The genuine keygen.exe file is a software component of key generator. A keygen is a key generator used for generating licensing keys or serial numbers for numerous paid software that may be protected by anti-piracy mechanisms. Keygens enable users to generate keys in order to activate a licensed program. Once a license key is generated for a particular software, keygens often use a mechanism to prevent the software from validating or verifying the serial key through its publisher. Such mechanisms may involve patching the program memory or activation server emulation. Keygens are usually created through reverse engineering and software cracking by programmers colloquially known as 'crackers'. Keygens are primarily available through P2P (peer-to-peer) networks. They are mostly labelled as PUPs (potentially unwanted software), and are recognized as harmful due to their unverified source.
KeyGen stands for KeyGenerator
The .exe extension on a filename indicates an executable file. Executable files may, in some cases, harm your computer. Therefore, please read below to decide for yourself whether the keygen.exe on your computer is a Trojan that you should remove, or whether it is a file belonging to the Windows operating system or to a trusted application.
Description: Keygen.exe is not essential for the Windows OS and causes relatively few problems. The file keygen.exe is located in a subfolder of the user's profile folder (common is C:\Users\USERNAME\Desktop\).
Known file sizes on Windows 10/11/7 are 77,824 bytes (16% of all occurrences), 1,599,476 bytes and 4 more variants.
The file is not a Windows core file. There is no description of the program.
Therefore the technical security rating is 57% dangerous; however you should also read the user reviews.
If keygen.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files", the security rating is 32% dangerous. The file size is 180,224 bytes (40% of all occurrences), 12,800 bytes, 78,421 bytes or 898,048 bytes.
There is no file information. It is not a Windows core file.
Keygen.exe is able to record keyboard and mouse inputs.
If keygen.exe is located in a subfolder of C:\Windows, the security rating is 81% dangerous. The file size is 77,824 bytes (75% of all occurrences) or 8,262,656 bytes.
There is no file information. It is an unknown file in the Windows folder. It is not a Windows system file. The program has no visible window. The program listens for or sends data on open ports to a LAN or the Internet.
Keygen.exe is able to monitor applications.
If keygen.exe is located in the Windows folder for temporary files, the security rating is 70% dangerous. The file size is 1,211,392 bytes (33% of all occurrences), 2,691,584 bytes or 480,775 bytes.
If keygen.exe is located in a subfolder of Windows folder for temporary files, the security rating is 44% dangerous. The file size is 216,576 bytes (50% of all occurrences) or 533,136 bytes.
Important: Some malware camouflages itself as keygen.exe, particularly when located in the C:\Windows or C:\Windows\System32 folder, for example Trojan.Generic.6833396 or Trojan.Generic.11840798 (detected by F-Secure), and Mal/KeyGen-M or Keygen (detected by Sophos). Therefore, you should check the keygen.exe process on your PC to see if it is a threat. We recommend Security Task Manager for verifying your computer's security. This was one of the Top Download Picks of The Washington Post and PC World.
Score
User Comments
Adware ...
stops antivirus from working, disable task manager, disable run option, change host files
T-Online Security Package
bad news pword/keystroke stealer, use AVG 2 fix Marvin Shepherd
register fscaller
It caused a repetative very annoying Windows - No disk error everytime I connected my Ipod Alex
Gemini Control Center
corel videostudio pro x3
advanced password retriever- trial version 7.4.11
advance password retriever ver 7.4.11 Arun
One day use keygen.exe for i wan't th bandicam free and i dooble click in an my pc start lag and freez then my anti virus kill them and now i am ok :) Peter
Essential for poor folk who need to run crazy expensive software for school or such. Businesses don't bootleg software.. Barry
Aurora 3D Text Logo Maker
used for EXCEL
key generator for unlocking apps
OPEN LOUNGE LIZARD SABZIN
located in \KeyGen\KeyGen.exe
Show all user comments
Summary: Average user rating of keygen.exe:
based on 40 votes with 18 user comments.
25 users think keygen.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application.
3 users think it's probably harmless.
4 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous.
3 users suspect danger.
5 users think keygen.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it.
16 users don't grade keygen.exe ("not sure about it").
Best practices for resolving keygen issues
A clean and tidy computer is the key requirement for avoiding problems with keygen. This means running a scan for malware, cleaning your hard drive using 1cleanmgr and 2sfc /scannow, 3uninstalling programs that you no longer need, checking for Autostart programs (using 4msconfig) and enabling Windows' 5Automatic Update. Always remember to perform periodic backups, or at least to set restore points.
Should you experience an actual problem, try to recall the last thing you did, or the last thing you installed before the problem appeared for the first time. Use the 6resmon command to identify the processes that are causing your problem. Even for serious problems, rather than reinstalling Windows, you are better off repairing of your installation or executing the 7DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth command. This allows you to repair the operating system without losing data.
To get your computer running as fast as it did on day one, you can 8reset your PC. Your personal files will remain intact, but any programs you installed will need to be reinstalled.
To help you analyze the keygen.exe process on your computer, the following programs have proven to be helpful: ASecurity Task Manager displays all running Windows tasks, including embedded hidden processes, such as keyboard and browser monitoring or Autostart entries. A unique security risk rating indicates the likelihood of the process being potential spyware, malware or a Trojan. A good Bantivirus software detects and removes sleeping spyware, adware, Trojans, keyloggers, malware and trackers from your hard drive.
Score
User Comments
Marvin Shepherd
Alex
Arun
Peter
Barry
SABZIN
Summary: Average user rating of keygen.exe: based on 40 votes with 18 user comments. 25 users think keygen.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application. 3 users think it's probably harmless. 4 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous. 3 users suspect danger. 5 users think keygen.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it. 16 users don't grade keygen.exe ("not sure about it").