Keyloggers are awful bits of nefarious code, prompting many computer users to quiver with a mix of paranoia and anger - assuming you know what one is. Having one can lead to the worst of things, and can result in loss of identity, divorce, or a myriad of other horrid things.

Here’s a good explanation of what a keylogger is:

A good software key logger should use very little memory and very few CPU cycles, so as not to attract attention to itself. A good key logger should also hide itself from the Task List and from the Uninstall List. A good key logger should be invisible to the person being monitored. A better key logger will support remote installation and the ability to remotely retrieve keystroke logs. A better key logger should also be able to log only user-defined types of data, such as usernames and passwords.

Many software keystroke loggers are integrated with other surreptitious recording software, such as screen capture software, remote control software, or audio and video recorders.

So getting back to keyloggers, there are ways to defeat them, and be secure even if you don’t have one. The best way of course is to make sure you never get one - get a good firewall such as Outpost Pro - get a good anti-spyware anti-adware program such as one of those listed below.

  • ; this is one of the better anti-spyware, anti-adware, security products available.
  • Block viruses and spyware with advanced protection from ; although not one of my favourite companies, or products, they are used by a lot of people, and a lot of people swear by it.
  • ; NOD32 is a good system, I used it for about 6 months and didn’t have any complaints.

But being realistic, it could happen to you. Maybe a suspicious spouse, or an overbearing boss, but whatever the reason, keyloggers can be used without your knowledge. Here is what you do to defeat them.

  1. Open up a notepad.
  2. Hit the keyboard like you’re a chimpanzee on crack. For about two minutes.
  3. Now you have a notepad full of characters, all kinds of them. Now, knowing your own password(s), drag and place characters at the beginning or end of all of this text, until you have made your password.
  4. Save this file.
  5. Every time you want to put a password in, open up your file, copy your selected password from the nonsensical text, and paste it into the password box wherever you need it.

This gets around a keylogger since they log keystrokes - copying and pasting a bit of text into a password box is not a keystroke.