Spyware Keylogger 

What is it and how can I protect myself?

A spyware keylogger is software or hardware that records all the keystrokes of a computer user.  For the purposes of this article we will be focusing on the software type.

A spyware keylogger is sometimes used by parents to keep tabs on children while online.  They are also used to spy on spouses and employees.  Whether you agree with these tactics or not keyloggers can also be used for more malicious reasons.

Spyware keyloggers can be used to collect social security numbers, credit card numbers, login details and passwords, in addition to any other sensitive information that you may type.  Once the keylogger records this information it gets transmitted back to the person who created the spyware keylogger.

Think about all the sensitive information that passes through your keyboard.  It is scary to think that your most sensitive information could be in the hands of a criminal.

Fortunately there are some steps you can take that will help to protect your online privacy.

If you use the internet you should (at the minimum) have an anti-virus program, an anti-spyware program, and a firewall installed on your computer.  Some keyloggers can be detected by anti-virus programs and/or anti-spyware programs depending on which keylogger gets installed on your system.  For example, one keylogger may be detected by an anti-virus program and not an anti-spyware program or vise versa.  Firewalls, anti-virus programs and anti-spyware programs increase your protection you from different threats.

By using a firewall you are preventing outside access to your computer.  Firewalls make the ports on your computer invisible to hackers searching the web looking for an open port. 

An anti-virus program protects you from known computer viruses and some keyloggers. Computer viruses are programs that infect other programs, and then spread (hence virus).  Some viruses also include instructions to damage an infected computer, or delete sections of the hard drive, etc.

Anti-spyware programs protect you from a growing list of known spyware bugs including some keyloggers.  Spyware programs can gather information about you, your shopping habits, your surfing habits, your passwords, your personal information, etc., and then send the data collected to some company or internet scammer.  Your personal identity could be at risk.

It is also important to keep your firewall, anti-virus program, anti-spyware program and internet browser current with the most recent updates.