How to Prevent Key Logging
Keyloggers are tools used by hackers and identity thieves to record personal information typed on a keyboard. Software keyloggers can be installed on your personal computer as parts of a virus package, or on public computers such as those at libraries. Hardware keyloggers can also be installed on public computers. Both are dangerous to your privacy and security, and all computer users should know some basic steps to defend against them.
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Instructions
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Manual Defenses
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Turn the computer's tower around to examine how the keyboard plugs into the system. The keyboard jack should plug directly into its socket. If you find a small intermediate device between the keyboard and the tower, this is likely a keylogger. Unplug it or use a different computer.
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2
Scramble your input when typing sensitive information, such as account names or passwords, by typing gibberish letters into the relevant field and then using the mouse to highlight and replace them with the proper characters. For example, if you are typing the password "myemail," you might type "ghi," then highlight those letters and replace them with "my"; then type "pwfb" and replace it with "em," proceeding until you have written the entire password.
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Mask sensitive typing by alternating regularly between text fields, using the mouse or "Tab" key. Type in part of a user name; then tab to the page's search field and type some gibberish before returning to complete the user field. This will make it difficult for the hacker who reads the keylogger to determine what keystrokes are important.
Software Overrides for Keyloggers
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Navigate to shipit.ubuntu.com/ to request a free copy of the Ubuntu Linux operating system CD be sent to your home. Alternatively, create your own CD by downloading the file at ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download and following the on-screen instructions.
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Insert the Ubuntu CD into the computer and restart the system. On the restart screen, which shows for a few seconds just before the regular operating system loads, enter the boot menu. (Usually this involves pressing F11 on the keyboard, but this may be different for your system--watch the screen for instructions on which key to press.)
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Instruct the system to boot from the CD or optical drive using the boot menu. This will allow you to use Linux, an operating system that any keylogger will not be equipped to run under.
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