02 Mar Protect Yourself from Keyloggers
When you do something on your computer, such as accessing your checking account on your bank’s website, you type your user name, password, etc. on your keyboard. Your keystrokes travel along a path in the operating system to reach the destination application, so your bank can verify your identity and grant you access.
Cybercriminals can plant a type of surveillance software called a keylogger along this path to observe your keystrokes and snatch your private information. A keylogger can record instant messages, e-mail, URLs and any information you type on your keyboard at any time. The keylogger creates a log file of your keystrokes which can be sent to the cybercriminals. The stolen information can then be used to assume your identity, access your accounts to steal money, or compromise your computer or private network. Anti-virus software can detect keyloggers, but anti-virus programs are not foolproof.
Keylogger software was originally developed to diagnose problems with a computer system, retrieve lost or deleted data and measure employee productivity; but cybercriminals have been using it for malicious purposes for a number of years. In fact, most of today’s malware has keystroke logging capability, making keylogging a major security threat to individuals and businesses alike.
All computer users should know some basic ways to defend against keyloggers.
- Download and install a firewall and choose the highest security setting so that all programs will need permission from you before running.
- Install and/or update an anti-virus and an anti-malware program. Not all anti-virus software scans for spyware. Anti-malware software, on the other hand, will scan your computer for even more types of infections. MalwareBytes is a free anti-malware program.
- Download and install a program that encrypts your keystrokes. KeyScrambler has been recognized by security experts, bloggers and major websites around the globe as the anti-keylogging leader.
KeyScrambler Personal is a free program for your web browser that protects everything you type from keyloggers. It defeats keyloggers by encrypting your keystrokes at the keyboard driver level, deep within the operating system. When the encrypted keystrokes reach your browser, KeyScrambler then decrypts them so you see exactly the keys you’ve typed. Keyloggers can only record the encrypted keys, which are completely indecipherable. Unlike anti-virus and anti-spyware programs that depend on recognition to remove keyloggers that they know about, KeyScrambler will protect you from both known and unknown keyloggers. What’s more, KeyScrambler provides protection without getting in your way. You don’t have anything to learn about the program and you don’t have to do anything differently, but with KeyScrambler your important personal information will be a whole lot safer.
Keyloggers pose a significant threat to individuals and businesses. If you use your computer for things like online shopping or banking, or you store valuable data, then you need to take security seriously and ensure you are equipped to defend yourself.
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Free KeyScrambler Download (KeyScrambler is a QFX Software product)