can a key logger find a password that has been copied and pasted?

Question

is it possible for a key logger to find an entry for a password that is always entered using "copy and paste"? I know that keyloggers track keystrokes, but I just wanted to know if it was possible?

Answer 1

It all depends on what you mean by "keylogger". Literally if this means it only logs your key presses, then obviously cut and paste will not be logged.

Of course, the ultimate aim or goal of people who use "keyloggers" (which is a class of spyware) is to spy on your activity and/or steal your passwords, so they will be unlikely to restrict themselves to simply logging your keystrokes. The better keyloggers will log pretty much everything and that will include your clipboard.

When you cut and paste, information is stored in your clipboard. It is a trivial matter to actually read and copy your clipboard, you can see this by looking at various clipboard extenders that access this information routinely to provide enhanced functionality.

http://www.programurl.com/software/clipboard-extender.htm

In fact, clipboard stealing exploits where remote sites can read what is on your clipboard are not unheard of either
http://www.derkeiler.com/Mailing-Lists/Securiteam/2002-01/0079.html

The most sophisticated "keyloggers" also do screenshot captures to defeat security measures that use virtual keyboards (the best ones bypass key presses with mouse clicks or hovering and use randomised keyboard layouts) to enter passwords.

Answer 2

a key logger records your keystrokes, so a key logger would pickup ctrl C and Ctrl V instead of the actual keystrokes. Get a premium anti virus program like Trend Micro and uninstall all free ones like AVG, clamwin ect.

Answer 3

i'm sure is possible, but i'm not sure of one that does that... most are more simple and will record just keystrokes

Answer 4

yes, it's possible. there are many loggers that have this capability.

Answer 5

yes

Answer 6

No, it only logs whats typed