Keylogger
Keylogger
A program or device that secretly records what you type on a keyboard.
In Simple Terms
A keylogger secretly saves everything you type on a computer or smartphone keyboard. For example, someone with bad intentions might install one on another person's computer and run it quietly in the background. This lets them steal important personal information, like passwords and credit card numbers, exactly as it was typed. On the other hand, keyloggers are also used for legitimate purposes, such as software testing or monitoring company computers.
Behind the Name
The word "keylogger" combines "key" (as in keyboard) and "logger" (a program or device that records information). It's sometimes called a "keystroke logger" instead.
Take a Closer Look!
A keylogger is software or a device that records every character typed on a keyboard.
While a keylogger is running, everything you type gets saved to a file or sent off to an external server.
In short, keyloggers are mostly abused by cybercriminals to steal personal information.
Passwords, email addresses, and online banking PINs get recorded exactly as they're typed, which makes this especially dangerous.
They're often run secretly in the background without the person noticing, which is part of why the damage can be so hard to catch.
There are two types of keyloggers, software-based and hardware-based, and each calls for a different kind of defense.
For software keyloggers that infect a computer, keeping security software up to date and avoiding suspicious files helps prevent an infection.
Hardware keyloggers plugged directly into something like a USB port, on the other hand, can't be caught by security software, so you need to physically check your computer for any unfamiliar devices plugged in.