eHow launches Android app: Get the best of eHow on the go.
Keystroke loggers are extremely prevalent these days, which means that it's more important than ever to check whether or not your key strokes are being recorded. Keyloggers are programs that record your keystrokes for a third party and thus provide access to passwords and other sensitive information. This makes it one of the most... more »
As more and more computers continue to connect to an ever-growing Internet, the ways of stealing information from them have also increased. Far removed from viruses that merely damage a PC, Trojan horses allow unauthorized access and control and keyloggers store keystroke information. Added to these threats are a new class of... more »
Sometimes your computer runs sluggishly and you wonder if it and its network security have been compromised. Occasionally, your hard drive may begin making a rapid sort of "crunching" sound, indicating sudden, intense disk-drive activity and, therefore, related system process activity as well. Your CPU is being utilized by one or more... more »
Linux is distributed by various vendors and comes in many different styles. One of the most popular Linux distributions is Ubuntu. Other brands include SimplyMEPIS, PCLinuxOS and OpenSUSE, just to name a few. Windows is made only by Microsoft, and is limited to Windows 95, 98, 98SE, Me, NT3, NT4, 2000, XP and Vista. Both Linux and... more »
When you surf the Internet without proper preventative software installed, your computer can be infected with malicious software such as keyloggers, which keep a record of every keystroke you make and each website you view. To find out if your PC has a keylogger and prevent any other from being installed you will need to download a... more »
If you have a Windows computer, you most likely have come across Adware, Spyware and other...
The Grisoft company offers the AVG anti-virus software in a free personal version and an...
In the world of computer security, one of the major threats to users is the use of keyloggers and keylogging technology. These technologies can be... more »
A keylogger is a malicious program that records keystrokes to try and steal passwords, credit card information and other personal information.... more »
A keylogger is a useful tool if you need to keep tabs of your employees, a cheating girlfriend or boyfriend, or your children. They are effective,... more »
A keylogger can be a useful device for spying on your enemies or competitors. They are cheap, easy to use and can get useful information such as... more »
The past several decades have seen an arms race in computer security. As cunning new viruses are developed, consumers fight back with more and... more »
Keystroke logging (often called keylogging) is the practice of tracking (or logging) the keys struck on a keyboard, typically in a covert manner so that the person using the keyboard is unaware that their actions are being monitored. There are numerous keylogging methods, ranging from hardware and software-based to electromagnetic and acoustic analysis.
Application
Software-based keyloggers
These are software programs designed to work on the target computer’s operating system. From a technical perspective there are five categories:
*Hypervisor-based: The keylogger can theoretically reside in a malware hypervisor running underneath the operating system, which remains untouched. It effectively becomes a virtual machine. Blue Pill is a conceptual example.
*Kernel based: This method is difficult both to write and to combat. Such keyloggers reside at the kernel level and are thus difficult to detect, especially for user-mode applications. They are frequently implemented as rootkits that subvert the operating system kernel and gain unauthorized access to the hardware, making them very powerful. A keylogger using this method can act as a keyboard driver for example, and thus gain access to any information typed on the keyboard as it goes to the operating system.
*Hook based: Such keyloggers hook the keyboard using functionality provided by the operating system for applications to subscribe to keyboard events legitimately. The operating system notifies the keylogger each time a key is pressed and the keylogger simply records it.
*Passive Methods: Here the coder uses operating system APIs like GetAsyncKeyState(), GetForegroundWindow(), etc. to poll the state of the keyboard or to subscribe to keyboard events. These are the easiest to write, but where constant polling of each key is required, they can cause a noticeable increase in CPU usage and can miss the occasional key. A more recent example simply polls the BIOS for preboot authentication PI read more at » http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keystroke+logging
Connect with people who share your interest by joining one of our Groups:
How to Decorate a Party With a Pub Atmosphere
How to Remove a Ford Bronco Hardtop
Understand the Rules of Pinochle
How to Get Fired Gracefully
How to Stop a Shopaholic
How to Drive Defensively During the Holidays
Wonders of the World
Copyright © 1999-2009 eHow, Inc. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the eHow Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. en-US Portions of this page are modifications based on work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License.
