About the key

A key is a sequence of bits with which you can activate and subsequently use the application in accordance with the terms of the End User License Agreement (license type, license term, and licensing restrictions).

A key is generated by Kaspersky Lab. After you add a key to the application, the key is displayed in the application interface as a unique alphanumeric sequence. You can add a key to the application by using a key file.

Kaspersky Lab can black-list a key over violations of the End User License Agreement. If the key has been black-listed, you have to add a different key to continue using the application.

There are two types of keys: active and additional.

An active key is the key that is currently used by the application. A trial or commercial license key can be added as the active key. The application cannot have more than one active key.

An additional key is a key that entitles the user to use the application, but is not currently in use. An additional key automatically becomes active when the license associated with the current active key expires. An additional key can be added only if the active key is available.

A key for a trial license can be added only as the active key. A key for a trial license cannot be added as an additional key.

An additional key can be added only if the active key is available.

Kaspersky Secure Mail Gateway uses keys of the following types:

Fully-functional key. When a key is added, the application works in full-functionality mode, performing scans for spam, phishing, viruses and other types of malware.
Key for Anti-Virus protection. When this key is added, the application scans messages for viruses and other threats but does not scan messages for spam. The status label assigned by the application to a message following a spam scan contains information about limited functionality.
Key for Anti-Spam and Anti-Phishing protection. When this key is added, the application scans messages for spam and phishing but does not scan messages for viruses and other threats. The status label assigned by the application to a message following a scan for viruses and other threats contains information about limited functionality.

The type of additional key should match the type of the previously added active key. If the type of the additional key does not match the type of a previously added active key, the available application functionality changes in accordance with the type of the additional key when the additional key becomes active.

Anti-Spam and Anti-Virus databases are updated regardless of key type.