Keylogger HARDWARE, not SOFTWARE, cannot be detected. It is a small device- about 3/4 of an inch long that goes on the end of your keyboard plug- then plugs into the computer. Only you would know how to bring up the logs. just google keylogger hardware

I think Raj is your man of wisdom on this?

Keyloggers are definetly handy tools, and I have seen a lot of posts about them here. My dad used to have them on our computers (my brother sister and I) when we were much younger.

He has offered many times to put them on my computers now, I have a running theory on that though, that is if I have to constantly be checking on you to keep you on the straight and narrow, maybe we are already finished ? I mean they are good in the begining I suppose but if you just have to keep checking it and kep checking it ... I dunno I guess I am just tired of living my life like that.

I agree Bratty, if you are getting a keylogger, you're going to find out some stuff you may not have wanted to know, so you've got to be ready to handle whatever it is you find. Some may not be emotionally ready for that. Finding stuff you need for legal reasons is one thing but you've got to be prepared to be shocked as well.

I have Spector Pro and it is absolutely undectaable! If you decide to buy it, pay cash so you do not leave a paper trail!

Thanks Lstecker.. :))
I have had only one experience with a dumb keylogger.. It was fun!! LOL.. :P
But I have studied their basic working. I will keep this simple.. if possible.. ;)

As SB said, keylogger Hardwares are definitely better than the softwares. It also depends on the person whom you are going to monitor. If that person does know about various types of keyloggers and/or suspects that he is being monitored, he can beat it.
The free ones are easy to beat usually.. They are more like toys to play with.. The ones for which you pay have more features and varying complexities. Some can be quite difficult to fool.

Types of Hardware keyloggers:
1) Wire type - between keyboard and CPU
2) BIOS based firmware

Here is how the softwares are loaded when computer is booted up:
1) You switch ON the CPU.
2) the BIOS software is loaded first
3) The Operating System is loaded next
4) All the other softwares are loaded after that. For example, anti-virus and firewalls start automatically. Applications like MS Word need to be started by the user.

Those are the steps in most of the cases.

If you use BIOS keylogger, they usually start recordingas soon as you press the power switch on the CPU (when BIOS loads). so most security systems cannot detect them. This principle is a similar to what rootkits use.

Are there keyloggers which cannot be detected by anti-virus software?? Yes, there are many.

Are there keyloggers which cannot be detected by anti-keylogger software? Yes, there are.


TIPS and THOUGHTS:
1. You are NEVER safe online.
2. The best security is the person between the computer and the chair..
3. Use good firewalls like Zone Alarm or Comodo
4. Keep your security software up-to-date

Well, now we know the basics of keyloggers. Lets see how they can be fooled. What I am going to tell you are just very basic techniques.

What do keyloggers do? They log the keys pressed.. How to beat them?? Don't use keys!! simple, isn't it?? LOL..

Well, then how do we type?? We can use the On Screen Keyboards. Many are freely available, but there is already an in-build one in Windows. Here is what you have to do to bring it up:
Windows XP: Click "Start" --> Run --> type 'osk' (enter)
Vista: Click the Windows icon --> type 'osk' (enter)

Do you see that keyboard now?? Well, use it for entering personal info. Like passwords, credit card info, etc. (even your age/weight.. hehe) ;-)
(No offense.. just kidding..)


Keyloggers just save the various keys pressed. They do not know which program is using what keys. Moreover, they cannot detect mouse clicks. Here is an interesting idea to fool them (i got this from the website mentioned below):
While entering your password, use the mouse to change the application and type something. The keylogger doesn't know which program is running. It only records the keys. for example, assume that your username for hotmail is "Night_sky" and password is "qwerty" try typing this:
1. Open hotmail (type in address bar)
2. Night
3. switch to Notepad.. Type "Where are you?"
4. switch to hotmail.. Type "_"
5. Switch to notepad.. Type "I am on the moon"
6. switch to hotmail.. Type "sky"

It would be recorded as "hotmail.com[...]Night[...]Where are you?[...]_[...]I am on the moon[...]sky"

Do the same for the password too.. So that its scrambled.. :)



Ummm.. ok.. all the people who are sleeping, please raise your hands!! :P

I am sorry.. I think I sound too boring.. I just wanted to cover as much as possible..

