So I downloaded a relatively popular virtual drum app. My AV of course didn't like the keygen. I understand most don't and it doesn't necessarily mean it is bad. However, I got curious and uploaded it to filescan.io. That is where I got worried. It suggests it has a key logger. I also was chatting with gpt about it and uploaded there. It was also suggesting it was bad and thought it likely had a malicious payload.

How can we be sure these keygens are ok?

I don't know if AV would be able to detect anything after running it or how would you know it cleaned your system fully?

 

What was the keygen for and where did you get it?

 

You downloaded and you're scared of keylogger in keygen? Hahahaha! Just buy original then... and stop complaining...

 

You could see if it is sending any traffic/data out and just block outgoing traffic. Also chatgpt may help with malware program analysis

 

A lot depends where you got it from.

 

show us the analysis log report of that file

I just uploaded for fun a random freeware vst dll had this



and try checking on https://www.virustotal.com/gui/

 

Last edited: Dec 16, 2025

it's amazing that in 2025 there are still people who can't even get hacked right. All you have to do is click it a bunch of times and wait for something bad to happen.

 

You can't, unless you download them from a trusted website like our sister site.

Back up your entire C:/ drive so that you can completely restore your
system using a recovery disk in case of a virus or malware infection.

Of course, there is a significant risk involved in installing and registering with the keygen.

Most keygens are flagged by your antivirus software, but these are often false positives.
Therefore, you should temporarily disable antivirus software like Windows Defender beforehand.

You can scan your PC after installation with this tool:

AdwCleaner 2025 - Free Adware Cleaner & Removal Tool
www.malwarebytes.com/adwcleaner

 

Virtustotal has a tab for "Behaviour" where you can follow line for line what an executable will do to your computer, including all file, registry, network activity. Or use Microsoft / Sysinternals Process Monitor to do the same inside a local VM.

 

Extreme paranoia about getting a virus will drive you insane, I personally know a few people that became so insanely afraid of getting a virus, malware or being hacked and have cancelled their internet several years ago, it has severely affected their minds. They only use their PC, laptops for the most menial of tasks usually playing their CD collections DVD's and blurays, storing and looking family pics and home movies and such , this has seriously affected their minds to the point I don't even bother with them any longer. Just buy any software you need, but even then you don't know if it 100% safe and spyware free. Just like those who fear catching diseases and incessantly washing and sanitizing their hands because they are afraid of germs.

 

Last edited: Dec 17, 2025

yes. They have a built-in sandbox tool there that will tell you what the behavior of the thing is when it's executed.

 

I believe I originally downloaded it via torrent... probably TPB. I ended up deleting it and never ran it. There were just too many things pointing to it being bad. So, I got a rapidgator 30 day acct and then found it on sister site and downloaded via the rapidgator links. However, this too seemed to be the exact same keygen.

XLN Audio Addictive Drums 2 Complete v2.5.2.1 Incl Patched and Keygen-R2R
Filename is XLN_KeyGen.exe. It is 800KB

I know SS is supposed to be a safer bet, but this one just seems strange to me and I'm not sure I trust it.

SHA 256 = 0727f0747bbdc0ba30ae6b8ffdd568244c246fd3c794089379c11d53fbf260f1

Search that at filescan.io or VT and you can see the results.

Thanks!

 

Windows also has a Sandboxing function but you have to enable it first. Click start start typing "turn windows features on or off. In the list, find Windows Sandbox. It will install and you'll have to reboot.
Then you can copy files over to that Sandbox to run from there. Obviously not all keygens will work this way (as some work by adding files to either the registry or program location etc) but a lot of simple keygens work great in it. And as it's it's own environment, even if it did have a virus, shouldn't interfere with your main install of Windows

 

^Also there's sandboxie if you want an alternative to that.

 

The sister site is safe. Temporarily disable your Defender or antivirus software, install the program, and then run the keygen.
If you don't disable Defender, it will classify your keygen as malware and delete it. These are all false alarms.

You just have to be a little brave; remember, many users have been downloading from the sister site for years without any problems.

 

for those intersted:
https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/0727f0747bbdc0ba30ae6b8ffdd568244c246fd3c794089379c11d53fbf260f1
https://www.filescan.io/uploads/694...ad91e533-7f70-4db8-9940-794f0de938f0/overview


witches will steal your foreskin

Spoiler: >

from the R2R.txt: (XLN uses WMI to get info from CPU/HDD/MotherBoard.
XLN put some code to geneerate another code when it has an error in WMI.)

my guess the witches keygen has to do the same, so this behaviour causes those antiviruses to see it as a malicious activity

so if you are afraid launch it in sandbox, generate your code and forget it

 

Last edited: Dec 17, 2025

I thought I had a virus so i sprayed my PC down with Lysol.
Why is everyone so worried?

 

How long ago was this? TPB has been dead for several years now! And yes, if it was downloaded from TPB there's a good chance it contained a virus or keylogger. That place was completely infested with virus toward the end.

If you download from the sister site you don't have to worry about any viruses or keyloggers even if your AV and VirusTotal says so (especially if you keep it to releases made by known groups and individuals). Some of the code in keygens can resemble stuff you would find in a keylogger or virus, but that doesn't mean it is one. This is why you almost always get false-positives when you check completely clean keygens.

 

Bro is worried about keyloggers...

I never worry about them. If you're a real musician, your bank account is empty.

Hell, if anyone gets into my bank details, they might deposit a dollar out of pity.