Why is keystroke logging so dangerous?
Every button you press, they’ll be watching you…
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Keystroke logging is the process of recording every keystroke made on a keyboard. You’ve probably heard about “keyloggers” while reading intomalware– the tools used to carry out keystroke logging.
While keylogging has some legitimate uses, such as monitoring work productivity, most of the time it’s a serious threat to privacy. Keyloggers can stealthily collect and exfiltrate sensitive data like login credentials, financial information, and private conversations without you ever realizing it.
Thankfully, there are a few different ways to keep yourself safe from keyloggers. Read on and I’ll explain more about how keystroke logging works, why they’re so dangerous, and what you can do to protect yourself.
What is keystroke logging?
Keystroke logging is a method of surveillance that works by capturing and storing every keypress made on a device’s keyboard.
Both computers and mobile devices are susceptible to keystroke logging, even though mobile devices don’t tend to have a physical keyboard.
Keylogged information is typically packaged into a text file and sent to the person who set up the keylogger
Keylogged information is typically packaged into a text file and sent to the person who set up the keylogger. While there are some cases where the user is made aware that what they’re typing is being recorded, in most cases the user remains completely unaware that any surveillance is taking place.
A keylogger can capture anything typed on a keyboard. Basic keyloggers only capture the typed characters, but an advanced one can provide metadata – like when the characters were typed and how long the button was held. This metadata can be correlated with screenshots taken by malware to give a complete picture of what you’re doing online and offline.
Keystroke loggers can be classified into two main types: hardware-based and software-based. Both pose serious privacy risks when used maliciously, but they’re used in different ways.
Hardware keyloggersHardware keyloggers are physical devices that intercept keyboard signals as they travel to a computer.
These loggers are often small and can be hidden inside a computer, keyboard, or connected to a USB port as a passthrough between your keyboard and the computer.
Hardware keyloggers do not require any software installation, making them harder for even today’sbest antivirus programsto detect. Essentially, the passthrough keylogger acts as a second keyboard so, from the computer’s perspective, it’s like you’re typing normally. The keylogger captures every key pressed and stores this data internally – or transmits it wirelessly to an attacker.
You’re unlikely to encounter a hardware logger because they require physical access to the target device – basically, an attacker would need to install the keylogger on the victim’s computer directly.
However, you may still encounter hardware keyloggers in public spaces or the workplace. It’s far easier for an aspiring hacker to install a small physical device in a place they can gain relatively easy access to. If you find any hardware you don’t recognize on your workstation, report it immediately.
Software keyloggersSoftware keyloggers are the real problem. Unlike hardware keyloggers, they run on the computer itself in the background, often completely hidden from the actual user.
They’re far more common, due to the ease of deployment, and can be installed remotely through phishing attacks or by tricking the user into downloading the software.
From bogus emails, fake texts, and dodgy DMs, phishing attacks are everywhere. Check out ourguide to phishingfor all the details.
A common installation tactic involves social engineering, where the attacker convinces the victim to download a file or click a link in an email.
The keylogger is usually disguised as legitimate software or embedded within a seemingly harmless attachment. Once installed, it begins capturing keystrokes without triggering obvious alerts, running in the background of a target device, recording keystrokes and saving the data to hidden files.
Software keyloggers are significantly more versatile than their hardware counterparts. They’re usually bundled with other software that can capture screenshots, track application usage, or exfiltrate files in addition to keystrokes. If you’ve been infected with a keylogger, you should assume that your whole machine has been compromised
Why keystroke logging is so dangerous
It’s important to remember that not all forms of keylogging are illegal. Some employee monitoring software uses keylogging to ensure that work equipment is used according to an organization’s code of conduct.
There are also plenty of tools that allow concerned parents to monitor what their children are typing on their devices. The ethics of these tools is up for debate – but the point here is that there are legitimate keylogging use cases.
Keylogged information provides a comprehensive profile of a person’s online life and behavior
The real danger lies in the potential for abuse, especially when keylogging is used to gather sensitive information without the user’s consent.
You might be aware you’re being monitored on a work computer and act accordingly, but in your private life, there’s a bunch of information you wouldn’t want a third party to access. You’re more likely to type out passwords and banking details in real life, after all.
A keylogger can capture email addresses you’ve typed, phone numbers, physical addresses, and a wealth of other personal information shared between you and your friends or colleagues.
When combined, this information can provide a comprehensive profile of a person’s online life and behavior. It’s bad enough that advertising companies use this data to create detailed user profiles (and serve uptargeted ads) – but if you’re the victim of a keylogger, there’s likely a cybercriminal on the other end exploiting your data for their direct gain.
With keystroke-logged data, cybercriminals can:
What can you do to avoid keystroke logging?
It’s very hard to get your data privacy back once it’s out in the wild. The best way to mitigate the impact of a keylogger is to prevent keystroke logging in the first place. Here are some essential tips to help you protect yourself:
Sam Dawson is a cybersecurity expert who has over four years of experience reviewing security-related software products. He focuses his writing on VPNs and security, previouslywriting for ProPrivacybefore freelancing for Future PLC’s brands, including TechRadar. Between running a penetration testing company and finishing a PhD focusing on speculative execution attacks at the University of Kent, he still somehow finds the time to keep an eye on how technology is impacting current affairs.
Is it still worth using Proton VPN Free?
Mozambique VPN usage soars as internet restrictions continue
The iPhone 18 series could include a variable aperture, ‘significantly enhancing’ the camera
