Is Keygen.exe safe?
Unsigned 20 KB executable named Keygen.exe triggers 9 low-to-mid-tier detections and shows process-injection indicators.
Nine of 75 engines flag the file, none tier-1. The binary is unsigned, exhibits T1055 process injection in sandbox, and carries a research-tool filename. Similar imphash matches are mostly safe but lack signer correlation.
d8e4668af72d2d8bc2…f32959660e58ccRecommended next actions
Before running
Do not run it until the source and publisher can be verified independently.
If you already ran it
Stop using it, scan the device, and watch for unexpected behavior or security alerts. Get a fresh copy from the developer's official site or an official app store.
Intelligence
The saved assessment, checked against the scan evidence and recorded coverage.
The reasoning behind this verdict
This section explains the evidence supporting the verdict and keeps conflicting or missing signals visible.
Nine of 75 engines flag the file, none tier-1. The binary is unsigned, exhibits T1055 process injection in sandbox, and carries a research-tool filename. Similar imphash matches are mostly safe but lack signer correlation.
The absence of tier-1 detections and lack of external-intel hits keep the file out of the malicious band, yet the combination of an unsigned keygen-style filename, observed process-injection behaviour, and mixed RAG verdicts prevents a clean safe rating. The imphash matches are framework collisions rather than strong provenance signals. Overall the evidence sits in the borderline-mixed zone.
What We Detected
9 of 75 engines returned malicious labels; none from tier-1 vendors. The file is a 20 KB unsigned Win32 EXE whose internal name is Keygen.exe. Sandbox execution recorded MITRE techniques T1055 (process injection) and T1562.001 (impair defences). No domains or dropped children were observed.
Threat Behavior
Static and behavioural signals are consistent with dual-use tooling or a generic trojan dropper. Filename heuristics and the security_tool_classifier rule both fired, but the lack of tier-1 consensus and external corroboration limits confidence in a malicious verdict.
What To Do Now
Do not execute the file on production systems. If reverse-engineering is required, run it only in an isolated VM with current security tooling enabled. Consider obtaining the software from an official, signed source instead.
Where this verdict could be wrong1 caveat
- similarHashes shows 3 safe verdicts on the same imphash despite signerCoMatch=false, indicating framework collision rather than strong similarity.
These are the assessment's weak points. If you believe one applies to your file, report the verdict and we'll re-review it.
- Zero tier-1 malicious detections
- No external intelligence hits
- No contacted malicious hosts recorded
- Unsigned executable
- Filename suggests key-generation / cracking tool
- Sandbox shows process-injection behaviour (T1055)
Treat as untrusted; obtain any needed functionality from a verified, signed vendor distribution.
Coverage & freshness
Complete means the check returned a usable result. It does not mean the file is safe.
Antivirus
Complete9 of 75 engines flagged the file.
Sandbox
Complete1 isolated runtime environment contributed observations.
Network
Not runNo contacted-host reputation check is recorded.
No timestamp recordedYARA
Complete1 signature or behavior rule matched.
External intel
Complete3 of 3 independent reference sources completed.
Behavior
Plain-English impact first, then the observed runtime evidence.
Runtime flight recorder
Capture complete- 1isolated sandbox run
- 11MITRE ATT&CK techniques
- 2spawned processes
- 0network contacts
- 1filesystem & mutex artifacts
What this file does
Observed actions and their security significance
High concern: Injected code into another process, a technique that can conceal execution.
High concern: Attempted to impair or bypass security controls.
High concern: Manipulated how the operating system loads code, which can redirect execution.
Moderate concern: Runs hidden system commands (script or shell).
Moderate concern: Removed execution artefacts or logs, which can conceal activity.
Moderate concern: Checked the environment for virtualisation or analysis tools.
Note: Collects details about your system.
These are observed capabilities from an isolated analysis. A technique does not prove malicious intent on its own, and the file never ran on your device.
Attack story
Runtime observations grouped by analysis stage. Arrows organize the stages; they do not claim chronology or causality.
