The advent of technology has been one of the biggest boons for us as a generation. While our previous generations lived in the age of letters, radios, and much later wired telephones, our lives are strikingly different.
Smart Phones, tablets, laptops, PCs, smartwatches, and what not. Generation Z has it all and more! The world isn’t such a big place anymore. Social networking has made countries come closer, and people who are miles apart feel connected.
Though, you know what they say, “There are two sides of a coin.” Technology has also brought with it a wide variety of malpractices and identity theft by using private information such as credit card details, email accounts, etc., of others.
Hackers and predators use this same technology to wreck people and their livelihoods. Hence, antiviruses become an essential part of using technology and working online.
Does an antivirus actually detect keyloggers?
We now come straight to our topic. Does an antivirus detect keyloggers? No, not every antivirus will detect every form of Keyloggers. Antiviruses are basically software that is created to save your system from virus attacks and similar malicious activities.
They can only detect a keylogger once it has already entered into the system and caused much harm. Antiviruses generally have a hard time detecting an unknown threat in the form of a keylogger. They detect, prevent, and then essentially remove malicious software through behavior and heuristic analysis.
Heuristic analysis refers to a method used to figure out the chances of a malware threat to the system with the help of weights and decision making. Keyloggers, on the other hand, are either hardware or software derived and are specifically used to track every keyboard movement.
In an ideal world, Keyloggers would be used as a helpful tool for positive purposes, but that is not the case. All over the world, keyloggers are used to steal sensitive information being entered by the user on their system using keystrokes.
Passwords to your mail accounts, social media pages, credit card information, bank details come under a huge threat if your system is under a keylogger’s approach.
How Can You Get Infected By A Keylogger?
A system can get infected by a keylogger that is either hardware-based or software-based. Following ways of infection can be kept in mind while taking care of your system from a keylogger:
USB Keyloggers
Probably one of the easiest and legitimate ways for your system to be infected by hardware-based Keyloggers. You buy some USB off the internet or even get one from a friend, and bam, there’s a keylogger. Be wary of what you plug into your computer.
Traditional Keyloggers
These are keyloggers with a touch of antiquity. They are generally attached somewhere between the keyboard and the device but are placed in such a way that they seem indistinguishable.
Emails
While a spam box on your mail account is specifically created to keep such problematic mails in one stock, some of them always find a way into your inbox. They will almost always have a clickbait leading to nothingness but a keylogger in return.
Porn/Fishy Sites
Keeping aside the treacherous commercialization of sex that porn displays, it is also a hub of ads that can more than often end up giving your system malicious software. Various fishy sites on the internet also have similar ads and pretentious click baits, which give way to keyloggers into your system.
How can you catch a keylogger tool?
Update all your Apps
This system is good for your system’s cyber hygiene, and by doing so, you can remove vulnerabilities of your system largely.
Manage Permissions
Keep in check the permissions you give to websites/apps while using your system. Undue permissions given to external parties can also lead to virus attacks/ malicious activities.
Lookup for Signs on your Keyboard
While using your keyboard, be careful of certain delays while typing. If you feel that there is a time lag between your typing and the content being presented, you are most definitely infected by a keylogger. The time lag is due to your keystrokes being monitored and recorded.
Keep an eye on the notification tray/ Progress Bar
The presence of a key logger can be visible as a .exe process from a fishy author in your processes tab. To do so, you can press CTRL + Shift + Esc to open your task manager and then go to the Processes tab.
Another way is to check the notification bar at the bottom of your screen, check for an unknown icon or device if mentioned there. If you observe one, it is likely that it is a keylogger or virus. You can directly & easily remove them from the system if you see such an icon or process.
Install a reputable Antivirus
One of the best options to save your system from any attack, specifically keyloggers, is to install a reputable Antivirus. The next section tries to cover Top 5 Antiviruses that can easily detect keyloggers and keep your system out of risk.
5 Antiviruses That Can Actually Detect Keyloggers
The following antiviruses are advanced in their approach and play an essential role in detecting, preventing, and removing keyloggers from your system:
- Avira Prime
- Norton 360
- McAfee Total Protection
- TotalAV Total Security
- Bitdefender Total Security
- Panda Dome Premium
All these Antiviruses are easily available and can be used without many issues.
Summing Up
In the end, one can only wish that they are far from such attacks and their harms, but that is hiding from the problem.
You could be next, or you might even be under a digital attack right now. Instead, be prepared and careful while handling your system and your sensitive information.
Always remember that your details are as important as your life, and one moment of leniency can cost you a lot. Prevention is always better than cure. With that, we wish that you may stay safe from Keyloggers!