Hardware Keyloggers Tells Why, What and Who

Keylogging is a term used for noting and storing the keys hit by a user on a keyboard. Devices or softwares that perform this act of storing keyword operations are called keyloggers. Keylogger is a comprehensive solution to monitoring and general security.

Keyloggers are used all across the world by both individuals and organizations. Governments across the globe use keyloggers to track and monitor sensitive communication. A keylogger might be used by a secret Intelligence agency, or by the kid next door, or maybe even his parents. In whole, a keylogger is a versatile tool that caters to a host of different needs ranging across a wide spectrum of users.

Keyloggers are already very popular, and it is important to know how to use one to put one to the best use before investing in one. Keyloggers are one of the ‘in’ words online and a lot of information can be found over Google and other information sharing sites. Keyloggers are legal and are readily available in the open market. However, one needs to be discrete about using a keylogger as they might not be welcomed warmly always.

The most important thing to know about keyloggers is that they need to be in place first. A keylogger will record all keyboard activities once it is, well, switched on. Keyloggers are basically of two types, Hardware and Software. Hardware Keyloggers are devices that need to be plugged or wired along your other computer hardware. Software Keyloggers however do the job in terms of running programs or small scripts.

Coming to which type of keylogger suits you, you need to think of the utility and the durability. A hardware keylogger needs to be physically implanted onto the computer or the keyboard; this is best suited for home computers or stand alone machines used by large number of people.

Keylogging is not just limited to knowing what a person has been typing. Looking at it from a security perspective, it would be very impractical to implant devices on all the computers of a school. In that case, you could use a software keylogger that would write your logs and mail them to you at the end of the day.

Software keyloggers are easily available online and there are a few marked producers of software keyloggers that provide post sales service and support. A keylogger might not be an everyday tool for everyone, but it’s a mouse trap, you don’t know its use unless you have a mouse running under your nose.