Software Keyloggers

Software keyloggers are programs that most often run in the background of a computer recording keystrokes that are pressed, and saving the recorded data to a file on the hard drive. Software based keyloggers and be broken into two sub-categories:

1. Viewable in the Task Manager
2. Invisible or Stealth Keyloggers

Visible keyloggers can easily be disabled by the user by entering the Task Manager (CTRL+ALT+DEL), selecting the keylogger from the list of running applications and clicking on End Task. Some keyloggers that are invisible or stealth can also be noticed and disabled but not so easily. A user must have the appropriate access to do so as the program does not show up where users with restricted access to see it. One thing to remember about all software keyloggers is that recorded information is stored locally on the PC where it is recording. This information can be obtained by someone locally or by an intruder, altered and removed for whatever purpose they see fit.