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What’s ssh-keyscan.exe? Is it safe or a virus?

The ssh-keyscan.exe is a command-line utility provided by Microsoft Windows for gathering public SSH host keys.

This tool can be used to quickly retrieve the public key of a remote SSH server, which is useful for verifying the server's identity and ensuring secure communication. By running this utility with the hostname or IP address of an SSH server, it will return the server's public key in the SSH known_hosts format. This can help in securely connecting to SSH servers and prevent man-in-the-middle attacks. It's a useful tool for administrators and developers when managing SSH connections and ensuring secure communication.

Researched by Carl @ SpyShelter Labs

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More about ssh-keyscan.exe on WINDOWS

Who makes ssh-keyscan.exe?

We’ve found Microsoft Windows should be the publisher of ssh-keyscan.exe.

How do we know? Our SpyShelter cybersecurity labs focuses on monitoring different types of Windows PC executables and their behaviors for our popular SpyShelter Antispyware software. Learn more about us, and how our cybersecurity team studies Windows PC executables/processes.

What does it mean if someone is the publisher of a PC .exe (executable or process)?

The publisher of an executable is the entity responsible for its distribution and authenticity. Most processes/executables on your PC should be signed. The signature on the executable should have been verified through a third party whose job it is to make sure the entity is who it says it is. Find an unsigned executable? You should consider scanning any completely unsigned .exe on your PC.

Last updated: April 10, 2024

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Why should you trust us?

Our team at SpyShelter has been studying Windows PC executables for over 15 years, to help fight against spyware, malware, and other threats. SpyShelter has been featured in publications like The Register, PC Magazine, and many others. Now we’re working to share free, actionable, and easy to understand information about Windows executables (processes) with the world, to help as many people as possible keep their devices safe. Learn more about us on our "About SpyShelter” page.

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