by Nick Budden

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Keylogging is one of the most serious threats to your identity in the digital age – any website you visit, any attachment you download, or any stranger you allow to use your computer could potentially install a piece of keystroke logging spyware that could record your every keystroke you type as you’re using your computer; this includes credit card numbers, banking information, and important personal information. If you do have a keylogger on your computer, it’s important to learn how to remove a keylogger as quickly as possible. The only trusted way to remove a keylogger is to use an anti keylogger to scan your computer for hidden keylogging software – an anti virus software like McAfee or SpySweeper just won’t do, as most keyloggers have been specifically designed to be undetectable by such software.

Keylogging is one of the most serious threats to your identity in the digital age – any website you visit, any attachment you download, or any stranger you allow to use your computer could potentially install a piece of keystroke logging spyware that could record your every keystroke you type as you’re using your computer; this includes credit card numbers, banking information, and important personal information. If you do have a keylogger on your computer, it’s important to learn how to detect a keylogger as quickly as possible. The only trusted way to remove a keylogger is to use an anti keylogger to scan your computer for hidden keylogging software – an anti virus software like McAfee or SpySweeper just won’t do, as most keyloggers have been specifically designed to be undetectable by such software.

If you truly want to remove a keylogger from your computer, you will need to install an anti keylogger. Even if you don’t think you have a keylogger on your computer, it is a great idea to grab a copy of a good keylogger to run an occasional sweep of your computer checking for and removing keylogging software, because, once you actually know you have a keylogger it may be too late; eloquently stated by Benjamin Franklin, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
With this in mind, let us look at the five steps you should be taking to protect yourself from keyloggers.

1. Don’t leave your computer unattended without a password
Although you may believe that nobody you know would ever install a keylogger on your computer, experts repeat time and time again that people you know install the majority of keyloggers. It is never safe to leave your computer unattended, however if you do so, be sure that your computer is password protected. A keylogging software can be saved on a USB drive and installed on your computer in a matter of minutes, so all it takes is a few moments alone with your computer or laptop to have instantaneous access to your life’s most important information.

2. Avoid untrustworthy websites
Although many keyloggers are installed by hand, a keylogger can also be installed on your computer remotely when browsing a malicious website. Generally, a weakness in your computer’s Internet browser or operating system is exploited by a given malicious website, which allows a hacker to remotely install a keylogger on your computer. Once the keylogger is in place, the hacker will be able to see every keystroke you type. To avoid situations like these, avoid browsing a website that your best judgment tells you is untrustworthy. However, even trusted websites can sometimes be hacked to include a malicious script that installs a keylogger on your computer, so it is always best to have an anti keylogger ready and waiting to detect keyloggers on your system.

3. Keep all software up to date
Many times, hackers take advantage of weaknesses in older versions software or operating systems to install a keylogger on your computer; generally, the manufacturer becomes aware of these weaknesses as hackers begin to exploit them, and manufacturers work hard to ensure that the latest version of their software has fixed such security holes. To keep your computer safe, always keep your software, and especially your web browser, up to date. Web browser updates and many software updates are free, so this is a quick and easy way to ensure that your computer is always as safe as possible.

4. Never download anything from an untrustworthy source
Never download any program or file from a source that you do not trust; malicious keylogging software is often hidden in what seems to be a harmless download – you may download a program or file which seems to work correctly, however in the background a keylogging software has quietly been installed on your computer. Never download any attachment from an email address that you do not trust, and when downloading files off the web, be sure that you only download from reputable websites.

5. Invest in a keylogger scanner
Although many people feel that an anti-virus software is enough to keep their computer safe, this is simply not the case. In tests run by the world’s leading anti keylogger scanner, many extremely well known anti-virus scanners detected virtually no keylogging software whatsoever. It is important to invest in a quality anti keylogging software to run regular checks on your computer to check for and remove hidden keylogging software. If you do not run regular anti keylogging checks, you will have no way of knowing if you have a keylogger on your computer until it is already too late.

As one of the most prevalent forms of identity theft in the internet age, keyloggers pose a real threat to you and your family’s security online; your credit card numbers, your banking information, and your private information depend on your ability to keep you and your family safe from keyloggers, as well as your ability to remove a keylogger from your computer. To eliminate and remove a keylogger from your computer, a trusted anti keylogger is the only solution; anti-virus software simply does not detect most keylogging software, and will quite often tell you that you do not have a keylogger when in fact you do.

Nick Budden is a keylogging expert working with the SpyReveal anti keylogging team. We work every day to help consumers in keylogger detection and keylogger removal.

Article By Kimberly George

Every day, people use passwords to login to numerous accounts including -logging into their computer, email accounts, online bill payment, online banking and any other account that requires a password for access.

Despite several major Security Breaches in large computer networks – such as the one at the popular blog site “The Gawker” – PC users are still not using strong passwords to secure their accounts.

The Security Breach at the Gawker exposed a number of weak passwords and left a ton of user accounts open to the public. It was reported that in this breach, there were a total of 1.25 million accounts exposed-which included decrypted passwords and user email accounts were compromised and posted to the Pirate Bay. Of the decrypted passwords that were exposed, the top 10 that were commonly used were:

1. Password

2. 123456

3. qwerty

4. abc123

5. letmein

6. monkey

7. myspace1

8. password1

9. blink182

10. (your first name)

Talk about setting your accounts up for easy access to Hackers! Weak passwords like these will surely do just that.

There are several techniques that hackers are using to steal passwords. Some of these methods include: Phishing, Guessing, and Dictionary based attacks.

Phishing takes place when a hacker sends an email to a user-that looks like it’s coming from a legitimate source. An example of a phishing email is one pretending to from your bank asking you for your account information. When the account information is entered, the phisher then steals it.

Guessing passwords and using Dictionary based attacks are one in the same. These techniques involve the use of software programs to either “guess” your password and to run every word in the dictionary -in hopes of stealing your password.

In spite of numerous security breaches and data theft, people still don’t realize how easy it is for a hacker to gain access to their accounts when they use weak passwords-given the right opportunity. If someone cracks or steals your passwords, they would be able to gain control of your email, bank accounts, and access a ton of other personal information. This is why it is so important that computer users are made aware of the security risks involved with using weak passwords.

Using strong passwords to secure your accounts can help tremendously in preventing outside intruders from gaining access to your computer and online accounts.

Below are 4 Tips that can be used for Creating Strong Passwords to secure your accounts:

#1. Use a combination of upper and lower cases letters, numbers, and special characters.

#2. Do not use words found in the dictionary

#3. Make sure that your passwords are at least 7 characters long

#4. Do not use passwords that contain your name, date of birth, address or other personal information.

The suggestions above are basic steps that can be taken to create a strong password for your accounts.

For more tips on creating strong passwords, check out the following link: http://www.thegeekstuff.com/2008/06/the-ultimate-guide-for-creating-strong-passwords/.

Kimberly George is the Owner and Founder of Lab-Ratz Technical Solutions, an IT services and support company- based in Richardson TX. She has spent years in the field of Information Technology and has worked for several major corporations that include Cisco Systems, and AT&T. You can find out more about Kimberly and Lab-Ratz Technical Solutions by Visiting http://www.lab-ratztech.com.

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