A Keylogger is also known by other names as monitoring software or spyware. It can be parallel to digital surveillance that reveals each and every touch, click, every conversation and download. A keylogger is short form of keystroke logger. It is one type of software that is used in tracking or logging the keys mounted on the respective keyboard in a secret way so that people don’t get to know about its monitoring actions.
Keylogger- A Malicious Intention
It can be easily understood that activity of Keyloggers is generally performed with negative intent for collecting the confidential information of people, such as their account information, usernames, credit card numbers, passwords as well as other sensitive data.
Nonetheless, keyloggers can pose severe threat to computer users because they might be used in intercepting confidential information, such as passwords that will be entered through the keyboard and then the result is that cybercriminals can acquire account numbers as well as PIN codes for the respective financial accounts of users of computing systems.
Such culprits can also track email passwords, social networking accounts password etc and then utilize these pieces of information to steal people’s hard-earned money. They can also steal identity and perform other malicious activities.
Hardware keyloggers are utilized for the purpose of keystroke logging, an approach that is used in capturing as well as recording users’ keystrokes to a computer that also includes sensitive information. Hardware keyloggers might be applied through BIOS-level firmware or through a particular device that is inline between a computer and a computer keyboard.
How can a Keylogger enter your system?
Keyloggers have somewhat the same tendency as other malicious programs when it comes to the question of infecting speed. However, in some cases, keyloggers can be purchased and installed by a jealous partner or spouse.
Keyloggers can also be installed on a particular system whenever a user opens a file attachment that he/she had received via text message, email, instant message, P2P networks, or social networks. A user can also accidentally install Keyloggers when he/she visits an infected website and downloads something.
Detection of a Keylogger
It is somewhat tricky while it comes to the question of its detection. However, by keeping track of behaviour of your computer you can detect presence of a keylogger on the respective device and some signs in this regard include slower performance in times of web browsing, pausing or not showing up of the keystrokes or mouse whenever you are typing. If you obtain an error screen in time of loading of web pages or graphics, then it might be a sign of presence of a keylogger.
Protection from Keyloggers
With some preventive measures, you can stop installation of a keylogger in your system:
Use Caution in times of Opening of Attachments:
You need to remember that files received through email, chat, social networks, P2P networks, or text messages (in case of mobile devices) might be embedded with severe malicious software like a keylogger.
Watching Your Passwords:
You need to be cautious about the utilization of one-time passwords and ensure that key sites in which you are going are active with two-step verification for login if possible.
Utilization of a password manager can also be helpful for you, as it can remember respective username along with passwords and it helps with prevention of keylogging because you don’t need to type any kind of information on such websites. Your password manager is going to do that on behalf of you.
Trying an alternative keyboard layout and utilization of complete security solutions can also be helpful preventive measures against a keylogger.
