Keyloggers in cyber security

What is Keylogger?

A keylogger is a sort of surveillance device used to watch and record each keystroke on a particular computer. It is sometimes referred to as a keystroke logger or keyboard capture. On mobile devices like the Apple iPhone and Android smartphones, keylogger software is also accessible.

Cybercriminals frequently utilise keyloggers as a spyware tool to steal valuable company data, login credentials, and personally identifiable information (PII).

Types Of Keyloggers:

There are following two types of keyloggers:

1: Hardware based keyloggers: 

• A hardware circuit connected somewhere between the computer keyboard and the computer is utilised as a regular hardware keylogger for keystroke tracking. 

• All keystrokes are recorded in its internal memory, which can be accessed by entering a string of pre-defined characters.

2: Software based keyloggers: 

• It is computer program which is written using the programming lanuage to record the keystorkes. The installation of such programs does not require direct access to the user's computer. 

• It may have been malicious software downloaded unintentionally and run as part of a rootkit or remote administration Trojan, or it could have been downloaded deliberately by someone looking to monitor activity on a specific computer (RAT). 

• The rootkit has the ability to start up and run covertly, avoiding manual inspection or antivirus scanning.

Working of  hardware keyloggers:

• A hardware keylogger physically installed into the victims system. The keylogger records every keystroke made by the user as they type on the keyboard and stores them as text on its own hard drive, which has a memory capacity of up to several gigabytes. 

• To access the collected data, the individual who installed the keylogger must later physically remove the device. The data packets sent between a wireless keyboard and its receiver can be intercepted and decrypted by wireless keylogger sniffers.

Working of  software keyloggers:

• A typical software keylogger consists of two files that are placed in the same directory: a dynamic link library (DLL) file that records activity and an executable file that instals and activates the DLL file. 

• Every keystroke the user enters is recorded by the keylogger application, which regularly sends the data over the internet to whoever installed the programme. 

• Hackers can create keylogging software to leverage malicious script injection, memory injection, or keyboard application programme interfaces (APIs) to another application.

Use of keyloggers:

• It is employed to keep track of the user's keystrokes.
• Any webpage the user visits can be captured in a snapshot using it.
• The family member can utilise it to keep an eye on things.
• It may also be used maliciously to steal any user-provided personal information.

Is keyloggers affects smartphone:

• If it is hardware keyloggers, there is zero probability that the mobile device will become infected because there is virtual keyboards in the mobile devices.By using a virtual keypad, the hardware keylogger is unable to access the data being written.

• Mobile devices have a potential of acquiring software keylogger infections.It is possible for the information to be taken if the keylogger infects the mobile device.

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