HackTool:Win64/ProductKey.G!MSR (ProductKey Unwanted Application) — Virus Removal Guide

Any malware exists with the only target – make money on you¹. And the developers of these things are not thinking of ethicality – they use all available methods. Taking your private data, receiving the payments for the promotions you watch for them, utilizing your hardware to mine cryptocurrencies – that is not the full list of what they do. Do you like to be a riding steed? That is a rhetorical question.

What does the notification with HackTool:Win64/ProductKey.G!MSR detection mean?

The HackTool:Win64/ProductKey.G!MSR detection you can see in the lower right corner is demonstrated to you by Microsoft Defender. That anti-malware software is quite OK at scanning, however, prone to be basically unstable. It is prone to malware attacks, it has a glitchy interface and bugged malware removal capabilities. Thus, the pop-up which states about the ProductKey.G!MSR is just an alert that Defender has detected it. To remove it, you will likely need to use another anti-malware program.

Microsoft Defender: “HackTool:Win64/ProductKey.G!MSR”

The exact HackTool:Win64/ProductKey.G!MSR infection is a really nasty thing. It digs inside of your computer under the guise of something benevolent, or as a part of the application you downloaded from a forum. Therefore, it makes everything to make your system weaker. At the end of this “party”, it downloads other malicious things – ones which are choosen by cybercriminals who control this malware. Hence, it is likely impossible to predict the effects from ProductKey actions. And the unpredictability is one of the most unwanted things when it comes to malware. That’s why it is rather not to choose at all, and don’t let the malware to complete its task.

Threat Summary:

Is HackTool:Win64/ProductKey.G!MSR dangerous?

As I have mentioned , non-harmful malware does not exist. And HackTool:Win64/ProductKey.G!MSR is not an exception. This virus modifies the system setups, modifies the Group Policies and Windows registry. All of these elements are critical for correct system operating, even when we are not talking about system safety. Therefore, the virus which ProductKey carries, or which it will inject after some time, will squeeze out maximum revenue from you. Crooks can grab your personal data, and then push it at the black market. Using adware and browser hijacker functionality, built in HackTool:Win64/ProductKey.G!MSR malware, they can make profit by showing you the advertisements. Each view gives them a penny, but 100 views per day = $1. 1000 victims who watch 100 banners per day – $1000. Easy math, but sad conclusions. It is a bad choice to be a donkey for crooks.

How did I get this virus?

It is difficult to line the origins of malware on your computer. Nowadays, things are mixed, and spreading methods chosen by adware 5 years ago may be utilized by spyware nowadays. But if we abstract from the exact distribution tactic and will think about why it has success, the answer will be pretty basic – low level of cybersecurity knowledge. People click on advertisements on weird sites, click the pop-ups they receive in their browsers, call the “Microsoft tech support” believing that the scary banner that says about malware is true. It is important to understand what is legit – to prevent misconceptions when trying to identify a virus.

Microsoft tech support scam page

Nowadays, there are two of the most extensive ways of malware spreading – bait emails and also injection into a hacked program. While the first one is not so easy to stay away from – you need to know a lot to recognize a counterfeit – the 2nd one is very easy to address: just do not use cracked applications. Torrent-trackers and other providers of “totally free” applications (which are, exactly, paid, but with a disabled license checking) are really a giveaway place of malware. And HackTool:Win64/ProductKey.G!MSR is simply within them.

How to remove the HackTool:Win64/ProductKey.G!MSR from my PC?

HackTool:Win64/ProductKey.G!MSR malware is incredibly hard to eliminate by hand. It puts its documents in multiple locations throughout the disk, and can restore itself from one of the elements. Furthermore, various modifications in the registry, networking configurations and Group Policies are pretty hard to locate and return to the initial. It is far better to make use of a special tool – exactly, an anti-malware program. GridinSoft Anti-Malware will definitely fit the most ideal for malware removal goals.

Why GridinSoft Anti-Malware? It is really lightweight and has its detection databases updated almost every hour. In addition, it does not have such problems and exploits as Microsoft Defender does. The combination of these facts makes GridinSoft Anti-Malware ideal for clearing away malware of any form.

Remove the viruses with GridinSoft Anti-Malware

• Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware. After the installation, you will be offered to perform the Standard Scan. Approve this action.
• Standard scan checks the logical disk where the system files are stored, together with the files of programs you have already installed. The scan lasts up to 6 minutes.
• When the scan is over, you may choose the action for each detected virus. For all files of ProductKey the default option is “Delete”. Press “Apply” to finish the malware removal.

References

1. Read about malware types on GridinSoft Threat encyclopedia.