Input file
The submitted object
- FileObserved
Keygen.exe
d8e4668af72d2d8bc26dd7a6854741121d521c5c7551c2a9ecf32959660e58cc
01Uploaded file
Processes
Runtime execution
- ProcessObserved
Observed process
"C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\software.exe"
02Isolated runtime analysis - ProcessObserved
Observed process
"C:\Users\user\Desktop\file.exe"
03Isolated runtime analysis - +1 more recorded observation in Analyst mode
Files
Created or changed
- Written fileObserved
Roaming
C:\Users\user\AppData\Roaming
04Isolated runtime analysis
4 recorded facts from one runtime window. Every fact remains independently traceable in Analyst mode.
What this file did when executed
This file was detonated in 1 sandbox and its runtime behaviour was observed.
Adversary techniques mapped to the MITRE ATT&CK framework.
- C:\Users\user\AppData\Roaming
Detection & Forensics
Consensus, attribution, signatures, code structure, prevalence, and identity.
Evidence integrity
Chain of custody for the facts preserved in this report.
- 1rule hit recorded
- 9 / 75engines flagged
- 2sources in submission history
Why these facts are shown
Each statement identifies whether it was directly recorded or derived from saved scan facts.
- 01
1 high-confidence signature or behavior rule matched this file.
Verdict inputView chapterProvenanceDerivedSourceSignature and behavior rulesObserved at - 02
9 of 75 antivirus engines flagged the file, including APEX and Bkav.
Verdict inputView chapterProvenanceObservedSourceAntivirus analysisObserved at - 03
The hash has been submitted 2 times from 2 sources.
ProvenanceDerivedSourceSaved report factsObserved at - 04
Scanned file: Keygen.exe — d8e4668af72d2d8bc26dd7a6854741121d521c5c7551c2a9ecf32959660e58cc
ProvenanceObservedSourceUploaded fileObserved at - 05
Observed process — "C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\software.exe"
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 06
Observed process — "C:\Users\user\Desktop\file.exe"
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 07
File written: Roaming — C:\Users\user\AppData\Roaming
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at
Detection sources at a glance
The available sources did not agree on a named threat category.
MalwareBazaar, YARAify, and CIRCL hashlookup completed and returned no entries for this hash.
Signatures and behavior heuristics
A community signature or high-severity behavioral heuristic matched. Signatures identify known patterns; heuristics are strong leads but are not proof on their own.
The saved runtime evidence maps this activity to MITRE T1055 (Process Injection). The mapping supports possible process injection, but it does not prove the exact injection method or the operator's intent.
Evidence"C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\software.exe"
9 of 75 engines flagged this file
View all 75 engine results
Section entropy & packers
No high-entropy executable section or known packer signature was detected. Data and resource sections can still have high entropy without indicating packed code.
How widely this file has been seen
Moderate prevalence — neither rare nor common. No strong prior applies.
Fingerprint and provenance
- File name
- Keygen.exe
- Format
- Win32 EXE
- Code signing
- No verified publisher
- Size
- 20.0 KB
- Last analyzed
- Sep 7, 2026, 11:48 AM UTC
d8e4668af72d2d8bc26dd7a6854741121d521c5c7551c2a9ecf32959660e58ccSafety & FAQ
Complete recovery guidance and answers for the next decision.
What to do now
We couldn't fully clear this file. Treat it with caution.
- Recovery step 01
Don't run it unless you're certain it came from a source you trust.
- Recovery step 02
Check where you got it — an unexpected attachment or a random download link is a red flag.
- Recovery step 03
If its origin cannot be confirmed, delete this file and use a fresh copy from a trusted source. Get a fresh copy from the developer's official site or an official app store.
- Recovery step 04
If you're still unsure, scan it again in a day or two — detections often catch up on newer files.
Safety FAQ
Direct answers grounded in the saved verdict and evidence in this report.
Is Keygen.exe safe, or is it malware?
What is Keygen.exe?
How many antivirus engines detected Keygen.exe?
I already downloaded and ran Keygen.exe — what should I do?
How do I remove Keygen.exe?
What is the SHA-256 hash of Keygen.exe?
How up to date is this analysis of Keygen.exe?
Community
Member reviews and reports for this exact file hash.