PUA:Win32/Keygen Virus Removal

What is the Win32:Evo-gen [Trj] virus?
Written by Robert Bailey

A PUA:Win32/Keygen (short for “key generator”) is a type of software that generates serial numbers or product keys for unlocking commercial software applications. While some keygens might be legitimately used to recover lost product keys, many keygens are associated with software piracy and illegal distribution of software licenses. Criminals often bundle keygens with cracks or patches to allow unauthorized access to premium software without payment.

What is PUA:Win32/Keygen?

When Microsoft Defender detects “PUA:Win32/Keygen,” it’s indicating that it has identified a keygen that might have been downloaded or installed on your system. This could be a keygen related to software piracy or unauthorized access to commercial software.

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In the majority of the instances, PUA:Win32/Keygen virus will certainly instruct its targets to initiate funds move for the function of neutralizing the amendments that the Trojan infection has presented to the victim’s tool.

PUA:Win32/Keygen Summary

These alterations can be as complies with:

  • Executable code extraction. Cybercriminals often use binary packers to hinder the malicious code from reverse-engineered by malware analysts. A packer is a tool that compresses, encrypts, and modifies a malicious file’s format. Sometimes packers can be used for legitimate ends, for example, to protect a program against cracking or copying.
  • Creates RWX memory. There is a security trick with memory regions that allows an attacker to fill a buffer with a shellcode and then execute it. Filling a buffer with shellcode isn’t a big deal, it’s just data. The problem arises when the attacker is able to control the instruction pointer (EIP), usually by corrupting a function’s stack frame using a stack-based buffer overflow, and then changing the flow of execution by assigning this pointer to the address of the shellcode.
  • Network activity detected but not expressed in API logs. Microsoft built an API solution right into its Windows operating system it reveals network activity for all apps and programs that ran on the computer in the past 30-days. This malware hides network activity.
  • Anomalous binary characteristics. This is a way of hiding virus’ code from antiviruses and virus’ analysts.
  • Ciphering the records located on the sufferer’s disk drive — so the target can no longer use the data;
  • Preventing normal accessibility to the sufferer’s workstation. This is the typical behavior of a virus called locker. It blocks access to the computer until the victim pays the ransom.

PUA:Win32/Keygen

The most normal channels through which PUA:Win32/Keygen Ransomware are infused are:

  • By ways of phishing e-mails;
  • As a consequence of customer ending up on a source that holds a harmful software application;

As soon as the Trojan is efficiently infused, it will either cipher the data on the sufferer’s computer or prevent the device from functioning in a correct fashion – while additionally positioning a ransom money note that discusses the requirement for the victims to impact the settlement for the function of decrypting the papers or restoring the data system back to the initial condition. In the majority of circumstances, the ransom money note will certainly turn up when the client reboots the PC after the system has actually already been damaged.

PUA:Win32/Keygen distribution networks.

In different corners of the world, PUA:Win32/Keygen grows by jumps and also bounds. However, the ransom notes as well as techniques of obtaining the ransom money quantity might vary depending on specific regional (regional) settings. The ransom notes and also tricks of extorting the ransom money amount might vary depending on particular regional (regional) settings.

Ransomware injection

For example:

    Faulty notifies regarding unlicensed software.

    In particular locations, the Trojans usually wrongfully report having found some unlicensed applications enabled on the sufferer’s gadget. The alert after that requires the individual to pay the ransom.

    Faulty statements about unlawful web content.

    In nations where software application piracy is much less popular, this approach is not as effective for the cyber scams. Conversely, the PUA:Win32/Keygen popup alert may falsely claim to be deriving from a law enforcement establishment and will certainly report having located child pornography or various other prohibited information on the tool.

    PUA:Win32/Keygen popup alert may incorrectly declare to be obtaining from a law enforcement establishment as well as will certainly report having situated kid pornography or other prohibited data on the device. The alert will in a similar way include a requirement for the individual to pay the ransom money.

