What is Keystroke Logging?

Keystroke logging, also known as keystroke capturing, is the act of covert recording of the keys struck on a keyboard by the user. With this technique, people with nefarious intentions can easily monitor and record every stroke of the keyboard. This method can be used to illegitimately harvest login credentials or important documents for fraudulent purposes. It can also be used for legitimate purposes like monitoring online activities of employees to ensure productivity and detect unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Keystroke logging can be achieved through software-based or hardware-based methods. Here’s some more information:

Software-based Logging

Keylogger programs are stealthily installed on the computer system without the user’s knowledge. Aside from intercepting and recording keystrokes, software-based keylogging can incorporate more stealth features such as taking screenshots, recording websites visited or logging clipboard activities.

Hardware-based Logging

Here, the physical keylogger devices are cleverly inserted between the computer and the keyboard with keystroke signals being intercepted as they transit between the two devices. Since hardware-based keyloggers are physical devices, its harder to conceal them as compared to their software-based counterparts. Their efficacy lies in the fact that they are harder to detect during a software scan and are more effective in harvesting keystrokes on public computers or shared workstations.

Keystroke logging is mainly used by cybercriminals for nefarious activities such as stealing personal or financial data including passwords, usernames, credit card details, etc. This data can then be used for illegal activities like identity theft, financial frauds, etc.

Covert monitoring and recording of every keystroke made by an oblivious person in the name of surveillance has also raised significant privacy concerns. Its unsettling for the unaware user to be under scrutiny and poses problems as far as ethics go. Questions also arise around boundaries between keystroke logging for security, surveillance and privacy.

To address the issues arising from keystroke logging, persons as well as enterprises can put in place several practical measures. These can include the following:

• Keep software and operating systems regularly updated to patch security vulnerabilities
• Invest in reputable antivirus and antimalware programs to detect and remove keyloggers
• Strong password policies that include multi-factorial authentication
• Download or install software only from trusted sources

Finally, always be vigilant for suspicious activities on your computer system.