Key Loggers...?

Question

Someone close to me I found out hada key logger on their computer, i found out because the computer randomly created a symbol for it one day on the task bar and it had been install in september so i have no idea how that happened. Anyway, i was really upset that i thought i was being spied on so i asked him what its for (we live in apartments) and he said that he thought maybe next door were someone getting into his computer through the wireless internet. I thought this was bullshit as ive had a look at sites and they seem to say that they record stuff from an individual computer, what do you think? and is there anyway i can find out whether there are things like that installed again??

Answer 1

There are quite a few free anti-spyware programs available that will find keyloggers! I suggest that users should use at least 3 different products to regularly scan their systems. Most of these products are free for non-commercial use versions that have disabled some features, usually the active resident protection.

Spybot Search and Destroy is an excellent program for scanning for and removing spyware. The resident modules can be a bit buggy, but the extra included tools such as startup manger are great! http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html

Adaware is another good scanner and removal tool but it has no resident abilities at all in the free version. http://free.lavasoft.com

Ewido is fairly new as a free spyware scanner, but it comes from the people who brought us AVG, so I expect good things: http://free.grisoft.com

Microsoft has their free scanner avalable for download although many advise that this tool is a bit permissive of questionable programs and add ons! Defender does offer a couple of options the others do not have such as scheduled scan and a resident process for active protection. http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx

A new player is on the scene with SUPERAntiSpware. I was fairly impressed with the deep scans performed by this product, and it found some inactive files with spyware embedded,that the others had missed. I will add this to the list of tools in the arsenal and see how it really performs on active spyware. If you want to try it you can download it here: http://www.superantispyware.com/download.html

Once you have your system cleaned up of all the spyware, then you should protect yourself against new infestations. Spyware Blaster does a very good job and does not use up any system resourses in doing so. Works with both IE and Firefox browsers: This Download can be found at http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

Answer 2

a key logger will only record entries made to the computer the logger is running. you can see if another logger is installed by going to control panel>add/remove programs. this will show you all programs that are installed.
by the way, he was spying on you, there is no other reason to have a key logger running. return the favor, open my computer and run a search for all video or picture files, include hidden files. i bet you find all sorts of porn.

Answer 3

Answers given already are quite correct, but neither mentioned that you say it was their computer, if they choose to have a key logger installed that is their business. Knowing that it is installed it's now up to you to choose to use the computer or not. It is certainly not your business to try and remove it even if you can.

I would certainly suggest that you go to any website that requires a password that may have been intercepted and change that password as a matter of urgency.

Answer 4

Seren honey it is possible that your next door person be responsible then again someone from INTERNET. Darling answer to your question is key logger could have been downloaded by you in form of email attachment. Honey it is possible to hack into your computer through the wireless. To prevent it download EWIDO and install it. Here is the link. It will cost you nothing. Good luck darling

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=download+free+ewido&btnG=Search&meta=

Answer 5

most any spyware app will find them ... you can get them from downloaded apps or opening a loaded email .... or it could have been put there by someone you know to spy on what u are doing and who your talking to ....anyway, the safest way i know to set up a wireless is use mac filtering ... get the number from ur connection properties and only allow the macs from the pcs u own in the router or access points settup.

Answer 6

Key loggers are for arseholes in the workplace. I was forced to resign my last job because of a bunch of nazi bastards who used key loggers to attempt to paint me as a criminal.