This tip was printed from the MalekTips Computer and Technology Help and Tips website at http://malektips.com.

Spyware and Adware - What is a Keylogger and how can it Violate My Privacy?

SUMMARY: Help protect your privacy by learning what a keylogger is and how it can grab sensitive information without your knowledge.

A keylogger is a piece of software, usually invisible to the Task Manager and other normal tracking methods, that keeps track of everything that you type whenever you use a machine. These programs bypass secure transactions in that even though a password may be encrypted before transmitted to a secure server, a keylogger will record the password in plain-text before it is sent to the server. Besides passwords, keyloggers can also record e-mail, credit card numbers, or anything else you may type.

Keyloggers are installed on machines in a variety of ways:

1. Some companies may install keyloggers on corporate machines to keep track of what their employees do while they work. Although companies might require employees to sign statements stating they know this to be in effect, this does not always happen, and some employees may not fully read computer use documents as they begin employment.

2. Keyloggers can be installed by mischievous or malicious individuals on public-access computers such as those in libraries, or limited-access computers such as those in copy centers or Internet cafes. Some keyloggers may be installed as a prank.

3. Spyware or viruses can consist of keylogging technology or may open holes on your machine allowing keylogging backdoors to be installed. Spyware or viruses can infect your machine via social engineering tactics, exploitation of operating system and browser vulnerabilities, and other means.

To help protect yourself against keyloggers, always remember to use a virus scanner and at least two different adware/spyware removal tools, and keep them updated often. When you leave your computer in a public area, such as a work machine, always lock it (usually you can do this via CONTROL-ALT-DELETE or WINDOWS-L then choose to lock your machine), requiring a password for access.