How To Detect Keylogger Hardware

Detect keylogger hardware to prevent your sensitive personal data from falling into the wrong hands. If criminals get your personal data, they can use it to open accounts and transfer money from existing accounts.

Run anti-spyware software to learn how to detect keyloggers.
A good anti-spyware or anti-virus program may be able to detect keyloggers. Keyloggers typically hide in sneaky places, and a good anti-virus program that constantly updates its virus definitions can keep track of the latest keylogger tactics. Also, keyloggers function in ways that send red flags to anti-virus programs, so installing these programs, keeping their virus definitions up-to-date and running them regularly can help you detect software keyloggers.

Check your Task List and Startup items to find keyloggers.
If you press the Ctrl + Alt + Del buttons simultaneously, it brings up a Task List, which outlines all the applications and processes currently running on your computer. Many of these processes are normal, and your computer requires them to function. However, keylogging software has to show up on your application or processes list, so do a Web search for any unfamiliar processes or software to determine whether it's a normal part of Windows operation or whether it may be a keylogger. Likewise, you can run the msconfig utility to determine what starts up when you boot your computer. Once you launch msconfig, look for anything unfamiliar that might be a keylogger.

Have an active, secure firewall to stop keyloggers from transmitting data.
Software keyloggers require an Internet connection to transmit the data they gather from your computer. If you've got an active, secure firewall, keyloggers may not be able to transmit data, thus forming an effective way to block keyloggers. Some firewall programs even alert you when unfamiliar programs attempt to use your Internet access, so you can use this feature to discover whether keyloggers exist on your computer. Maintain an active firewall to help protect yourself from potentially dangerous keyloggers.

You can't detect some types of keylogger hardware.
Hardware keyloggers can be a bit more difficult to detect than software keyloggers. In most cases, hardware keyloggers don't require an Internet connection to transmit data, because they function by storing the data on a little hard drive packaged with the device. If a keylogger is not a software program on your computer, the only way you can detect it is by physically locating the hardware device.

Keylogger hardware come in two forms: adaptors that sit between your keyboard and your computer, and electronic chips that are placed inside your keyboard. If you're a savvy computer user, you may be able to spot the physical adaptor between your keyboard and computer. However, a hardware keylogger chip that's physically built into your keyboard is impossible to detect unless you disassemble your keyboard and know exactly what you're seeing, so you may not be able to detect this type of keylogger.