Spyware and Keylogging.

Although the term "spyware" is almost universally recognizable, few people really understand what the term "spyware" actually means. Spyware is a type of program (or sometimes, a virus) that is designed to secretly collect your personal information. A keylogger is a very common type of spyware, as a keylogger can collect almost all information that you physically type into your computer.

Keyloggers have become an increasingly common type of spyware, used by identity thieves and other malicious individuals to collect personal and financial information from your computer. Although many types of spyware have been known to alter your computer's settings, usually in an attempt to cause inconvenience and annoyance, the goal of most keyloggers is to remain as undetectable as possible. As a result, most keyloggers will leave your computer's settings virtually unchanged. Although this certainly makes keyloggers less of a nuisance, it also makes them much more dangerous, as the typical signs that you may have a spyware infection are not present: these signs can include your computer slowing down, or your internet browser redirecting itself to certain webpages among other signals.

So how do you protect yourself from keystroke logging spyware? Unlike many other types of spyware, keylogging spyware can be very difficult to remove with your conventional anti-virus/anti-spyware program. Keyloggers have been specifically designed to be as undetectable as possible, and in particular, have often been designed specifically to elude such programs. To remove keylogging spyware you will need to use a tool specifically designed for the job, known as an anti keylogger. Rather than being designed to detect all spyware - and in the process becoming rather ineffective at detecting the most dangerous spyware - anti keyloggers have been designed specifically to detect keylogging spyware. This has allowed anti keyloggers to become highly specialized in their ability to detect and remove keyloggers, and if you hope to protect yourself from keylogging spyware, an anti keylogger should be your only trusted option.