What Is a Keylogger?
A keylogger is a type of software or hardware device that records every keystroke made on a computer’s keyboard. It can be used to monitor and track user activity, including passwords, emails, chat messages, and other sensitive information. Keyloggers are often used by hackers to gain access to personal accounts or confidential data. They can also be used for legitimate purposes such as monitoring employee productivity or parental control over children’s online activities.
Keyloggers come in two forms: hardware-based and software-based. Hardware-based keyloggers are physical devices that attach directly to the computer’s keyboard port while software-based ones run as programs on the system itself. Both types of keyloggers record all typed characters into an encrypted log file which can then be accessed remotely by the attacker at any time without detection from antivirus programs or firewalls. The logs may contain usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, bank account details and more depending on what was typed during its operation period.