Frequently Asked Questions

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    Due to Microsoft's policy to deprecate SHA-1 digital signatures, we had to sign KeyScrambler version 3.11 and later with an SHA-2 certificate. But older versions of Windows did not support SHA2 based signatures.

    For Windows 7 (or Server 2008):

    A Windows update, KB3033929, is available to add support for SHA-2 signed drivers. You can download this update from Microsoft:
    For Windows 7 64-bit
    For Windows 7 32-bit

    For Windows Vista (or Server 2003):

    Microsoft has not provided an update to support SHA-2 signed drivers. If possible, we recommend upgrading to a more recent version of Windows. Otherwise, we recommend using only KeyScrambler 3.10 and earlier under Vista/Server 2003. You can used the following links to download 3.10:
    KeyScrambler Personal, Professional, Premium.
    A final workaround is to disable driver signature verification under Vista/Server 2003. We do not recommend this solution, as it could weaken the security of your system. Therefore we're not providing instructions on how to do so here. But if you choose to do so, at your sole discretion, the instructions can be found through your preferred search engine.

    ESET 10 includes it's own anti-keylogging function as part of the "Banking and Payment protection" feature. This feature installs a driver that's potentially incompatible with the KeyScrambler driver, which KeyScrambler detects. To resolve the error, it's necessary to disable the ESET feature. You can go into the ESET control panel and click on "Tools" and then "Banking and Payment protection". Then click on the toggle button to disable the feature and select "Disable permanently".

    Security

    No. KeyScrambler is not and has never been vulnerable to Heartbleed. First we did not use any of the versions of OpenSSL that contained the bug. Secondly, we have never used the TLS heartbeat extension that introduced the bug. Finally, we only use some of the fundamental cryptographic functions of OpenSSL and not the entire SSL/TLS protocol stack, so our exposure to bugs in the library is very limited.

    KeyScrambler uses both standard symmetric-key and asymmetric-key encryption. The algorithm used for symmetric-key encryption is Blowfish (128-bit). The algorithm for asymmetric-key is RSA (1024-bit).

    General

    Because KeyScrambler gives you a reliable layer of information security that few other security programs offer. With cyber criminals swarming the Internet and with keyloggers and keylogging malware becoming a major means to stealing private information, you want to have KeyScrambler installed on your computer so all your keystrokes are encrypted and protected from possible keylogging malware intrusion.

    Since its initial release in August 2006, KeyScrambler has been tested by numerous users, bloggers and security experts in the world. If you're interested, you could read the KeyScrambler reviews on our website or on other major download sites. Read the reviews & endorsements

    If you'd like to do a test yourself, you could download any number of commercial keyloggers from sites such as CNet's Download.com (most of these have a free trial period). You could also download Anti-Keylogger Tester, which is free at http://www.snapfiles.com/get/antikeyloggertester.html.

    Yes and absolutely. KeyScrambler is designed to strengthen your anti-spyware, anti-virus software where it is weak, that is, in dealing with new, unrecognized viruses and worms. All too often a new virus or worm could escape detection, which is why for years keyloggers and keylogging malware have been found to be the major cause for identity theft and data breaches. Since KeyScrambler encrypts everything you type on your keyboard realtime and decrypts it in the destination app, KeyScrambler renders your info indecipherable, and therefore safe, to keyloggers, old or new. Many anti-virus, anti-spyware programs claim to defeat keylogging malware, but the way they work, they cannot do what KeyScrambler can for you. Learn more about KeyScrambler | Learn more about security trends

    Yes. Because your master password still needs to be protected. Also when you have to enter new information, you need KeyScrambler.

    Yes, it is normal. On a 64-bit system KeyScrambler runs as both a 32-bit and a 64-bit process to ensure that all the supported programs are protected. Because there's a mix of 32-bit and 64-bit programs running, KeyScrambler runs in both modes simultaneously to protect both types of programs.

    Yes. Here is why: If malware with keylogging capability had wormed into your computer, it would sit there trying to capture all you keystrokes, not just those in your browser. You could lose crucial info whether you're online or not. That's why you need KeyScrambler Professional or Premium, to protect your keystroke data in those information-sensitive programs that you use often.

    There are a number of reasons for the change:

    First, in order to expand the number of supported browsers from 3 to 29, we had to move away from the add-on model. It would be impractical to produce an add-on for each different browser, and if we did, it would greatly increase the size of the download. More importantly, many of the browsers we now support do not have an add-on or extension system.

