Keylogger
A malicious tool that records keystrokes to steal credentials and sensitive data.
Understanding Keyloggers
Keyloggers operate silently in the background, capturing every keystroke and, in some cases, mouse movements, clipboard data, and screenshots. The logged data is either stored locally or transmitted remotely to an attacker, enabling unauthorized access to personal and corporate data.
Types of Keyloggers
Software-Based Keyloggers
Installed as malware or spyware on a device.
Runs as a background process, recording keystrokes and sending them to a remote server.
Commonly spread through phishing emails, malicious attachments, or drive-by downloads.
Hardware-Based Keyloggers
Physical devices plugged into a computer (e.g., USB keyloggers, keyboard hardware implants).
Difficult to detect since they do not rely on software execution.
Often used in targeted attacks on corporate networks or public computers.
Kernel-Level Keyloggers
Operate at the operating system (OS) kernel level, making them harder to detect.
Capture keystrokes before they reach applications, bypassing security software.
Browser-Based Keyloggers
Injected into web browsers through malicious scripts or browser extensions.
Records keystrokes entered into online forms, commonly used in phishing attacks.
Wireless Keyloggers
Intercept keystrokes sent over wireless keyboards or Bluetooth connections.
Exploits weaknesses in encryption protocols used by wireless devices.
Future of Keyloggers
Advanced AI-Based Keyloggers: Newer threats use machine learning to capture behavior-based inputs.
Fileless Keyloggers: Operate entirely in memory, making them harder to detect.
Keylogging in Mobile Devices: Increasing threats targeting Android and iOS users.
Zero-Trust Security Models: Organizations adopting stricter access control policies to combat keylogging threats.