How to Prevent and Detect Keylogger Software?

Computer Security, Computing
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Overview

You will never want a computer to have any infection including keyloggers. If your PC is infected with software keyloggers or hook or kernel-based keyloggers, you can lose your money in the bank or your private data. To make sure that you don’t have keyloggers in your computer, use any of the tools below to scan the computer.

Some keylogger software is considered legitimate- such as the many commercial keyloggers. They can be detected, too, by some antivirus programs. An example is parental control software that monitors the activity of the users at home while using the computer and transmits the data to the parent’s or guardian’s e-mail account. Some company might add commercial keylogger software to monitor their staff, as well. Another type of keylogger is hardware-based. An example of this is KeyGhost. No software can detect such a device except you! Look at your USB devices and make sure that you don’t have such a device that records and stores the information on a flash memory card.

A keylogger is a threat because it spreads like malware– thru e-mail, browser exploits, P2P networks, or by another malicious program. Keyloggers are use by cyber criminals to steal money and data. There are banks and people that became victims because of keyloggers on their computer or devices.

What are the programs to use to detect Keylogger software?

Most antivirus and antimalware program have the detection signature to detect keylogger software, but to make sure you should scan the computer using another on-demand scanner to verify that your antivirus program did not miss a keylogger infection.

A-squared, Ad-Aware, CounterSpy, Malwarebytes Antimalware, SUPERAntiSpyware, Spybot-Search & Destroy and Windows Defender are some on-demand scanners and removers that have keylogger detection ability. For prevention, you can use KeyScrambler program to protect your login credentials and other private information for being sniffed or spied on while the computer is online or offline. Other software to detect and prevent keylogger software is by using anti-trojan protection e.g. TrojanHunter, The Cleaner and Trojan Remover.

To protect yourself and your data against known and unknown keyloggers, practice the following:

  • Regularly change your password
  • Use or create a strong password
  • Use a virtual keyboard
  • Password protect your passwords
  • Store your passwords in a removable device and make sure it is encrypted. If you are using Windows 7, take advantage of BitLocker to Go feature.
  • If you have to use a password manager that integrates with your browser and email program, encrypt the passwords and create a master password.
  • Do not open an e-mail attachment that you did not expect even if it’s from your friends. (You’ll never know if your friends’ PC has been compromised!) Ensure that your antivirus program includes an e-mail scanner to scan the message and the attachment for malware.

A firewall program might not detect a keylogger, but it can help to prevent the keylogger to transmit information to the remote location. This is possible only if your firewall program is a two-way and rule-based firewall in which you configure the firewall to prompt you for any applications that require an Internet connection to transfer data from and to your PC.

Don’t become one of the 10 million of end-users that have malicious program with keylogging function. Ensure that your antivirus program is not offering basic protection, but advanced protection and detection to all types of security risks.