I've heard of this type of spyware a couple of times but I don't know what it is. Can anyone tell me what it is exactly?

I think it's spyware that knows everything you type. Or do. There's three kinds. Here's some info

1. Hardware Keyloggers. These are small inline devices placed between the keyboard and the computer. Because of their size they can often go undetected for long periods of time -- however, they of course require physical access to the machine. These hardware devices have the power to capture hundreds of keystrokes including banking and email username and passwords.
2. Software using a hooking mechanism. This type logging is accomplished by using the Windows function SetWindowsHookEx() that monitors all keystrokes. The spyware will typically come packaged as an executable file that initiates the hook function, plus a DLL file to handle the logging functions. An application that calls SetWindowsHookEx() is capable of capturing even autocomplete passwords.
3. Kernel/driver keyloggers. This type of keylogger is at the kernel level and receives data directly from the input device (typically, a keyboard). It replaces the core software for interpreting keystrokes. It can be programmed to be virtually undetectable by taking advantage of the fact that it is executed on boot, before any user-level applications start. Since the program runs at the kernel level, one disadvantage to this approach it that it fails to capture autocomplete passwords, as this information is passed in the application layer.

Here's the link I got it from http://www.securityfocus.com/infocus/1829

Ouch! Garbagefan that's a frightening list of information. Thanks for the info.

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Thanks for the link, garbagefan2. I'll definetly read up on it.

Garbagefan2

Wow, you have certainly done your research and you have really put across how dangerous keyloggers can be.

Remember, that keyloggers are usually planted by criminals in order to harvest the passwords to your online bank accounts and other financial imformation or instruments, e.g. credit cards, paypal accounts, etc.

I was the victim of a planted (software) keylogger but luckily for me I did an MS Anti-Spyware run, which found and deleted this piece of rubbish. I reckon that this trash was only on my PC for about 8 hours, i.e. overnight while I was using LW to download so it had nothing to key-log.

Finally, on an upbeat note, I have read that the FBI have used hardware keyloggers to build cases against the mafia.



UK Bob