shellext / VT API Key

VT API Key

API Key (frmApiKey) is a small dialog for setting the VirusTotal API key used by the bundled VT helper and the File Hash / Hash Files dialogs' VT-lookup features. Reachable from anywhere a "Set API Key" menu appears: the shellext configurator's Set VT API Key button, File Hash's VirusTotal → Set API Key, Hash Files's VT → Set Api Key.

The two key types

Field	Use
Personal public key	The standard VT public API key. Subject to the 4-requests-per-minute rate limit. Sent with the `user:` prefix when active so the VT helper knows which kind it's dealing with.
Private Key	A paid VT private key. No rate limit, sent as-is.

The radio buttons select which one is currently active. Whichever you pick, the dialog requires that field to be non-empty before saving. Both keys are persisted (via SaveSetting under VirusTotal\config) so you can switch between them without re-typing.

Behavior on save

Both key fields are saved to the registry regardless of which is active — nothing's discarded.
The chosen key_option (1 = public, 2 = private) is persisted alongside.
The active key is pushed to the parent CVirusTotal instance via SetPrivateApiKey. If the public key is active, it's prefixed with user: so downstream code routes it to the public-API code path with rate limiting.
If neither option's value is set, SetPrivateApiKey "" is called — effectively clearing the active key.

Notes

VT itself enforces the rate limit, not this dialog — making the wrong choice (e.g. using a public-key shape with a private key) will surface as VT's "exceeded quota" / "key invalid" error in the helper output, not here.
The same VirusTotal\config registry slot is read by virustotal.exe, frmFileHash, and frmHash, so changing the key in one place updates it everywhere.