WHAT DOES KEYLOGGER DO?

Keyboard loggers are programs or devices that record keystrokes, sometimes with the criminal aim of stealing or copying confidential information of users, such as login data and passwords and sending them to third parties without authorization. This is a threat to the security of your email passwords, social media accounts, or banking information. However, these keyloggers are not only used by hackers and cybercriminals: the intelligence services of organizations and governments also use them to spy on confidential data. Although the term keylogger is often used synonymously with spyware, they really are not the same. While spyware is the generic term for malicious software that steals user information, the term "keylogger" is more accurate as it only records keys.

Definition

A keylogger or keyboard logger is a type of software or hardware that records the keystrokes on a keyboard to transmit them to third parties. This jeopardizes the security of user data as unauthorized persons can obtain access data such as passwords that can be used to access more data.

Not all keyloggers are harmful or illegal in nature. Keylogging can be used to track the behavior of a user on a computer: keyloggers facilitate the documentation of computer use for scientific purposes, for example, to obtain data on human behavior on a computer. Therefore, keylogger programs and devices are not illegal in and of themselves. They only become questionable from a security point of view if they are installed without the consent of the computer user.

 Advice

If your email account has been hacked, you may have been the victim of a keylogger attack. Learn in this article of our guide how to regain access to your account.

Keyloggers in the form of software

As software, keyloggers generally work through background processes without the user being able to recognize them. Some keyloggers can also create screenshots of the entered text. After collecting the information, this data is typically sent online or stored in a file on the user's hard drive. In the latter case, people who want to intercept user data re-access the hard drive without permission. These types of keyloggers are the best known and can be effectively combated with the help of a firewall or an antivirus program. The keylogger software is available in many different versions

Keyloggers in hardware form

Many Internet users do not even know that keyloggers exist in the form of hardware. This type of keyboard loggers can be used, for example, in the form of a USB connected between the keyboard and the computer. Such a connector has an internal memory in which the protocols of the keyboard inputs are stored. By removing the keylogger later, the stored protocols can be read. Hardware-based keyloggers are also available in different variants, although they are not as well known to the average user as they are not as easy to come by as software keyloggers.

How to protect yourself from keyloggers?

Most keyboard loggers can be contained with an updated virus scanner and firewall. Of course, new keyloggers are constantly being developed whose signatures are not immediately recognized as harmful by protection programs. Therefore, it is also important that you minimize the risk of keylogging. We have some tips for you on how you can protect yourself from keyloggers:

Keep your security applications and programs up to date: Use good antivirus and real-time scanners to protect yourself against keyloggers and other threats. Most keyloggers are easy to locate and remove with an effective antivirus. Perform a check with your antivirus every time you are going to enter confidential and important data on your computer.

Have a password manager: It is convenient to have a password manager, which will also help you to have a complete control and order of all your passwords. These managers generate very complicated keys, which are difficult for keyloggers to record. On the other hand, these programs often have an autofill function, thanks to which it is not necessary to enter credentials manually. After all, keyloggers can usually only read what you type.

The multifactor authentication (MFA) is considered extremely safe for credentials. The user is not only asked for a password, but also mainly interactive authentication with a variable factor (for example, using a mobile phone).

Hardware-type keyloggers are almost never used by individuals. However, if you handle strictly confidential data in your workplace, which may be of interest to your competition, for example, it is not a bad idea to check your connections from time to time. You should pay particular attention to suspicious-looking plug adapters. If you think you may be the victim of a hardware keylogger, you should inform your IT department before disposing of the suspected keylogger.

A simple trick to avoid keyboard loggers is to use the virtual keyboard. In Windows, you can call it by running "osk.exe" in the "Run" dialog box (Windows key + R). As keyloggers typically only read physical keystrokes, you will be more secure if you enter your login details and passwords via the virtual keyboard.

There are special tools on the Internet that can be used to find and remove keyloggers.  

Special care must be taken when using publicly accessible computers. Always avoid entering confidential data on these computers. If you have no choice but to enter confidential data, check the ports of your computer for suspicious hardware. If you enter a password on a web page, interrupt the process and type characters unrelated to your password somewhere before continuing to type your password. You can use this method to fool potential keyboard loggers in certain circumstances. You can also use the virtual keyboard on most public computers.