Technical details

File Info:

crc32: F3C1B88D
md5: c81e9a4cd64830deb25c267dcb58a8dc
name: C81E9A4CD64830DEB25C267DCB58A8DC.mlw
sha1: 14e24c59c1ec94b8e982de69b3c88430568c4917
sha256: 01def6c5d94925cd207acdff0c63abc52f24965b4007e247a5c58da0dc8d84ef
sha512: 7a1b0de297e0d8a810a1fe672233aef70cae4a944a265b96ce50c4516462369c07cf07e1e6ef87fff2eabc41711166fc30da46b94648301ae89f6243d7310335
ssdeep: 96:mEe/Nq6p/Ex/rX3vw7YYqoY2FEpHz1b3sMsp3IgKSai2UOsuB:K/Nqw/ExDHWPkTJsB8b
type: PE32 executable (GUI) Intel 80386, for MS Windows, PECompact2 compressed

Version Info:

0: [No Data]

PUA:Win32/Keygen also known as:

GridinSoftTrojan.Ransom.Gen
BkavW32.AIDetect.malware1
CynetMalicious (score: 100)
CylanceUnsafe
SangforTrojan.Win32.Save.a
CrowdStrikewin/malicious_confidence_60% (W)
Cybereasonmalicious.9c1ec9
SymantecBackdoor.Graybird
APEXMalicious
SophosGeneric PUA BE (PUA)
VIPRETrojan.Win32.Generic!BT
TrendMicroCRCK_KEYGEN
McAfee-GW-EditionBehavesLike.Win32.VirRansom.zm
FireEyeGeneric.mg.c81e9a4cd64830de
SentinelOneStatic AI – Suspicious PE
WebrootW32.Malware.Gen
MicrosoftPUA:Win32/Keygen
AegisLabRiskware.Win32.Generic.1!c
McAfeeArtemis!C81E9A4CD648
TrendMicro-HouseCallCRCK_KEYGEN
RisingTrojan.Zpevdo!8.F912 (CLOUD)
Paloaltogeneric.ml

How to remove PUA:Win32/Keygen virus?

Unwanted application has ofter come with other viruses and spyware. This threats can steal account credentials, or crypt your documents for ransom.
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There is no better way to recognize, remove and prevent PC threats than to use an anti-malware software from GridinSoft2.

Download GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

You can download GridinSoft Anti-Malware by clicking the button below:

Run the setup file.

When setup file has finished downloading, double-click on the setup-antimalware-fix.exe file to install GridinSoft Anti-Malware on your system.

Run Setup.exe

An User Account Control asking you about to allow GridinSoft Anti-Malware to make changes to your device. So, you should click “Yes” to continue with the installation.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware Setup

Press “Install” button.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware Install

Once installed, Anti-Malware will automatically run.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware Splash-Screen

Wait for the Anti-Malware scan to complete.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware will automatically start scanning your system for PUA:Win32/Keygen files and other malicious programs. This process can take a 20-30 minutes, so I suggest you periodically check on the status of the scan process.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware Scanning

Click on “Clean Now”.

When the scan has finished, you will see the list of infections that GridinSoft Anti-Malware has detected. To remove them click on the “Clean Now” button in right corner.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware Scan Result

Are Your Protected?

GridinSoft Anti-Malware will scan and clean your PC for free in the trial period. The free version offer real-time protection for first 2 days. If you want to be fully protected at all times – I can recommended you to purchase a full version:

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Full version of GridinSoft Anti-Malware

If the guide doesn’t help you to remove PUA:Win32/Keygen you can always ask me in the comments for getting help.

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References

  1. GridinSoft Anti-Malware Review from HowToFix site: https://howtofix.guide/gridinsoft-anti-malware/
  2. More information about GridinSoft products: https://gridinsoft.com/comparison

About the author

Robert Bailey

I'm Robert Bailey, a passionate Security Engineer with a deep fascination for all things related to malware, reverse engineering, and white hat ethical hacking.

As a white hat hacker, I firmly believe in the power of ethical hacking to bolster security measures. By identifying vulnerabilities and providing solutions, I contribute to the proactive defense of digital infrastructures.

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