Buzz
A keylogger is a type of malicious software (malware) designed to track keyboard and mouse inputs. This malware records keystrokes and mouse clicks performed by users to monitor their system.
For example, your bank account information, PIN codes, etc., could be tracked by a keylogger. When given the opportunity, this malware will connect to the internet and send your sensitive data and information to the other party.
Refer to additional methods for detecting and removing keyloggers on Mac in the following article by Mytour to protect your computer from keyloggers.
Detecting and Removing Keyloggers on Mac
1. Activity Monitor
To check for keyloggers on your Mac, you can use Activity Monitor. Activity Monitor keeps a list of events that occur in real-time on your Mac. Click the Finder icon on the Dock, then select Go Menu => Utilities. Double-click Activity Monitor.
In the Activity Monitor window, click on the Process column to arrange activities by process.
If you detect any suspicious processes, proceed to check those processes using Terminal. Open Terminal from Utilities, then enter the command: “man + process name”. Note the space between man and the process name. For example, “man sysmond”.
2. Hardware Inspection
Many keyloggers hide within keyboard-connecting tools. However, this mostly occurs in offices where multiple people access their computers. If you suspect a keylogger is present on your Mac but cannot detect or remove it using Activity Monitor, try checking the connection between your keyboard and Mac computer. If you see any unnecessary cables or accessories, it's best to remove them.
3. Virtual Keyboard
If you encounter difficulties checking for Keylog on Mac, you can use a virtual keyboard to prevent keyloggers from tracking you. Keyloggers only track keystrokes, so using a virtual keyboard will prevent keyloggers from tracking your actions, what you type, and search for.
Although this method doesn't help you find and remove keyloggers on Mac, it does somewhat protect you and prevent keyloggers from tracking your actions. Open System Preferences, select Keyboard, then check the box for Show Input Menu in Menu Bar. Click the Input icon on the menu bar, then select Show Keyboard Viewer. Use the virtual keyboard until you can check, detect, and remove keyloggers on your Mac.
4. Professional Security Tools
Some high-end security software can help you detect and remove keyloggers on Mac. To scan and find keyloggers, first check for modified files and block suspicious connections.
There are many tools available on the market to assist in detecting and removing keyloggers on Mac. Additionally, you can use TuneUpMyMac to clean up junk files and unnecessary items on your Mac. TuneUpMyMac is a free utility that you can download, install, and use to scan and clean up the hiding places of files, trash folders on the system, and free up disk space.
Download TuneUpMyMac and install it here: Download TuneUpMyMac
5. Reinstall macOS
The ultimate solution is to reinstall the Mac system software to completely remove the keylogger created as software. However, if the keylogger is created as hardware or firmware, resetting or reinstalling the operating system will not be meaningful.
First, create a backup as a precaution in case of any adverse events, restart your Mac, and simultaneously press and hold the Option key and use the Disk Utility tool to format your device's hard drive. Then exit Disk Utility, select the Reinstall macOS X option to reinstall macOS.
In essence, keyloggers hide quite cleverly, making them very difficult to detect. Here, Mytour has just provided you with a guide on how to detect and remove keyloggers on Mac. If you encounter any difficulties, you can contact the technical support service provider for assistance.
