How to Make and Detect a Keylogger on Your Computer

Welcome to Keylogger 101. Perhaps you found this article because you have had a Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail or Bank Account Hack or perhaps you are just highly suspicious that there is someone logging into your accounts or spying on you. In this article we will fully discuss Keyloggers, how they work, what they do and what you should do if you believe you have one.

A Keylogger can be a malware / virus that is installed on your computer due to user error, such as clicking a "bad link" or downloading a corrupt file. A keylogger can also come in other forms.

For example, a jealous / suspicious spouse or roommate can purchase keylogger software and download it onto your computer. Once the program is download, it will run undetected and the individual can monitor it from a remote location (meaning they do not need to access your computer again to retrieve it).

A keylogger can also come in the form of a computer plug-in device that can be purchased off Amazon.com or other websites:

A keylogger works by recording data. Keyloggers come in a variety of basic - to - advanced. Some keyloggers capture every keystroke the pc user enters. It then sends this information to the installers remote location. Other keyloggers are much more advanced and capture screenshots, record calls and more. These advanced keyloggers then send the information as an email to the culprit so it remains as evidence that is forever stored by the culprit.

Check out the image below for a clear explanation on how keyloggers work:

Since keyloggers come in different forms, there is no single solution for detecting a keylogger. You may have to use more than one of the following:

1. If someone who has had physical access to your computer is believed to be the one who installed the keylogger, it is likely that he/she may have inserted components into the pc. In this case, inspecting the keyboard's connection to the computer, or replacing the keyboard will solve the problem.

2. Antikeyloggers can scan your hard drive for the digital signatures of known keyloggers, and look for low-level software "hooks" that indicate the presence of a keystroke grabber. A free program like KL-Detector will find a keylogger on your computer, however it will not delete it. KL Detector works with Windows NT 3.51 SP3, Windows 2000, and Windows XP.

3. Use an AnitVirus program. However, keep in mind that Antikeyloggers and keylogger detectors are more effective against keyloggers than general antivirus programs because the Anti-Virus programs often don't identify keyloggers as malware.

4. Take your computer into the local repair shop. The repair shop should be able to find any keylogger on your computer. You can have your computer "wiped". Wiping your computer will not result in data loss as long as your information is "backed up". The computer shop should be able to do all of this for you for under $100.

If you are computer savvy, then I suggest watching this video that shows you how to locate a keylogger in under 2 minutes:

There's a few methods you can use to prevent future keyloggers from accessing your keystrokes and obtaining passwords, credit card information or other info:

1. Using a program like Roboform will automatically fill in your email and passwords, thus eliminating you from having to type them and the keylogger gaining access. Of course this will not help right now.

2. Use a Voice to Type Program

3. Install a free firewall

4. Download Sophos Virus Removal Tool:

Making a keylogger is not for beginners. You will need to be familiar with scripting. This is why most people who are looking to "snoop" will either download a program and pay the one-time-fee or they will purchase the product shown at the beginning of this article (available on Amazon.com).

However, if you are familiar with scripting, then a keylogger can be created with C++ and stored as a Log.txt file. Below you will find a video on an alternate way to make a keylogger: