Keyloggers: Viruses and Malware

In our last blog, we looked at spyware and how it could sneakily record everything you did on your computer. Today’s we’re looking at keyloggers, a variation of spyware with a very specific way of tracking.

What’s a keylogger?

• Like spyware, a keylogger is designed to work covertly with malicious intent, but instead of potentially tracking everything, it tracks and logs the keystrokes on your keyboard.

What information is it looking for?

• A keylogger’s aim is to obtain sensitive information that may be typed into your computer – that’s your credit card information, passwords, and other personal information.
• Keyloggers can be software that is downloaded without a user’s knowledge but can also be present in the form of a piece of hardware connected to the PC such as a memory stick.

A real-world example:

• Banks fully understand the severity of keyloggers and the threat they can pose to their clients. Most online banking websites now ask you to only enter certain characters of a password so that in the event of a keylogger working in the background, they will only get 2 or 3 letters.

How can I prevent this?

• Check out the final blog in our series to see our 6 top tips on how to prevent downloading malware.

Worried about protecting yourself, your home, and your business from spyware and other malware? Give us a call on 01553 692727 or email us at support@ecscomputers.co.uk to see how we can help you!