Keylogger

What Is Keylogger?

A keylogger is a spying tool that records every key a person presses on a device. The name is short for “keystroke logger.” Hackers often use keyloggers to steal private data for their own gain, such as:

• Crypto private keys
• Account passwords
• Bank details

Some keyloggers can do even more. For example, they can let criminals watch a victim through the device’s camera. If you know what spyware is, it will help you understand keyloggers. A keylogger is a type of spyware.

Two Chief Categories Of Keyloggers

Hardware Keyloggers

There are two main types of keyloggers: hardware keyloggers and software keyloggers. Hardware keyloggers are physical devices. Common types include:

• Hidden camera loggers: cameras that watch what you type.
• USB-loaded keyloggers: USB devices that plant keystroke-logging malware on a computer.
• Keyboard hardware keyloggers: devices built into a keyboard or linked to a computer by a cable.

Some hardware keyloggers sit inside a computer’s internal parts. Others look like an ordinary plug and are attached to the outside of the computer, where they are hard to spot.

A keyboard keylogger is often an ordinary-looking plug placed in the keyboard port. It records every signal as the victim types. However, the attacker first needs physical access to the victim’s computer to install it.

Software Keyloggers

Software keyloggers are much easier to plant on a user’s device. This is why most hackers use them.

Unlike many other viruses, software keyloggers do not damage the system they infect. Their main job is to run quietly in the background. They send keystroke data to the attacker while the device works as normal. Still, they are a real danger to users, because they help criminals steal sensitive data.

Examples Of Keyloggers

Revealer Keylogger

Revealer Keylogger is software that records all activity on the computer where it is installed. Its main features include:

• Keystroke recording: logs everything typed on the keyboard, in any app.
• Screenshots: captures what happens on the screen.
• Remote monitoring: lets you view the records from another computer, tablet or phone. Logs can be sent by email, Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, FTP or LAN.
• Invisible mode: runs hidden in the background and never shows a message on screen.

Ardamax Keylogger

Ardamax Keylogger is keylogging software that captures user activity. It stores its logs in an encrypted space. Its main features include:

• A log file of user activity
• Monitoring tools for admins
• Evidence gathered from log files
• 24/7 computer monitoring

WinSpy

WinSpy is a software keylogger that lets users monitor many computers on a network, online or offline. Its features include:

• Recording user activity and logging keystrokes
• Monitoring network connections
• Taking regular screenshots
• Capturing online chats and webcam pictures
• Recording emails, passwords and visited websites

Like other keylogger software, WinSpy can hide deep inside a computer and run without the user knowing.

Invisible Keylogger 

Invisible Keylogger, as its name suggests, works secretly in the background of the target computer. It records keystrokes without showing any sign. Its makers claim it is 100% undetectable.

Refog Keylogger 

Refog Keylogger watches everything that happens on the PC where it is installed. Like other software keyloggers, it can act as a personal monitor that tracks every action on a user’s computer.

The Use Cases Of Keyloggers

A common use of keyloggers is to steal crypto. Attackers get into crypto wallets and steal private keys or exchange passwords. You can greatly lower this risk in two ways:

• Store your crypto in a hardware wallet.
• Turn on two-factor authorization (2FA) for your exchange accounts.

There are also some legal uses of keyloggers:

• Employers: system administrators may use keylogging software to track employee activity.
• Law enforcement: police can use keyloggers to watch criminals and share the data across agency offices.
• Parents: parental control tools let parents keep an eye on their children’s online activity. This is one of the most common uses.

Today, keyloggers are no longer just spying tools for governments or criminals. They have become their own commercial market, and anyone can buy a copy of keylogging software. To learn more about protecting your funds, read our guide on what a crypto wallet is.