By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
10alert.com10alert.com
  • Threats
    • WordPress ThreatsDanger
    Threats
    A cyber or cybersecurity threat is a malicious act that seeks to damage data, steal data, or disrupt digital life in general. Cyber threats include…
    Show More
    Top News
    An Android Trojan swindles banking credentials
    8 months ago
    World Cup streaming services may be malware hotspots
    8 months ago
    Kaspersky Lab helps Dutch police catch culprits behind CoinVault ransomware
    8 months ago
    Latest News
    Triangulation: Trojan for iOS | Kaspersky official blog
    2 days ago
    Wordfence Intelligence Weekly WordPress Vulnerability Report (May 22, 2023 to May 28, 2023)
    2 days ago
    Safeguards against firmware signed with stolen MSI keys
    4 days ago
    WPDeveloper Addresses Privilege Escalation Vulnerability in ReviewX WordPress Plugin
    4 days ago
  • Fix
    Fix
    Troubleshooting guide you need when errors, bugs or technical glitches might ruin your digital experience.
    Show More
    Top News
    Surface Pro 4 teardown: Get a closer look at the components
    8 months ago
    How to reset Windows Update components on Windows 10
    8 months ago
    Windows 11 build 22610 with new changes in Dev and Beta Channels
    8 months ago
    Latest News
    How automatically delete unused files from my Downloads folder?
    4 months ago
    Now you can speed up any video in your browser
    4 months ago
    How to restore access to a file after EFS or view it on another computer?
    4 months ago
    18 Proven Tips to Speed Up Your WordPress Site and Improve SEO | 2023 Guide
    5 months ago
  • How To
    How ToShow More
    Dynamic data collection with Zaraz Worker Variables
    Dynamic data collection with Zaraz Worker Variables
    1 day ago
    Reduce latency and increase cache hits with Regional Tiered Cache
    Reduce latency and increase cache hits with Regional Tiered Cache
    2 days ago
    Cloudflare is deprecating Railgun
    Cloudflare is deprecating Railgun
    2 days ago
    What is two-factor authentication | Kaspersky official blog
    5 days ago
    Acer refreshes Windows 11 PCs for work and play: Swift Edge 16 and Predator Triton 16
    7 days ago
  • News
    News
    This category of resources includes the latest technology news and updates, covering a wide range of topics and innovations in the tech industry. From new…
    Show More
    Top News
    How to clear and disable activity history on Windows 11
    3 months ago
    How to change new Outlook app theme on Windows 11
    2 months ago
    How to enable Hibernate on Windows 11
    1 month ago
    Latest News
    How to add CPU, GPU, RAM widgets on Windows 11
    2 days ago
    How to create virtual drive (VHD, VHDX, Dev Drive) on Windows 11
    5 days ago
    How to enable Taskbar End Task option to close apps on Windows 11
    5 days ago
    How to check USB4 devices specs from Settings on Windows 11
    5 days ago
  • Glossary
  • My Bookmarks
Reading: What is a Keylogger -Kaspersky Daily
Share
Notification Show More
Aa
Aa
10alert.com10alert.com
  • Threats
  • Fix
  • How To
  • News
  • Glossary
  • My Bookmarks
  • Threats
    • WordPress ThreatsDanger
  • Fix
  • How To
  • News
  • Glossary
  • My Bookmarks
Follow US
ThreatsWordpress Threats

What is a Keylogger -Kaspersky Daily

Vitus White
Last updated: 13 October
Vitus White 8 months ago
Share
5 Min Read

Today’s advanced malware tools often comprise several different components, each with a different job description. These programs are more like Swiss army knives rather than individual tools, giving the attacker the ability to perform a number of different actions on a compromised system. One component that is often present in these attack toolkits is a keylogger, a highly specialized tool designed to record every keystroke made on the machine, giving the attacker the ability to steal huge amounts of sensitive information silently.

Keylogger Definition
A keylogger is any piece of software or hardware that has the capability to intercept and record input from the keyboard of a compromised machine. The keylogger often has the ability to sit between the keyboard and the operating system and intercept all of the communications without the user’s knowledge. The keylogger can either store the recorded data locally on the compromised machine or, if it’s implemented as part of a larger attack toolkit with external communication capabilities, sent off to a remote PC controlled by the attacker. Although the term keylogger typically is used in relation to malicious tools, there are legitimate surveillance tools used by law enforcement agencies that have keylogging capabilities, as well.

Keylogger Variants
Although there are a wide variety of keylogger variants, the two main categories are software-based and hardware-based keyloggers. The most commonly used kind of keylogger is a software-based tool, often installed as part of a larger piece of malware, such as a Trojan or rootkit. This is the easier of the two kinds of keyloggers to get onto a target machine, as it typically doesn’t require physical access to the machine. One common type of software keylogger has the ability to impersonate an API on the target machine’s operating system, which allows the keylogger to record each keystroke as it’s made. There also are kernel-level keyloggers, man-in-the-browser keyloggers and other more complex variants.