    Secondly, some popular browser, such as Firefox, IE, and Chrome, are now putting limits on when add-ons can run. IE does not run add-ons in its "InPrivate" mode by default, and the same is true of Chrome in its "Incognito" mode. Even Firefox has at times considered disabling add-ons to improve the its own performance and security. So it is becoming more difficult for an add-on to provide the kind of always-on protection that KeyScrambler strives to give to our users.

    Thirdly, Firefox's new "frequent release" schedule has been problematic. In the past year or so, Firefox moved from having a major release once every 6 months or more to once every 6 weeks. Because the Firefox add-ons system was not well adapted to this new schedule, Firefox would frequently disable the KeyScrambler add-on, even though KeyScrambler is perfectly capable of supporting the new version without any changes. Starting with 3.0, KeyScrambler Personal will support any new versions of Firefox without requiring an update, which will make the experience much smoother for Firefox users.

    Finally, with the new model, it will be much easier for us to add support for more browsers in the future.

    For all these reasons, we believe that in the long run it is best for KeyScrambler to be a standalone program rather than a browser add-on.

    Only very slightly. The way KeyScrambler is designed, the standalone portion of the program ("KeyScrambler.exe") is basically inactive when KeyScrambler isn't in use. It doesn't use any CPU when idle and uses less than 5MB of RAM. The standalone's main purpose is to give users a way to control KeyScrambler, and very little resource is needed for that. Additionally, we've structured KeyScrambler so that there's a lot of sharing between the standalone program and the decryption module that attaches to the protected applications. The actual net increase in RAM usage is even less than the 4 to 5MB indicated in Task Manager.

    Purchasing

    Since August 2006, users who bought KeyScrambler Pro or Premium have received free upgrades without having to pay annual renewal fees. That practice is to change beginning with KeyScrambler 3.0: For the same $29.99 for Pro and $44.99 for Premium, you can now install KeyScrambler on up to 3 computers instead of 1 computer in the past. And you are guaranteed free upgrades for one year. By the end of one year, you can either pay a renewal fee (50% of the purchase price) for another year of upgrades, or continue to use the version you bought for as long as you like.

    Your product key will be enclosed in the order confirmation from QFX Software sent to your email address immediately after you completed your purchase. If you used a credit/debit card, you will also receive an e-receipt from the card issuer. But your product key is provided only in the order confirmation.

    Email us, including your full name and time of purchase (month/year). We'll email your product key to you.

    Troubleshooting

    It indicates that you're currently not working with a protected application.

    If you haven't restarted your computer after installing or updating KeyScrambler, please do so. If you have Kaspersky 2009, ThreatFire or AVAST installed, please pause it, run the KeyScrambler installer again and reboot your computer. You can then resume your security program after the installation.

    Simply uninstall KeyScrambler and then reinstall it.

    Starting with version 3.0, KeyScrambler Personal no longer requires add-ons to protect supported browsers. When KeyScrambler is running, it will automatically protect any support browsers.

    In Windows 7 and later, the tray icon is often hidden. You can make it visible by following these steps:

    1. Click the Up Icon in the Tray area to bring up the Windows Icons Panel.
    2. Drag the KeyScrambler Tray Icon to the Tray area.

    For more information, click here:

    The problem should go away if you uninstall KeyScrambler and then download and install the new version again at our site: https://www.qfxsoftware.com/download.htm

    Yes. If you encounter some issues, here's a page on Trusteer's website that has instructions on how to enable Rapport to work with KeyScrambler: www.trusteer.com/support/keyscrambler

     

    An alternative is to uninstall Rapport, reinstall KeyScrambler, restart your computer, and then reinstall Rapport. Rapport should detect that you have KeyScrambler installed and then automatically enable its compatibility settings.

    How-to

    No. KeyScrambler is automatically enabled whenever you log into a protected application. If you want to turn KeyScrambler off temporarily, double-click the KeyScrambler tray icon. You can also use the hotkey combination (Ctr+Shift+k) to toggle it. See other ways of turning KeyScrambler on/off

    Yes. Just follow the simple steps in our User Manual, Hide the Overlay Window.

    The difference is mainly in the number of protected applications. While the free KeyScrambler Personal encrypts every user keystroke in 70+ browsers, KeyScrambler Pro and Premium also encrypt everything in many other applications.

    Compare Editions

    Compares apps supported by Personal, Pro, and Premium.

    Business Benefits

    Explains KeyScrambler Premium's benefits for businesses.

    Screenshots

    Shows images of KeyScrambler protecting some supported apps.

    Support

    Helpful information on how to use KeyScrambler effectively.