Five Anti Keylogging Tips for Consumers

Keylogging is one of the most serious threats to your identity in the digital age - any website you visit, any attachment you download, or any stranger you allow to use your computer could potentially install a piece of keystroke logging spyware that could record your every keystroke you type as you're using your computer; this includes credit card numbers, banking information, and important personal information. If you do have a keylogger on your computer, it's important to learn how to remove a keylogger as quickly as possible. The only trusted way to remove a keylogger is to use an anti keylogger to scan your computer for hidden keylogging software - an anti virus software like McAfee or SpySweeper just won't do, as most keyloggers have been specifically designed to be undetectable by such software.

If you truly want to remove a keylogger from your computer, you will need to install an anti keylogger. Even if you don't think you have a keylogger on your computer, it is a great idea to grab a copy of a good keylogger to run an occasional sweep of your computer checking for and removing keylogging software, because, once you actually know you have a keylogger it may be too late; eloquently stated by Benjamin Franklin, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

With this in mind, let us look at the five steps you should be taking to protect yourself from keyloggers.

1. Don't leave your computer unattended without a password
Although you may believe that nobody you know would ever install a keylogger on your computer, experts repeat time and time again that people you know install the majority of keyloggers. It is never safe to leave your computer unattended, however if you do so, be sure that your computer is password protected. A keylogging software can be saved on a USB drive and installed on your computer in a matter of minutes, so all it takes is a few moments alone with your computer or laptop to have instantaneous access to your life's most important information.

2. Avoid untrustworthy websites
Although many keyloggers are installed by hand, a keylogger can also be installed on your computer remotely when browsing a malicious website. Generally, a weakness in your computer's Internet browser or operating system is exploited by a given malicious website, which allows a hacker to remotely install a keylogger on your computer. Once the keylogger is in place, the hacker will be able to see every keystroke you type. To avoid situations like these, avoid browsing a website that your best judgment tells you is untrustworthy. However, even trusted websites can sometimes be hacked to include a malicious script that installs a keylogger on your computer, so it is always best to have an anti keylogger ready and waiting to detect keyloggers on your system.

3. Keep all software up to date
Many times, hackers take advantage of weaknesses in older versions software or operating systems to install a keylogger on your computer; generally, the manufacturer becomes aware of these weaknesses as hackers begin to exploit them, and manufacturers work hard to ensure that the latest version of their software has fixed such security holes. To keep your computer safe, always keep your software, and especially your web browser, up to date. Web browser updates and many software updates are free, so this is a quick and easy way to ensure that your computer is always as safe as possible.

4. Never download anything from an untrustworthy source
Never download any program or file from a source that you do not trust; malicious keylogging software is often hidden in what seems to be a harmless download - you may download a program or file which seems to work correctly, however in the background a keylogging software has quietly been installed on your computer. Never download any attachment from an email address that you do not trust, and when downloading files off the web, be sure that you only download from reputable websites.

5. Invest in a keylogger scanner
Although many people feel that an anti-virus software is enough to keep their computer safe, this is simply not the case. In tests run by the world's leading anti keylogger scanner, many extremely well known anti-virus scanners detected virtually no keylogging software whatsoever. It is important to invest in a quality anti keylogging software to run regular checks on your computer to check for and remove hidden keylogging software. If you do not run regular anti keylogging checks, you will have no way of knowing if you have a keylogger on your computer until it is already too late.

As one of the most prevalent forms of identity theft in the internet age, keyloggers pose a real threat to you and your family's security online; your credit card numbers, your banking information, and your private information depend on your ability to keep you and your family safe from keyloggers, as well as your ability to remove a keylogger from your computer. To eliminate and remove a keylogger from your computer, a trusted anti keylogger is the only solution; anti-virus software simply does not detect most keylogging software, and will quite often tell you that you do not have a keylogger when in fact you do.