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| Keylogger malware |
What is a keylogger?
Keyloggers are intrusive malware that, when installed, can track everything typed on a keyboard. Simply put, a piece of software records every press on a keyboard.
“The risk of keyloggers is huge”, says a malware intelligence researcher at Malwarebytes tells WIRED. "The feasible information that can be stolen is disastrous, especially on a new computer where nothing is stored in cookies and password managers".
Across the different types of keyloggers, there are two main types, in a blog post-Kaspersky says. These fall under the hardware and software categories: software exploits are typically installed as part of a larger piece of malware. Meanwhile hardware keyloggers, which are rarer, and require a person to physically access a piece of equipment. "A malicious insider could install such a keylogger at the factory level," the security firm says.
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| Hp laptop keylogging |
Use of Keyloggers
Keyloggers can be used to spy on anyone who has an infected machine or device. Any passwords, confidential messages, and private information entered through a keyboard will be captured by the keylogger.
As the technology behind them has become more readily available there has been a number of intensely awkward reports where people have spied on those they are in relationships with.
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| Hp laptop with keylogger |
How to protect yourself from keyloggers.
Protecting yourself against keyloggers can prove to be difficult. Kaspersky says "the applications don’t typically behave like other malicious programs". The loggers are designed not to be detected and stay hidden on a system; they won't give any overt indication they are there.
Keyloggers are usually detected the traditional way – via anti-malware programs, anti-spyware, and file signatures – although it is possible to detect them by programmatic behaviour.
Kaspersky also says that if you suspect a keylogger you can boot a PC from a CD or USB drive or use an on-screen keyboard to prevent input from the physical one being received.
