A keylogger is a software program designed to capture every key struck on a user’s keyboard. Although the term has negative connotations due to its frequent use in spyware, keyloggers also have legitimate uses, such as for programs looking out for certain key combinations (such as user defined ‘hotkeys’) or organisations who may wish to track their employee’s working habits.
However, keyloggers are also extremely valuable to cyber-attackers. The ability of a keylogger to record all entered keys means that it is a very valuable tool in the arsenal of attackers. By recording all entered characters, usernames and passwords, personal details, and many other types of personal information can be logged to a file which can then be transmitted to a third party, which can then be used for nefarious purposes.
Last updated: 3 September 2017