The genuine KMSSS.exe file is a software component of KMS Server Emulator Service (XP) by Daily2k.com. "KMSSS.exe" is one of multiple "KMS Server Emulator Service" programs. It runs as a Windows service, starting at boot time and running in the background. Its usual location is "C:\Program Data\KMSAuto\bin\KMSSS.exe", (sometimes "...\KMSAutoS\..."). The KMSAuto program appears to be from "Daily2k.com". It has been flagged by multiple antivirus products as Malware.Sality, capable of creating a peer-to-peer botnet and downloading additional files. It is best removed by running a malware or antivirus scan which can quarantine and delete it. Key Management Service (KMS) Server Emulators are associated with digital piracy of Windows OS and other Microsoft products. A legitimate KMS server handles semiannual license key validation requests from products licensed in volume for education or business use. Emulators activate Windows or Office for unlicensed or non-paying users.
KMSSS stands for Key Management Service Server Emulator Service (XP)
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 KMSSS.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: KMSSS.exe is not essential for Windows and will often cause problems. KMSSS.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\ProgramData" or sometimes in a subfolder of Windows folder for temporary files—generally C:\ProgramData\KMSAuto\bin\ or C:\ProgramData\KMSAutoS\bin\.
Known file sizes on Windows 10/11/7 are 301,056 bytes (28% of all occurrences), 35,504 bytes and 14 more variants.
The process runs as service KMSEmulator: KMS-host for all Microsoft VL Products.
The program is not visible. KMSSS.exe is not a Windows core file. The application listens for or sends data on open ports to a LAN or the Internet.
Therefore the technical security rating is 81% dangerous; however you should also read the user reviews.
Uninstalling this variant:
If any problems with KMSSS (Ratiborus, MSFree Inc.) or Utility Common Driver occur, you can visit the www.ru-board.com support page or safely remove the program using the uninstall program of it (Control Panel ⇒ Uninstall a Program).
If KMSSS.exe is located in a subfolder of C:\Windows, the security rating is 67% dangerous. The file size is 297,472 bytes (20% of all occurrences), 34,304 bytes and 8 more variants.
The KMSSS.exe file is not a Windows system file. The program is not visible. The program uses ports to connect to or from a LAN or the Internet. KMSSS.exe is an unknown file in the Windows folder.
Uninstalling this variant:
If any problems with KMSSS (Ratiborus, MSFree Inc.) occur, you can visit the www.ru-board.com support page or safely remove the program using the uninstall program of it (Control Panel ⇒ Uninstall a Program).
If KMSSS.exe is located in a subfolder of the user's profile folder, the security rating is 89% dangerous. The file size is 34,304 bytes (33% of all occurrences), 301,056 bytes, 33,792 bytes, 183,808 bytes or 297,472 bytes.
The KMSSS.exe file is not a Windows core file. The program has no visible window. The program uses ports to connect to or from a LAN or the Internet.
Important: Some malware also uses the file name KMSSS.exe, for example HackTool:Win32/AutoKMS (detected by Microsoft), and HEUR:HackTool.Win32.KMSAuto.gen (detected by Kaspersky). Therefore, you should check the KMSSS.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.
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User Comments
i think this sort of file is related to the some apps that ran at windows XP at we attempted to run it at windows 7 or later. this file emulate the related file to run normally at windows 7. Stephan
Service for license validation Kid
It's a crack document, it works for cracking Microsoft Office 2016 and the other similar products, I think it's not a malware but the "Security Task Manager" adviced me it was so I don't know now. Marcus (further information)
Crack for windows, nothing special Orion
:C:\ProgramData\KMSAutoS\bin\KMSSS.exe
It is a crack tool for activating Microsoft products particularly MS Office and Windows XP - 10. Most anti malware and virus scanners will report it as a threat as malware/virus. If you have it on your computer you or someone else put it there to activate your Microsoft products illegally, it doesn't get on your computer without someone trying to crack MS products. James
Used for pirated licenses. Harmless, but uses methods similar to viruses and touches system file for falsifying licenses, and because of that, gets flagged as dangerous. It is not. Agon Hoxha (further information)
This file it's just a system component that belongs to the Key Management Service Server, the service that manages MS products licencing. It will trigger a false positive if it's beeing used as a part of an activation tool but it's hardly a trojan, it's completely harmless. Mike
It is an activation emulator for Windows. Illegal and may have viruses. undefined
If you remove it, your Microsoft Office might stop working even if it's falsely flagged as a virus. Bob
Summary: Average user rating of KMSSS.exe:
based on 22 votes with 10 user comments.
8 users think KMSSS.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application.
2 users think it's probably harmless.
4 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous.
8 users think KMSSS.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it.
2 users don't grade KMSSS.exe ("not sure about it").
Best practices for resolving KMSSS issues
A clean and tidy computer is the key requirement for avoiding problems with KMSSS. 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 KMSSS.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
Stephan
Kid
Marcus (further information)
Orion
James
Agon Hoxha (further information)
Mike
undefined
Bob
Summary: Average user rating of KMSSS.exe: based on 22 votes with 10 user comments. 8 users think KMSSS.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application. 2 users think it's probably harmless. 4 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous. 8 users think KMSSS.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it. 2 users don't grade KMSSS.exe ("not sure about it").