:
- Log on to Windows as an administrator. And then click the Start button > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools, and then click System Restore.
- The Welcome to System Restore page will pop up as below. Select the Restore my computer to an earlier timeoption, and then click Next.
![Win32 Win32](https://malwareless.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/HackTool-Win32-Keygen-Virus.jpg)
- The Select a Restore Point page will appear. Choose a bold date on the calender and select a proper system restore point in the On this list, click a restore point list, and then click Next.
- A System Restore message may appear that lists configuration changes that System Restore will make. Then, click OK.
- After the System Restore completes, your computer will be rebooted, and you will see a screen that contains information confirming that the system restore has been successfully done.
For Windows 8:
- Right click the bottom left corner of your computer screen, and click Control Panel.
- Locate view by and select Category. Find and click System and Security and then click System. In the open window, find and click on Advanced system settings.
- A small window will pop up. Under system Protection tab, click on System Restore.
- Then click Choose a different restore point.
- Now select a restore point and click Next.
- Click Finish.
- Click OK when a small dialog box appears. Then the System Restore will start.
- When the System Restore is done, your computer will be restarted itself. Then, you will receive a message as shown below on your desktop. Click Close.
Friendly reminder: If you can’t remove HackTool:Win32/Keygen after restoring the system, you can consider using the tools I recommend above. It has been proved by many PC users that using a professonal malware/spyware removal tool will make the removal easier and more effective. Now you can click the button below to get SpyHunter downloaded on your PC. It will help you remove the malware within simple clicks and provide real-time protection for your PC.
Attention:
The following video offers a complete guide for HackTool:Win32/KeygenPUP (potentially unwanted program)removal. You’d better watch it in full-screen mode!
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