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What is a software keylogger and how to detect it

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Jul 21, 2025 am 01:10 AM

softwareKeylogger

Software keyboard loggers capture keyboard input through the background running and are often used to steal sensitive information. It may be installed through malicious downloads, phishing emails, disguised updates, etc., and hide processes or modify attributes to evade detection. To detect the keyboard logger, you can 1. Check whether there are unfamiliar programs in the startup item; 2. Observe abnormal behaviors such as cursor movement and typing delay; 3. Use task manager or Process Explorer to find suspicious processes; 4. Use Wireshark or firewall tools to monitor abnormal network traffic; 5. Run anti-malware such as Malwarebytes and HitmanPro to scan and clear it. In terms of prevention, we should do: 1. Do not download software from unknown sources; 2. Do not click on suspicious links or attachments for emails; 3. Keep the antivirus software open; 4. Use a browser with sandbox to access untrusted websites; 5. Regularly change the password of important accounts and enable two-factor verification. Maintaining good habits and safety awareness can effectively reduce risks.

What is a software keylogger and how to detect it

Software keylogger is a program that can quietly record the contents of your keyboard input. It may be used for legal purposes, such as parents monitoring their children's Internet behavior, but it is often used by hackers to steal sensitive data such as passwords, bank information, chat records, etc.

If you find that the device is slowing down, there are strange network activity, or some key combinations fail, you may need to doubt whether you have hit the keyboard recorder.

How does a keyboard recorder work?

Software keyboard loggers usually run in the background, capturing everything you type on the keyboard, saving this information to a log file, or sending it to an attacker over the network.

They can be installed in the following ways:

Bundled in seemingly harmless downloader
Phishing email attachment
Malicious scripts on the website
Disguised as a system update or plug-in

Once run, such programs will hide themselves as much as possible, such as using the system service name to disguise the process, or setting hidden properties to avoid being easily discovered by the task manager.

How to check if there is a keyboard recorder on your computer?

Detecting a keylogger is not always easy, but you can start with the following aspects:

View startup items : Open the Task Manager or System Configuration Tool and check which unfamiliar programs are started with the system.
Observe abnormal behavior : such as automatic cursor movement, delays when typing, and some shortcut keys fail.
Check running processes : Use a task manager or professional tool such as Process Explorer to find suspicious process names.
Scan network traffic : If the keyboard logger is going to upload data, unusual outbound connections may occur. Use Wireshark or firewall monitoring tools to discover clues.
Run anti-malware tools : Malwarebytes, HitmanPro, or other security software can identify and clear known keyloggers.

Regular updates to system patches and antivirus software libraries can also reduce the risk of implantation.

How to prevent the keyboard logger from being installed?

Prevention is more important than cleaning afterwards. Here are a few practical suggestions:

Don't download software from unknown sources at will
Don't click on suspicious links or attachments in the email
Install and keep the antivirus software on
Access untrusted websites using a browser with sandbox
Change passwords for important accounts frequently, especially after logging in on public devices

If you often process sensitive information, you can also consider using a virtual keyboard to enter your password, or enable two-factor verification, so that even if your password is leaked, it will not be stolen immediately.

Basically that's it. Keyloggers are highly concealed, but as long as you maintain good usage habits and safety awareness, most risks can be avoided.

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