Protecting yourself from a Key Logger!
By JenInTN
@JenInTN (27514)
United States
June 1, 2011 3:54am CST
I started a discussion a few days ago about how my bank account was logged in too from another state and such. I ran all my virus scans and spyware programs...nothing. So, at this point I have narrowed it down to my computer at work..but anyway..that's just a little background in case you missed my earlier discussion.
My bank told me they thought it might have been a key logger program that got my info. A program that records you keystrokes when typing. They get your info that way..poof. They must have sifted through a ton of key strokes..but ok...lol
The IT guy at work showed me a way to avoid the key loggers...no new programs required. Whenever one is on the site they need to log on to securely, hit the start button, all programs, accessories, ease of access and onscreen keyboard! You can then use your mouse to click what letters and numbers you need. No worries about rotten scoundral key loggers!
I know many of you may have already knew about this option and if you did..what other things do you know about to help us protect ourselves? If you didn't know about the on screen keyboard, I hope it helps protect you. Will you be using it now?
7 people like this
22 responses
@makatas (1098)
• Greece
8 Jun 11
Actually key loggers is not a threat you will encounter often. So, for me, using the on-screen keyboard would be a big nuisance whenever typing passwords.
What you can do is:
Say your password is 123456
You type 6.
Move the mouse before 6 and type 3.
Move the mouse before 3 and type 2.
Move the mouse before 2 and type 1.
Move the mouse after 3 and type 4.
Type 5.
The keylogger would get the password as : 632145
I think you get the point :).
Have a nice day, I hope it helps you!
@makatas (1098)
• Greece
8 Jun 11
You are welcome. You can imagine how more helpful this trick is if the password is not the simple 123456 but something more complex. The guy who would check the key logger's logs will not be able to see the exact password, no chance.
There is however another catch - I might be going toof ar, but there are threats that can be installed onto the PC and do not just grab the typed characters, but way more than that. They can shoot screenshots off the system, check what is done through live video, right at the moment you do it.
You need not go too upset though. With a standard antivirus and much common sense you are quite safe. Do not forget, also, that someone will target your PC with a key logger of the simple or the advanced kind, only if he/she is 100% sure he will gain something from you.
@apples99 (6556)
• United States
2 Jun 11
Oh great now I have more safety issues to worry about I have to remember the key logger program too! aww
Well I have spyware antivirus software and I don't use public computers very often so hopefully that will help me, also I delete my cookies occasionally so maybe I'll be somewhat safe online.
I wish we didn't have to worry about this kind of stuff while surfing online goodness I guess no where and nothing is safe
Thanks for the info at least now I know.
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
2 Jun 11
It is a spyware program that they are using to get your user names and passwords. The spyware records your key punches and gets your info. Using the onscreen keyboard will help to keep them from getting that. It is just a new way that people have come up with to steal..such a shame we can't use our computers in peace. Hope that helps.
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
2 Jun 11
I agree, Petersum. However, most loggers do only record actual keystrokes from the keyboard rather than reading the keyboard buffer (they actually intercept keyboard entry by providing their own buffer and then write to the legitimate buffer. I believe that, since the way that the on-screen keyboard works is different, it would be secure from many keyloggers).
I would trust copying and pasting from a text file over using the on-screen keyboard, I think, but that would raise other security issues: where is the text file, for example? If it's on the PC, then it might be vulnerable to other malware. If it's on a removable USB drive, one is open to that being infected (though it's unlikely that anything would read and transmit the data).
The only real solution is to be certain that the PC one is using is clean
@stylewaves (1060)
• India
1 Jun 11
I am a user of Linux , so i am having a thought there won't be such kind of problems for me !
1 person likes this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
1 Jun 11
The IT guys at work use Linux. One that used to work there showed it to me and it was on his personal computer. He said you can even set it up to look like whatever browser you have been currently using. He showed me. It was pretty neat.
I'm not so sure that an PC is safe from spyware. I think they are all at risk. I have heard that the Macs are super tough though. I have heard that every penny extra spent on a mac is worth itself 100 times. What do you two think?
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
3 Jun 11
Wow Jen! I checked it out and it works! Thanks for the information!! That's really good information to have! I know the computer does a heck of a lot more than we know and we'd never remember it all but to know some of the safety issues is really awesome! I'll have to pass this on to my family and friends. Thanks again!!
1 person likes this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
3 Jun 11
You are very welcome. I think that anything we can do to protect ourselves..even if it is a little...is a great thing.
I remember this government website that I was on for school loans a couple of years ago and they had an online keyboard option. At the time, I didn't think about it, but now, I understand.
Thanks for the response.
