What is meant by keylogger?

Question

It is said that keyloggers are attached to certain free softwares. Therefore it is not good to download such softwares. What keylogger does? I like to know about it?

Answer 1

Key loggers track every key stroke and mouse click you make. Some people use them to monitor what others are doing on their computer. For example you could install a key logger to track what web sites your kids visit and who they're talking to on instant messenger. They can also be used to hackers to track what your entering to obtain credit card numbers and other personally sensetive information. You need to be careful when installing software. If you don't know and trust the creator, don't install it.

Answer 2

A key logger keeps track of all the keystrokes you make in the software, and sometimes even after you are out of it. It is possible for that info to be sent out on an open internet connection to someone who will analyze what you typed in or selected and "in theory" was used to make their products better or more appealable to the masses.

In reality, many scammers and fraud artists out there are anxious to get their hands on any confidential info that you typed in, such as passwords, bank accounts, etc. It is possible for them to get this without your knowledge if some sort of keylogger software is installed and running on your system.

This is considered spyware and the majority of these can be eliminated with proper security measures in place, and having anti-spyare or anti-virus software installed.

Answer 3

Hello Rose

I answered your last question so lets help you out again.

A key logger is an application that sits and runs as a background task on your system, as such they can be very hard to discover.

Generally a key logger has one task, to monitor and record what you type from your keystrokes.

This information is kept in a log.

This log is then sent back to the author of the application who can use software to monitor what you type and determine passwords and vital information.

You are advised to;

Keep up to date anti virus software
Active up to date anti spy ware software

Both of which if free and safe to download from certain companies *

Remember to never download from sites you do not trust

I hope this helps for now
Moose

* Please email me for more details

Answer 4

A Keylogger (KeyLogger, Key Logger, or Keystroke Logger) is a program that runs invisibly in the background, recording all the keystrokes

Answer 5

keylogger is a type of virus which secretly records every single key you press and senting it to the a reciver.....now the danger is that , you could enter your credit card details or passwords or any confidential details on your computer which will be picked up by another person if you have a keylogger attached.......

best way to combat keyloggers:
- don't download anything suspicious
- run a virus scan weekly.....(i recommend norton anti-virus)

Answer 6

Keyloggers can be used for valid purposes but the way you referred to it, the best way I can explain is programs that get installed into your computer without your knowledge. What it does is record certain keystrokes for example, when you login to your banking site, captures what keys you used or when you log into, your mail, etc..Then that information is transmitted back to the person who created the key logger for malicious purposes.

Here read this for a better explanation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keystroke_logging

Answer 7

a key logger does exactly what it says, it logs keys... what it really means is everything you type on the keyboard is being logged by this program - even passwords!

keyloggers are a way to spy and steal information

Answer 8

im not sure but i believe that they record all the keys pressed on the keyboard i.e. passwords login names....