Keyloggers come in hardware and software forms, both equally hazardous. They record keystrokes, track activities, and monitor visited websites.
Explore the realm of software keyloggers and their implications.
Unveiling the hidden keyloggers within your computer's program configuration. Learn how hackers stealthily install these keyloggers on your system, running undetected in the background.
This software-based keylogger sends data directly to hackers' email addresses, potentially paralyzing your system.
Exploring the realm of hardware keyloggers.
These keyloggers manifest in USB forms and various hardware devices. Typically, they are 'embedded' behind the CPU, effortlessly capturing keystrokes.
Which Keyloggers Pose Threats?
Every type of keylogger poses dangers as they record your keystrokes, track activities, and monitor the websites you visit. Through this, hackers can easily target your accounts and even discern your bank account passwords. So, how can you check for keyloggers on your computer and remove them?
Methods for Checking and Removing Keyloggers
Method 1: Utilize Task Manager
Step 1: Press the key combination Ctrl + Alt + Delete.
Step 2: Choose Task Manager.
Step 3: In the Task Manager window, select the Processes tab.
If you notice two processes named winlogon.exe and winlogon(1).exe, or any similar .exe process, right-click on the second process and select End Process.
One of the two Winlogon processes is a keylogger process. Terminating the process will halt the keylogger program, safeguarding you from hacker attacks.
Method 2: Uninstalling Programs
Sometimes, if hackers haven't concealed the keylogger, you may find them in the list of installed programs.
Step 1: Click on Start =>Control Panel.
Step 2: Select Programs and Features or Uninstall a program.
Step 3: Scan through the list of all installed programs on the system. If you detect any program that you haven't installed, it's likely a keylogger installed by hackers on your computer.
Right-click on that program and select Uninstall.
Once the uninstallation process of the program concludes, the keylogger will be eradicated from your system.
This method ensures permanent removal of the keylogger from your computer, safeguarding you from hacker attacks.
Method 3: Locate and Remove Keyloggers
We all know that most anti-keylogger software is designed to reclaim keystrokes. However, these software programs aren't designed to detect and remove keyloggers from the system. Therefore, you may need to seek the assistance of some Anti-Rootkit software to eliminate keyloggers or rootkit malware from the system. There are numerous Anti-Rootkit tools available on the Internet. Below are the top 3 tools to help you check for keyloggers on your computer, find, and remove keyloggers:
- Malwarebytes Anti-Rootkit
Malwarebytes Anti-Rootkit employs advanced technology to detect and remove the most malicious rootkits from your system. Additionally, this tool is also used to detect some stubborn keyloggers.
Download Malwarebytes Anti-Rootkit and install it here: Download Malwarebytes Anti-Rootkit
- Norton Power Eraser
Norton Power Eraser simply removes deeply embedded and hard-to-detect dangerous programs, which traditional antivirus programs may not always detect. Norton Power Eraser utilizes advanced scanning technology to eliminate threats that traditional antivirus programs cannot handle.
Download Norton Power Eraser and install it here: Download Norton Power Eraser
- Kaspersky Security Scan
Kaspersky scans for viruses and other malware on your computer. This tool uses advanced scanning technology developed by the world's leading security experts at Kaspersky Lab, so you don't have to worry about not detecting Keyloggers and Ransomware.
Download Kaspersky Security Scan and install it here: Download Kaspersky Security Scan
Some Useful Tips to Avoid Keyloggers
Some dangerous keyloggers can be detected by professional methods. To keep yourself safe from keyloggers, it's best to use Notepad when entering usernames and passwords.
First, type your username and password in Notepad, then paste it into the browser window. This is because some keyloggers are not designed to record keystrokes on Notepad.
As mentioned by Mytour earlier, understanding the dangers of keyloggers is crucial. Therefore, you should take measures to check for keyloggers on your computer and protect yourself from them. Keyloggers can be attached to applications, software that you download from untrusted websites. Therefore, if you want to install any application or software, you should download it from reliable sources.