The HackTool:Win32/ProductKey!MSR detection means that your PC has a problem. Allowing it to keep running may end up with some really bad consequences. Unwanted programs are not as threatening as normal viruses, but is still able to mischief and lead to system instability. ProductKey can be used to “patch” or “crack” some software and generate product key, so he’s detected as Keygen.
ProductKey unwanted application can not be named full-fledged malware. Nonetheless, it has a lot of proofs to claim that you will not be pleased with the changes this thing brings to your PC. PUAs like that can be just a nasty thing, either result in a serious effect on your system’s functioning. Moreover, there are a lot of cases when users mention that this program collects user information or other sensitive stuff.
HackTool:Win32/ProductKey!MSR Detection Overview
The HackTool:Win32/ProductKey!MSR detection you can see in the lower right side is displayed to you by Microsoft Defender. That anti-malware program is good at scanning, however, prone to be generally unstable. It is prone to malware invasions, it has a glitchy user interface and problematic malware removal capabilities. For this reason, the pop-up which states about the ProductKey is just an alert that Defender has actually identified it. To remove it, you will likely need to use another anti-malware program.
Microsoft Defender: “HackTool:Win32/ProductKey!MSR”
HackTool:Win32/ProductKey!MSR unwanted program is a typical example of PUA, which are quite common nowadays. Being free to use, it may give you “the extended functions” for the extra money. Some examples of this program type can have no useful performance whatsoever – just the shell with the kaleidoscopic interface. You can see it promoted as a system optimization tool, driver updater or torrent downloadings tracker. This or another way it does not provide you any kind of real capability, exposing you to risk instead.
Unwanted Program Summary:
| Name | ProductKey PUA |
| Detection | HackTool:Win32/ProductKey!MSR |
| Damage | ProductKey is at least useless, or can perform various malicious actions on your PC. |
| Fix Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by ProductKey exploit |
Is HackTool:Win32/ProductKey!MSR dangerous?
I have already specified that HackTool:Win32/ProductKey!MSR PUA is not as trustworthy as it pretends to be. The “legit and valuable” tool can unexpectedly unveil itself as a downloader trojan, spyware, backdoor, or coin miner malware. And you can never estimate what to expect even from different examples of ProductKey unwanted program. That still does not imply that you need to panic – probably, this nasty thing has not succeeded to do negative things to your PC.
The exact damage to your system may be created not only due to the malware injection. A significant share of suspicious programs, like the ProductKey app is, is just badly made. Perhaps, their actions are rather helpful than useless if done on specific system configurations, but not on each one. That’s how a simple system optimization tool may cause chaos with constant BSODs on your system. Any interruptions to the system registry are unsafe, and they are even more dangerous if performed with such programs.
How did I get this virus?
It is difficult to line the origins of malware on your computer. Nowadays, things are mixed, and distribution ways chosen by adware 5 years ago may be used by spyware nowadays. But if we abstract from the exact distribution way and will think of why it works, the reply will be pretty basic – low level of cybersecurity understanding. People click on advertisements on odd sites, click the pop-ups they receive in their web browsers, call the “Microsoft tech support” believing that the strange banner that states about malware is true. It is important to recognize what is legit – to prevent misunderstandings when attempting to figure out a virus.
The example of Microsoft Tech support scam banner
Nowadays, there are two of the most extensive ways of malware distribution – lure emails and also injection into a hacked program. While the first one is not so easy to avoid – you need to know a lot to understand a counterfeit – the second one is very easy to solve: just do not utilize cracked apps. Torrent-trackers and various other providers of “free” applications (which are, exactly, paid, but with a disabled license checking) are just a giveaway place of malware. And HackTool:Win32/ProductKey!MSR is just within them.
Remove ProductKey with Gridinsoft Anti-Malware
We have also been using this software on our systems ever since, and it has always been successful in detecting viruses. It has blocked the most common PUAs as shown from our tests with the software, and we assure you that it can remove ProductKey as well as other malware hiding on your computer.
To use Gridinsoft for remove malicious threats, follow the steps below:
1. Begin by downloading Gridinsoft Anti-Malware, accessible via the blue button below or directly from the official website gridinsoft.com.
2.Once the Gridinsoft setup file (setup-gridinsoft-fix.exe) is downloaded, execute it by clicking on the file.
3.Follow the installation setup wizard's instructions diligently.
4. Access the "Scan Tab" on the application's start screen and launch a comprehensive "Full Scan" to examine your entire computer. This inclusive scan encompasses the memory, startup items, the registry, services, drivers, and all files, ensuring that it detects malware hidden in all possible locations.
Be patient, as the scan duration depends on the number of files and your computer's hardware capabilities. Use this time to relax or attend to other tasks.
5. Upon completion, Anti-Malware will present a detailed report containing all the detected malicious items and threats on your PC.
6. Select all the identified items from the report and confidently click the "Clean Now" button. This action will safely remove the malicious files from your computer, transferring them to the secure quarantine zone of the anti-malware program to prevent any further harmful actions.