But hey, if someone has insomnia, pass on this post to them and charge them a dollar for putting them to sleep.. Well deserved sleep..:P
(Just to be on the safe side, take the dollar before they read this.. It might have varying effects and so few people may never wake up.. :-P )

There are many other monitoring and spy software.. MM mentioned a good one.. :)

Using them, you can find out many things. Like Lstecker isn't actually 15 as her profile says.. She is 18!!!! :P
(Lol.. No offense.. just joking.. ) :-))
Please don't mind..


On a serious note, I agree with DadWithHope... You may find things you don't want to know.. Its all your choice..

Just ask me if anyone has any doubts.. or suggestions.. It would help me learn too.. :))

[I know... I know... I should keep it short and to-the-point.. LOL.. Sorry..]

Oops.. forgot the links... Silly me!!

Beating keyloggers:
http://www.hackernotcracker.com/2007-10/beat-keyloggers-at-they-own-game-simple-ways-to-avoid-information-theft.html

http://www.raymond.cc/blog/archives/2007/09/20/how-to-beat-keyloggers-to-protect-your-identity/


Nothing is safe once you are online:
http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/19/the-pwn2own-trifecta-safari-ie-8-and-firefox-exploited-on-day/

So what keylogger would you recommend that is good but also cannot so easily be detected?

I am not sure.. I really never used any.. My anti-virus just detected one last year and deleted it.. But here are a few sites you can have a look at.. and a few tips:
1) As far as reviews, hardware keyloggers are better
2) The smaller, the better.
3) Check prices
4) Must be easily hidden and hard to notice.. like the ones attached at the rear of the CPU (personally, i don't prefer USB keyloggers - easy to notice)

Sites:
http://www.keelog.com/
http://www.widestep.com/best-key-loggers
http://www.best-keylogger.com/
http://www.keykatcher.com/
http://www.key-devil.com/

SB can help you better.. 3/4th of an inch seems pretty small.. :))
I would like it.

Also, the reviews for Spector Pro are better than the other few softwares i just browsed..

If people use wi-fi at your homes, its easy to crack it.. The video is found on youtube.. LOL..
If you wanna make a homemade missile launcher, the video is available on youtube.. :P

You want ANYTHING, google has it!! You wanna know anything, youtube and wikipedia have it!! LOL.. ;)

http://www.discprodonline.com/items/item.aspx?itemid=527008 I think this is the one I bought.

Raj you are so knowledgeable! I am pretty much self-taught in computers/internet... like u said- google, wikipedia, and the world wide web have anything you would ever want to know.... just have to have patience to search and search and search lol

That is how I settled on the keylogger I have! By using the best daggone research tool there is, the internet!

Thank you Raj. I've looked at a few on the net and later found out that they can be detected. It sounds like you know computers very well. I guess I'm just worried about it being detected.

@SB:
Thank you SB. In computers, I am mostly self-taught too.. and talke to other geeks online.. Hahaha..

I think you are doing great!!! :))
If there is something you cannot find, just post it on Yahoo answers (or send me a mail) and you will get a few replies soon.. I do agree that there are a few fools there.. But a lot of people (including me) try to answer questions.. Infact, there are questions which make me really think.. lol.. and I learn too.. :)

Exactly like this place.. Just that instead of relationships, on other sites, i used to discuss technology and science (not anymore.. not much time now-a-days)..

@Zowie:
You are welcome. Yes they can be detected.
The one good thing, though small, is that with software keyloggers is that you can just say that someone broke thru firewall and installed it. It happens!! ;-P