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Posted: June 15, 2015

Threat Metric

The Threat Meter is a malware assessment that SpywareRemove.com's research team is able to give every identifiable malware threat. Our Threat Meter includes several criteria based off of specific malware threats to value their severity, reach and volume. The Threat Meter is able to give you a numerical breakdown of each threat's initial Threat Level, Detection Count, Volume Count, Trend Path and Percentage Impact. The overall ranking of each threat in the Threat Meter is a basic breakdown of how all threats are ranked within our own extensive malware database. The scoring for each specific malware threat can be easily compared to other emerging threats to draw a contrast in its particular severity. The Threat Meter is a useful tool in the endeavor of seeking a solution to remove a threat or pursue additional analytical research for all types of computer users.

The following fields listed on the Threat Meter containing a specific value, are explained in detail below:

Threat Level: The threat level scale goes from 1 to 10 where 10 is the highest level of severity and 1 is the lowest level of severity. Each specific level is relative to the threat's consistent assessed behaviors collected from SpyHunter's risk assessment model.

Detection Count: The collective number of confirmed and suspected cases of a particular malware threat. The detection count is calculated from infected PCs retrieved from diagnostic and scan log reports generated by SpyHunter.

Volume Count: Similar to the detection count, the Volume Count is specifically based on the number of confirmed and suspected threats infecting systems on a daily basis. High volume counts usually represent a popular threat but may or may not have infected a large number of systems. High detection count threats could lay dormant and have a low volume count. Criteria for Volume Count is relative to a daily detection count.

Trend Path: The Trend Path, utilizing an up arrow, down arrow or equal symbol, represents the level of recent movement of a particular threat. Up arrows represent an increase, down arrows represent a decline and the equal symbol represent no change to a threat's recent movement.

% Impact (Last 7 Days): This demonstrates a 7-day period change in the frequency of a malware threat infecting PCs. The percentage impact correlates directly to the current Trend Path to determine a rise or decline in the percentage.

Threat Level:	2/10
Infected PCs:	52

First Seen:	June 3, 2015
Last Seen:	February 20, 2019
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

PrintOnKey (AKA advertisements by PrintOnKey, PrintOnKey add-on or PrintOnKey advertisements) is a program that generates revenue by loading in-browser advertisements. A poor business history combined with the standard security risks accompanying adware cause malware experts to suggest removing PrintOnKey from most browsers. Since numerous PrintOnKey installations use formats that block their deletion via standard methods, you should consider using anti-adware tools for making PrintOnKey's deletion as efficient as possible.

Advertisements On Key No Matter What You're Browsing

PrintOnKey is a variant of previous adware products including, but limited to FlashBeat and Dotdo. Like them, PrintOnKey may use its website's services to encourage PC users to install its software consensually, but malware experts also have seen cases of PrintOnKey's installation occurring through automatic methods. Malware experts saw PrintOnKey's site, theplaora.com, operating until late 2014, after which a change in ownership implies that PrintOnKey now is being distributed by unofficial methods. After its installation, PrintOnKey then modifies your browser for loading additional advertising content.

In theory, one might describe PrintOnKey's advertising content as beneficial to the viewer but primarily is intended for generating affiliate traffic revenue for its owners. These advertisements insert themselves automatically into unrelated Web pages with HTML injection, and may create poor loading times, modified search results or accessibility problems. As usually is true of adware, malware experts also found no signs of PrintOnKey filtering any of this content for safety purposes, which raises a possibility of other ill effects.

Despite providing no notable advantages for your browser, PrintOnKey only rates as a Potentially Unwanted Program, rather than as a threat, and doesn't commit intentional acts of aggression against your PC.

The Key to Getting Advertisements by PrintOnKey out of Your Browser

Along with its rotating brand names, malware researchers also found another black mark against PrintOnKey: its previous site's promoting theoodstore.com, a domain blacklisted for unsafe content. Although anti-malware scans always should follow any contact with a compromised website, PrintOnKey, as adware, may only endanger your computer via the incidental loading of potentially unsafe advertisements. Advertising-favored attacks may focus on phishing tactics like the '647-360-4456' Pop-Up, but, in rare cases, toxic software also may be installed from a browser exploit.

Based on its history and the risks associated with its main functions, malware experts find no redeeming virtues in PrintOnKey worthy of suggesting you use its software. Deleting PrintOnKey, while encouraged, should include you using appropriate anti-adware products to guarantee the complete removal of all of its files.

Despite its site being closed in 2014, PrintOnKey has been seen being distributed in 2015. The means of distribution are as of yet unidentified, but malware experts have found evidence indicative of it using non-consensual techniques. Such exploits may include partnerships with free, bundle installers or even threats.

Technical Details

File System Modifications

Tutorials: If you wish to learn how to remove malware components manually, you can read the tutorials on how to find malware, kill unwanted processes, remove malicious DLLs and delete other harmful files. Always be sure to back up your PC before making any changes.

The following files were created in the system:

file.exe

File name: file.exe
Size: 2.47 MB (2473994 bytes)
MD5: 7617decc6fc8f6051a62098947a77ec1
Detection count: 5
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: February 16, 2021

Additional Information

The following directories were created:

%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\PrintOnKey