@celticeagle (168721)
• Boise, Idaho
1 Jun 11
I just checked it out and thought it very cool. I never even knew I had this option. So to use this instead of your regular keyboard is supposed to keep these loggers from being able to regular your key strokes? Is that right? That is very interesting. I didn't know about the option and thank you for sharing it with us.
1 person likes this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
2 Jun 11
Yes..it is supposed to keep them from being able to record your strokes. That's how they get your passwords and user names. I'm glad you found it and I hope it helps you out in the future. I am going to use it for my paypal too.
Thanks for responding.
1 person likes this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
2 Jun 11
Hi dong! You are welcome. I have been doing online bank monitoring for a few years now and this is the first time I have ever had a problem. I am glad that nothing was taken but it has prompted me to be much more cautious. I hope this helps you in the future. Take care and thanks for responding.
@RamRes (1723)
• Argentina
6 Jun 11
I already knew that option and is annoying but useful. It's good for using in public computers not reliable if you have to enter any password with some degree of security.
However I think still the best protection is to completely prevent keyloggers from coming in in the first place. A good antivirus will do the job very well, detecting malware before it is even run and can do anything bad. However, common sense is still the very first line of defense against any online menace.
For me I use a combination of antivirus and my password manager to simply copy-paste really important ones, even I use autogeneration to have highly random passwords that are hard to guess and never typed not even once.
1 person likes this
@Orson_Kart (6878)
• United Kingdom
1 Jun 11
I've not used an on screen keyboard in that way. I thought it was just for those whose keyboard was buggered and they couldn't afford or be bothered to purchase a new one.
My bank asks you for a security password which you have to select from a drop-down menu. They say it's safer, but who knows?
My theory is.......only those WITH money worry about it. ;)
1 person likes this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
2 Jun 11
That is a good theory, but I have always heard that people who are invested with banks who have drop down menu options are the ones that are loaded.
I was on a government site one time that had an on screen keyboard sign on with. I wondered what that was all about then..but never thought another thing about it.@Orson_Kart (6878)
• United Kingdom
2 Jun 11
Trust me, anyone with money doesn't invest with banks. They are far too wise for that! Banks are just a means of transfering money. ;
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
1 Jun 11
Thanks for the info. I will tell my sister. She may have to check something at work.
1 person likes this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
1 Jun 11
I hope it helps. I know that nothing is a hunderd percent, but if there is anything we can do to keep our stuff safe, we need to try. I will be using it from now on. The IT guy at work told me that keyloggers can't record that.
I did have the responder above say it was still possible, but at least if I try, I know I've tried..lol..Take care.
1 person likes this
@carolscash (9492)
• United States
1 Jun 11
I never knew that the computer had an online keyboard. I think that is a neat thing to know about and I wonder if it would be faster than typing. I might be able to earn money faster online if it was.
1 person likes this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
2 Jun 11
Thanks for the info, Jen. Hope u are having a good night.
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
1 Jun 11
uuumm. im not sure what you mean. next time i go to my bank online i will see if they have that? ive really never seen it. i go to my account, it has my email address already there and i just put in my password. when im donr looking, i log out. same with paypal. 
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
1 Jun 11
Wow, I had no idea that an on screen keyboard even existed for every day use through Windows! I just typed out that first sentence using it! It was a little slow, but it would work great for logins that are only short. 
I have never heard of key loggers before. Thanks for sharing Jen and I am sorry to hear about your problems with your bank account. That sucks! 
I have never heard of key loggers before. Thanks for sharing Jen and I am sorry to hear about your problems with your bank account. That sucks!
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
1 Jun 11
They didn't get anything, thank goodness. They just logged in from another state. My bank caught it right away and locked my online access. I have changes my password and user name, but I was still afraid to use anything online. I think it was from the work computer. I checked it sometimes from there. Not anymore though.
Keyloggers apparently record your keystrokes when logging in. That's how they get your info. I am glad the IT guy told me about the onscreen keyboard. I'm sure it's not a hundred percent...but if it helps a little against online criminals..I'm in..lol.
Hope you can use it and it helps.
Thanks for the response.
@margeryann (1845)
• United States
2 Jun 11
I never heard of hackers getting your info. with your keystrokes before. I did those steps to go to the onscreen keyboard that is pretty neat.I`m using it right now to try it out.Thank you for letting us know.
1 person likes this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
2 Jun 11
I'm glad you found it. I didn't know about the keyloggers either until my incident with the bank account. They said they thought that is how they were able to sign in.
The on screen keyboard is slower than the regular one, but it serves the purpose of getting a user name and password in. Hope it helps you in the future.
