How can I tell if a keystroke logger has been installed on my computer?

Question

I'm interested in finding out if a keystroke logger-type program has been installed on my personal computer (XP home) without my knowledge, either via email, or by another user of my computer. Will it show up in the "add/delete programs" list, or how else can I find it?

Answer 1

You need a keylogger detector.

Answer 2

It can show up in the list but will not give you option to delete in the list. But if you Ctrl/Alt/Delete and open task manager, click on tab that says processes and it will show a list of all programs running. Only problem with doing this is, you have to understand what everything in there is, to be able to determine what shouldn't be there. It can install many different locations and unless you know what your looking for you may delete the wrong thing. Another option is to back up everything, do a complete dump and restore what you know you need. Hope this isn;t too much info. I am typing for my fiance who understands this type stuff.

Answer 3

A keystroke logguer is typically a trojan. So any trojan detector should find it.

However, if someone has developped a in-house keystroke logguer (ex: your wiz kids), it will not be possible to find out since there is no know signature in the trojan detector library.

The trick (and you have to be good in Windows) is to check all the places that software can be started and identify any suspicious programs. Here are some places to look:

- Start -> All Progrrams -> Startup
- Registry (BE CAUTIOUS WHAT YOU MODIFY HERE): HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\ Windows\ CurrentVersion\ Run
- Registry (BE CAUTIOUS WHAT YOU MODIFY HERE): HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\ Windows\ CurrentVersion\ Run
- c:\Autoexec.bat
- c:\config.sys
- .....

Also, you can check in your Windows Task Manager to see all running processes. If you see a suspicious program running, check out its name on Google to see what it does. If its a trojan, you should find out easity. Then, sfop the process and find the file on your computer to delete it (USE AT YOUR OWN RISK!).

Answer 4

It will not show in the add/delete programs. Try a trogan detection program.

Answer 5

Go to start> Run> type in MSCONFIG and click on the start up tab. Look for it in there. You can also CTRL>ALT>DEL and under applications or processes it may show up.

Answer 6

webroot spysweeper....u can download the trial version.....it might not remove them if it finds any.....but u will atleast know where it is at on the pc...then u can delete it manuallyor after u find out if u have one...u can google the name and then see if u can find a free removal tool

Answer 7

unfortunately, you can't always tell this.
Some newer keyloggers are completely stealth.
They show up NO WHERE.

but you can try scanning for them with this..
http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Personal-Edition/3000-8022_4-10045910.html?part=dl-ad-aware&subj=dl&tag=top5