Keystroke logging, keylogging, Keylogger – Popular Keylogger, key logger

What is a Keylogger?
Keystroke logging (often called keylogging or Keylogger) is a method of capturing and recording user keystrokes. Although the technique and name came from before the era of the graphical user interface; loggers nowadays even capture mouse operations and screenshots. Keyloggers are widely available on the Internet.

Uses of Keystroke logging

• Determine sources of errors in computer systems
• Study how users interact and access with systems
• Measure employee productivity on certain clerical tasks
• Law enforcement / Law-breaking e.g. to obtain passwords or encryption keys and thus bypassing other security measures
• To ensure that PC is not used for some purpose other than intended (like to see what your child is browsing)

Types of Keyloggers
There are currently two types of keylogging methods, hardware and software based. Hardware key loggers are commercially available devices which come in three types: inline devices that are attached to the keyboard cable or USB, devices which can be installed inside standard keyboards, and actual replacement keyboards that contain the key logger already built-in. Software Keyloggers are software programs that work on the target computer’s operating system.

A modern day keystroke recorder (a.k.a. keylogger) is a software tool that traces all or specific activities of a user in a computer system. Despite objections to the breach of privacy, sometimes it’s the only way to prevent other people’s mistakes or ascertain your suspicions. If you are a parent, you may want to know what your kid does online, what sites he or she visits. If you are an employer, you may want to know how your employees spend time and resources which you pay for. Their claim for a pay raise may clash with the amount of time wasted on web surfing or instant messaging. There is also the possibility of the theft of a company’s secrets. In all such cases, you need a keylogger that would unobtrusively reside in the system and keep track of user activities.

Following are some of the popular

• REFOG Keylogger (Software)
• Ultimate Key Logger (Hardware)
• Data Doctor’s KeyLogger software (Software)
• Actual Spy (Software)
• WideStep Elite Keylogger Software (Software)
• Spytech SpyAgent Stealth Edition
• All In One Keylogger
• Spector, Personal Monitor
• eBlaster 2009 build 3090
• Stealth Keylogger 5.0
• SpyBuddy 3.7.5
• CyberSpy 2.7
• Perfect Keylogger
• Powered Keylogger
• WinSession Logger 3.9.5
• PC Activity Monitor Pro (PC Acme Pro) 6.5.1
• ActMon PRO EDITION 5.11
• XPC Spy Pro 3.31
• Spy Lantern Keylogger Pro 6.0
• Ardamax Keylogger 3.0
• iMonitorPC 2.7.2
• PC Spy Keylogger 2.3
• Golden Eye 4.50
• Key Prowler Pro 3.3.6.0
• Advanced Keylogger 2.0