How to Remove Keyloggers in WoW
Keyloggers are the number one way that World of Warcraft accounts are hijacked. They infect the computer and then store away every press of a button, sending that data off to the hacker who then sorts through it to find the passwords and user accounts she needs to steal the WoW account. Stealing the account can mean many things, from logging in just to steal the gold and items accumulated to stealing the account completely and selling it off to other users. Luckily there are ways to remove the keyloggers and prevent against stolen passwords.
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Instructions
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Removing Keyloggers
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1
Open Windows Task Manager, by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc or Ctrl+Shift+Del, and look for a process called "svch0st.exe". "svchost.exe" with an "o" is a normal process. "svch0st.exe" with a zero is a definite sign that the computer has been infected. Even if "svch0st.exe" isn't found it doesn't mean the computer is clean.
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2
Run updates for the anti-virus and anti-spyware software installed on the computer. If there is no anti-virus or anti-spyware software, download some and run updates. There are some quality free anti-virus and anti-spyware programs linked in the resources section.
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3
Run scans for first the anti-virus software and then the anti-spyware software. Run security updates for the computer and for the Internet browsers used on the computer. Restart the computer and run the scans again.
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4
Download, install and run Microsoft's Malicious Software Removal Tool. There is a link in the resources section.
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5
Use the Launcher to run World of Warcraft instead of running it from the direct file. Blizzard claims that using the launcher helps prevent keyloggers from gaining access and though the exact reasoning behind that isn't known, it is worth using the launcher on the off chance that it helps.
Preventative Measures
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6
Use World of Warcraft's "Remember Account Name" feature. Anything that allows the player to avoid typing in the account name or the password helps prevent a hidden keylogger from being able to see that information. On the same note, leaving a password in a notebook or word file and then just copy pasting it over is also a good way to hide the password from keyloggers, even if it isn't a safe way to protect the password from other computer users.
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7
Use any browser other than Internet Explorer. Firefox, Chrome and other browsers have decent safety features where as Internet Explorer has weaknesses that hackers will take advantage of to install keyloggers on computers that use it.
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8
Keep the anti-virus and anti-spyware software up to date and set them to run on a schedule. Setting them to update themselves at a specific time at least once a week is a good start. The scans themselves should be scheduled to run a day or every other day, especially if Internet Explorer is used on the computer. Keep the computer and the Internet browser updated as well.
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9
Run Microsoft's Malicious Software Removal Tool at least once a month, especially if Internet Explorer is used to browse the Internet.
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10
Read reviews for third party WoW software before downloading it. Also read reviews for the websites that the software is downloaded from. It is very easy for keyloggers to sneak in through third party software.
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Tips & Warnings
The best way to ensure a keylogger is gone is to wipe the computer and reinstall the operating system.
Keeping passwords in a file on the computer poses a security risk if the computer itself isn't password protected or other users have access to the same account.
References
Resources
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Comments
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a good acticle.
