AutoKMS – Saving Money or Inviting problems

What is AutoKMS?

The AutoKMS adware is a malicious program that is  prone to infringe your computer’s security. This malware program is highly vicious that is why it is important to follow a virus removal guide to get rid of this PUP for best malware protection.

Microsoft Office has enabled the world in creating & managing Documents, presentations, calculative sheets, emails and projects. This wonderful software suite is user friendly and is preferred over the other options available. As we know, Quality comes for a price; this software suite is also made available by Microsoft   to us at an affordable price.

Most of us want to be hassle free and thus purchase the authorized version of this software. Still, there are a number of users who believe in following malpractices of using unauthorized copies of software and using key generators to activate the software.

AutoKMS is known as Automatic Key Management System, was specifically designed to lure such users who seek short term benefits and neglect long term worries. It has a key generator application that boasts about cracking an unauthorized Microsoft Office copy and making it legitimate.  The moment the corrupt Key is placed in the activation wizard and the user tries to activate it, it befools the user by making its presence cited in startup and in believing that the Office suite is activated.

Threat Summary

• Name: AutoKMS
• Browsers Affected: NA
• Targeted Operating System: Windows Operating System
• Category:  PuP, Hacktool

Why is AutoKMS considered Dangerous?

AutoKMS ensures its presence in the core windows folder in an unidentified file type disguise & also targets User profile.  It changes the startup settings by scheduling its occurrence periodically to which the user remains unaware and thus is surprised to see its attempt of activating Microsoft office again and again. Thus, it utilizes valuable system resources in performing useless tasks.

Why the Presence of AutoKMS considered a threat to your computer system?

AutoKMS as suggested earlier, may act as doorway for other malicious programs / adware to access your system. Following strategies can be considered responsible:

Software Bundling: Software bundling is the process in which a malicious program is distributed with other free software, to get an unnoticed entry into your computer system. When a user installs a free application, the malicious programs gains a front door entry with the free application, the user has downloaded. In this case, Users specifically search for AutoKMS to save Money.

Spam Emails – Spamming is the most economic and common method used for the distribution of such malware. The targeted users get genuine looking emails which contain AutoKMS installer as an attachment. These attachments can be named as anything which can grab the user’s attention and triggers him/her to open the attachment. As soon as the user opens this attachment, the malware infects the user’s computer system.

Malicious Websites or Malevolent Advertisements: The malicious websites are the ones which are created just for promoting the malware infections. Such websites include but are not limited to porn sites, torrent sites and other free downloading platforms. By visiting such websites, the adware infects the user’s computer without permission. Fake advertisements and updates like Flash player and windows updates which ask the user to update to the latest version are a few examples. When the users click on such links, their computer system gets infected. That is why, it is highly recommended to resist clicking on such links. Also avoid clicking on advertisements offering free stuff such as Win an iPhones, cars or free overseas trips etc.

Resources:-http://www.virusremovalguidelines.com/adware/autokms-saving-money-or-inviting-problems-to-your-system