8. If prompted, restart your computer to finalize the full system scan procedure. This step is crucial to ensure thorough removal of any remaining threats. After the restart, Gridinsoft Anti-Malware will open and display a message confirming the completion of the scan.
Remember Gridinsoft offers a 6-day free trial. This means you can take advantage of the trial period at no cost to experience the full benefits of the software and prevent any future malware infections on your system. Embrace this opportunity to fortify your computer's security without any financial commitment.
Trojan Killer for “ProductKey” removal on locked PC
In situations where it becomes impossible to download antivirus applications directly onto the infected computer due to malware blocking access to websites, an alternative solution is to utilize the Trojan Killer application.
There is a really little number of security tools that are able to be set up on the USB drives, and antiviruses that can do so in most cases require to obtain quite an expensive license. For this instance, I can recommend you to use another solution of GridinSoft - Trojan Killer Portable. It has a 14-days cost-free trial mode that offers the entire features of the paid version. This term will definitely be 100% enough to wipe malware out.
Trojan Killer is a valuable tool in your cybersecurity arsenal, helping you to effectively remove malware from infected computers. Now, we will walk you through the process of using Trojan Killer from a USB flash drive to scan and remove malware on an infected PC. Remember, always obtain permission to scan and remove malware from a computer that you do not own.
Step 1: Download & Install Trojan Killer on a Clean Computer:
1. Go to the official GridinSoft website (gridinsoft.com) and download Trojan Killer to a computer that is not infected.
2. Insert a USB flash drive into this computer.
3. Install Trojan Killer to the "removable drive" following the on-screen instructions.
4. Once the installation is complete, launch Trojan Killer.
Step 2: Update Signature Databases:
5. After launching Trojan Killer, ensure that your computer is connected to the Internet.
6. Click "Update" icon to download the latest signature databases, which will ensure the tool can detect the most recent threats.
Step 3: Scan the Infected PC:
7. Safely eject the USB flash drive from the clean computer.
8. Boot the infected computer to the Safe Mode.
9. Insert the USB flash drive.
10. Run tk.exe
11. Once the program is open, click on "Full Scan" to begin the malware scanning process.
Step 4: Remove Found Threats:
12. After the scan is complete, Trojan Killer will display a list of detected threats.
13. Click on "Cure PC!" to remove the identified malware from the infected PC.
14. Follow any additional on-screen prompts to complete the removal process.
Step 5: Restart Your Computer:
15. Once the threats are removed, click on "Restart PC" to reboot your computer.
16. Remove the USB flash drive from the infected computer.
Congratulations on effectively removing ProductKey and the concealed threats from your computer! You can now have peace of mind, knowing that they won't resurface again. Thanks to Gridinsoft's capabilities and commitment to cybersecurity, your system is now protected.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are many ways to tell if your Windows 10 computer has been infected. Some of the warning signs include:
- Computer is very slow.
- Applications take too long to start.
- Computer keeps crashing.
- Your friends receive spam messages from you on social media.
- You see a new extension that you did not install on your Chrome browser.
- Internet connection is slower than usual.
- Your computer fan starts up even when your computer is on idle.
- You are now seeing a lot of pop-up ads.
- You receive antivirus notifications.
Take note that the symptoms above could also arise from other technical reasons. However, just to be on the safe side, we suggest that you proactively check whether you do have malicious software on your computer. One way to do that is by running a malware scanner.
Most of the time, Microsoft Defender will neutralize threats before they ever become a problem. If this is the case, you can see past threat reports in the Windows Security app.
- Open Windows Settings. The easiest way is to click the start button and then the gear icon. Alternately, you can press the Windows key + i on your keyboard.
- Click on Update & Security
- From here, you can see if your PC has any updates available under the Windows Update tab. This is also where you will see definition updates for Windows Defender if they are available.
- Select Windows Security and then click the button at the top of the page labeled Open Windows Security.
- Select Virus & threat protection.
- Select Scan options to get started.
- Select the radio button (the small circle) next to Windows Defender Offline scan Keep in mind, this option will take around 15 minutes if not more and will require your PC to restart. Be sure to save any work before proceeding.
- Click Scan now
If you want to save some time or your start menu isn’t working correctly, you can use Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box and type “windowsdefender” and then pressing enter.
From the Virus & protection page, you can see some stats from recent scans, including the latest type of scan and if any threats were found. If there were threats, you can select the Protection history link to see recent activity.
If the guide doesn’t help you to remove HackTool:Win32/ProductKey!MSR virus, please download the GridinSoft Anti-Malware that I recommended. Also, you can always ask me in the comments for getting help. Good luck!
How to Remove HackTool:Win32/ProductKey!MSR Malware
Name: HackTool:Win32/ProductKey!MSR
Description: HackTool:Win32/ProductKey!MSR is a malware threat with various spreading methods, often lurking in software bundles or deceptive downloads. Once inside, it disguises itself as a seemingly benign application, only to reveal its malicious intent later. It can execute actions like data collection, system instability, and even transform into more severe forms like trojans or spyware. Vigilance and robust anti-malware protection are essential to thwart its deceptive tactics and potential harm.
Operating System: Windows
Application Category: HackTool
