Is There a Keystroke Logger on My Computer?

Key loggers record information from your keyboard and mouse

A keystroke logger records input sent from your keyboard to your computer. Keystroke loggers can log, and transfer, confidential information such as passwords and user names. There are several symptoms indicating the presence of a keystroke logger on your computer.

Random installation

Key loggers can install third-party software and other malicious programs on a computer without your consent. If new shortcuts and programs start showing up on your desktop or hard drive, a keystroke logger may be to blame.

Slow computer

Keystroke loggers consume your computer's resources, interfering with your machine's normal speed and capacity. Key loggers may cause your computer to struggle when you open a program or initiate a complex task.

Suspicious programs

Any strange or suspicious program names listed in your Task Manager or start-up configuration menu could be hidden keystroke loggers. A single keystroke logger may manifest as multiple identities.

Intentional keystroke loggers

Your employer, parent or fellow computer user may have intentionally installed the keystroke logger. Ask a network or office administrator if there are software or hardware keystroke loggers on your work computer. They are often used to monitor employee activity at work.

Malicious keystroke loggers

A keystroke logger on your computer might capture critical identity information from your computer. If your identity, or any personal information, is stolen, a keystroke logger may have been the thief's tool.

References

• SecurityFocus: Introduction to Spyware Keyloggers
• Online Security Authority: The Advancement of the Keylogger