How to Detect Keystroke Logging
Keystroke logging, or, as it's sometimes called, keylogging, is the means by which a computer user detects what another user has typed on his computer. This is done either through hardware or software designed to log the keystrokes on a computer keyboard. While there are benign uses to this type of technology, it also represents a primary threat to computer security. Fortunately, detecting and identifying keylogging on a computer is fairly straightforward.
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Instructions
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Inspect your computer and its surroundings for keylogging hardware devices. Typically, this looks like an extraneous input adapter plugged in between your keyboard and the keyboard serial port or USB port on the back of the computer. Unless your keyboard's plug does not match the port into which it is plugged in, there is no reason for an extra adapter between your keyboard and the port. If one is there, it could be a hardware-based keystroke logger.
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Install powerful anti-spyware removal software on your computer such as Norton, AVG or Symantec. Keylogging spyware can infiltrate a computer at a variety of security levels on the hard drive. Ensure that the anti-spyware software you install has scanning privileges at the kernel level, which is the highest security level on a computer system. This will ensure that the spyware will detect keylogging software at all levels of security on your computer.
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Keep the anti-spyware and anti-virus software on your computer continually updated. This ensures that the software you have installed is at its peak performance detecting any possible infection of keylogging software. If you already have a good anti-spyware and anti-virus software installed on your computer, the best way to detect keylogging spyware is to keep these programs up to date. Turn on automatic updates, if the programs have this feature. If not, perform a manual check for updates on these programs on a regular basis.
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Tips & Warnings
You can also download and install specialized software specifically programmed to detect and clean keylogging invasions on your hard drive.
Wireless keyboards present an additional security risk for keylogging, because hackers can wirelessly intercept their signals. However, these receivers typically need to be close to your wireless keyboard to intercept its signal. Check the surrounding areas of your computer for a possible booster antenna. If possible, regularly change the encryption password on your keyboard's wireless transmission.
References
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