Hardware-based keyloggers are less common, as they are more difficult to implement on the target machine. Hardware keyloggers often require the attacker to have physical access to the target machine, either during the manufacturing process or after deployment. Some hardware variants can be installed during the manufacturing process, including BIOS-level keyloggers. A malicious insider could install such a keylogger at the factory level. Other hardware keyloggers can be implemented via USB flash drives or as a fake connector for the keyboard that sits between the keyboard cable and the PC. Hardware keyloggers, while more difficult to implement, can be more flexible for the attacker as they are OS-independent.

A keylogger is any piece of software or hardware that has the capability to intercept and record input from the keyboard of a compromised machine.

Method of Infection
Software keyloggers often are delivered along with larger pieces of malware. Target machines can be infected through a drive-by download attack from a malicious Web site that exploits an existing vulnerability on the PC and installs the malware. Keyloggers also are installed in some cases as part of a legitimate application download, either through the compromise of the download channel or through the insertion of the malware into the application itself. Hardware-based keyloggers typically are installed by an attacker who has physical access to the target machine.

Detection and Removal
Detection of malicious keyloggers can be difficult as the applications don’t typically behave like other malicious programs. They don’t look for valuable data on a target machine and send it to a command-and-control server, nor do they attempt to destroy data on the machine, as some malware does. Keyloggers are designed to remain quiet and undetected. Antimalware products can scan for, detect and remove known variants of keyloggers. However, custom keyloggers or keyloggers built for a specific attack can present a difficult challenge, as they won’t be recognized immediately as malicious software, depending upon their actions on the compromised machine. If a user suspects the presence of a keylogger on a machine, she can employ a number of techniques to circumvent the malware, specifically by booting the PC from a CD or USB drive, or by using a virtual, on-screen keyboard, which prevents the malware from receiving any input from the keyboard.


Source: kaspersky.com

Translate this article

TAGGED: Apple, Authentication, Malware, Rootkit, RTF, Software, Threats
Vitus White October 13, 2022 October 7, 2022
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Reddit Telegram Email Copy Link Print

STAY CONECTED

24.8k Followers Like
253.9k Followers Follow
33.7k Subscribers Subscribe
124.8k Members Follow

LAST 10 ALERT

Dynamic data collection with Zaraz Worker Variables
Dynamic data collection with Zaraz Worker Variables
Apps 1 day ago
How to add CPU, GPU, RAM widgets on Windows 11
News 2 days ago
Reduce latency and increase cache hits with Regional Tiered Cache
Reduce latency and increase cache hits with Regional Tiered Cache
Apps 2 days ago
Cloudflare is deprecating Railgun
Cloudflare is deprecating Railgun
Apps 2 days ago
Triangulation: Trojan for iOS | Kaspersky official blog
Threats 2 days ago

Recent Posts

  • Dynamic data collection with Zaraz Worker Variables
  • How to add CPU, GPU, RAM widgets on Windows 11
  • Reduce latency and increase cache hits with Regional Tiered Cache
  • Cloudflare is deprecating Railgun
  • Triangulation: Trojan for iOS | Kaspersky official blog

You Might Also Like

Dynamic data collection with Zaraz Worker Variables
Apps

Dynamic data collection with Zaraz Worker Variables

1 day ago
Cloudflare is deprecating Railgun
Apps

Cloudflare is deprecating Railgun

2 days ago
Threats

Triangulation: Trojan for iOS | Kaspersky official blog

2 days ago
Wordfence Intelligence Weekly WordPress Vulnerability Report (May 22, 2023 to May 28, 2023)
Wordpress Threats

Wordfence Intelligence Weekly WordPress Vulnerability Report (May 22, 2023 to May 28, 2023)

2 days ago
Show More

Related stories

How to Use Cloudflare to Secure Your WordPress Site
How To Starting Chrome from the command line
How to fix error 0x80070057 in Chrome?
Windows 10 How To Disable Slide to Shutdown
Windows search not working (FIX)
How to watch movies and TV series for free on Kinopoisk?
Previous Next

10 New Stories

Wordfence Intelligence Weekly WordPress Vulnerability Report (May 22, 2023 to May 28, 2023)
Safeguards against firmware signed with stolen MSI keys
WPDeveloper Addresses Privilege Escalation Vulnerability in ReviewX WordPress Plugin
How to create virtual drive (VHD, VHDX, Dev Drive) on Windows 11
How to enable Taskbar End Task option to close apps on Windows 11
How to check USB4 devices specs from Settings on Windows 11
Previous Next
Hot News
Dynamic data collection with Zaraz Worker Variables
How to add CPU, GPU, RAM widgets on Windows 11
Reduce latency and increase cache hits with Regional Tiered Cache
Cloudflare is deprecating Railgun
Triangulation: Trojan for iOS | Kaspersky official blog
10alert.com10alert.com
Follow US

© 10 Alert Network. All Rights Reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Customize Interests
  • My Bookmarks
  • Glossary
Go to mobile version
adbanner
AdBlock Detected
Our site is an advertising supported site. Please whitelist to support our site.
Okay, I'll Whitelist
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?