How to remove Hacktool:Win32/Keygen

What is Hacktool:Win32/Keygen

Hacktool:Win32/Keygen is a code-name referred to by anti-malware software when the usage/presence of license-cracking tools gets detected on the system. Such tools allow the fake generation of keys to activate licensed versions of software and therefore bypass paying for it. Although keygen tools are not intended to be harmful to users’ safety initially, some threat actors may use them to deliver various malware alongside. While the detection and labeling of the cracking tool as “Hacktool:Win32/Keygen” by your antivirus does not always indicate your system is infected with actual malware, it still might be a good idea to perform a thorough scan of your system. Infections that can be distributed alongside key-generating tools are ransomware (software that encrypts data and demands money from victims), crypto-miners (software that stealthily mines cryptocurrency for cybercriminals), banking trojans, spyware, and other types of potentially devastating infiltrations. Having such malware installed on your system may lead to severe privacy problems, financial losses, downgraded PC performance, and other kinds of threats. Thus, if you recently used a license-cracking tool (Hacktool:Win32/Keygen) and suspect your system could be in danger, make sure to read our guide below and scan your system with effective anti-malware software to detect and eliminate possible threats.

How Hacktool:Win32/Keygen infected your computer

Software-cracking tools (also known as “cracks”) are commonly obtained from unreliable sources like free file hosting websites, freeware download pages, and P2P torrent-sharing networks. Some of these tools may be downloaded separately whereas others come bundled within installers of pirated software. As mentioned, despite such tools being illegal, they can be either completely safe for users’ systems or be abused for tricking users into downloading and installing malicious infections (e.g., ransomware, crypto-miners, spyware, trojans, etc.). Cybercriminals frequently package harmful executable files as genuine software, which results in users inadvertently downloading and installing viruses on their systems. Unfortunately, numerous Hacktool:Win32/Keygen users have been reported to end up infected by additional malware. Therefore, you should avoid using such tools as they are illegal and can sometimes be dangerous to users’ safety. Follow our instructions below to make sure your computer is not compromised by any malicious activity.

1. Download Hacktool:Win32/Keygen Removal Tool
2. Use Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool to remove Hacktool:Win32/Keygen
3. Use Autoruns to remove Hacktool:Win32/Keygen
4. Files, folders and registry keys of Hacktool:Win32/Keygen
5. Other aliases of Hacktool:Win32/Keygen
6. How to protect from threats, like Hacktool:Win32/Keygen

Remove Hacktool:Win32/Keygen manually

Manual removal of Hacktool:Win32/Keygen by inexperienced users may become a difficult task because it does not create entries in Add/Remove Programs under Control Panel, does not install browser extensions, and uses random file names. However, there are pre-installed instruments in the Windows system, that allow you to detect and remove malware without using third-party applications. One of them is Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool. It comes with Windows Update in Windows 11, 10, 8. 8.1. For older operating system you can download it here: 64-bit version | 32-bit version.

Remove Hacktool:Win32/Keygen using Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool

1. Type mrt in the search box near Start Menu.
2. Run mrt clicking on found item.
3. Click Next button.
4. Choose one of the scan modes Quick scan, Full scan, Customize scan (Full scan recommended).
5. Click Next button.
6. Click on View detailed results of the scan link to view the scan details.
7. Click Finish button.

Remove Hacktool:Win32/Keygen using Autoruns

Hacktool:Win32/Keygen often sets up to run at Windows startup as an Autorun entry or Scheduled task.

1. Download Autoruns using this link.
2. Extract the archive and run Autoruns.exe file.
3. In Options menu make sure there are checkboxes near Hide Empty Locations, Hide Microsoft Entries, and Hide Windows Entries.
4. Search for suspicious entries with weird names or running from locations like: C:\{username}\AppData\Roaming.
5. Right-click on suspicious entry and choose Delete. This will prevent the threat to run at startup.
6. Switch to Scheduled Tasks tab and do the same.
7. To remove files themselves, click on suspicious entries and choose Jump to Entry…. Remove files or registry keys found.

Remove files, folder and registry keys of Hacktool:Win32/Keygen

Hacktool:Win32/Keygen files and folders


{randomname}.exe


Hacktool:Win32/Keygen registry keys


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Aliases of Hacktool:Win32/Keygen

How to protect from threats, like Hacktool:Win32/Keygen, in future

Standard Windows protection or any decent third-party antivirus (Norton, Avast, Kaspersky) should be able to detect and remove Hacktool:Win32/Keygen. However, if you got infected with Hacktool:Win32/Keygen with existing and updated security software, you may consider changing it. To feel safe and protect your PC from Hacktool:Win32/Keygen on all levels (browser, e-mail attachments, Word or Excel scripts, file system) we recommend a leading provider of internet security solutions – BitDefender. Its solutions both for home and business users proved to be one of the most advanced and effective. Choose and get your BitDefender protection via the button below: