I found this interesting article over on TechTV's site and thought I'd post...
One particularly scary type of spyware, key-logging software, records a computer user's keystrokes for the purpose of monitoring computer activity. Think of it as a real-time spy noting your every move, including logs of IM chats and websites you've visited. The hidden software records keystrokes and places them in a password-protected file so the person doing the spying can retrieve the information later. The information can also be delivered via email. Worse, because the software is hidden from view, you won't be able to find it to purge it from your hard drive.
Critics warn of invasion of privacy while proponents answer back that it's necessary given the widely available high tech tools to which criminals have access. Others who might be interested in monitoring computer use are protective parents who want to keep an eye on their children's computer use, suspicious spouses, or anyone else prone to snooping -- as long as it's on their own computer in their own home.
For the most part, software that eliminates key loggers hasn't been available. But Raytown gives computer users who are paranoid about computer monitoring some ammunition to fight back. The software is called Anti-keylogger, and its purpose is to hunt down and expose the monitoring program so you can delete it.
Click the "Read more..." link to see the full review by TechTV.
News source: TechTV - Review: Raytown Corporation Anti-Keylogger 1.12
View and download: Anti-keylogger - provide protection against unauthorized keystroke monitoring programs.
One particularly scary type of spyware, key-logging software, records a computer user's keystrokes for the purpose of monitoring computer activity. Think of it as a real-time spy noting your every move, including logs of IM chats and websites you've visited. The hidden software records keystrokes and places them in a password-protected file so the person doing the spying can retrieve the information later. The information can also be delivered via email. Worse, because the software is hidden from view, you won't be able to find it to purge it from your hard drive.
Critics warn of invasion of privacy while proponents answer back that it's necessary given the widely available high tech tools to which criminals have access. Others who might be interested in monitoring computer use are protective parents who want to keep an eye on their children's computer use, suspicious spouses, or anyone else prone to snooping -- as long as it's on their own computer in their own home.
For the most part, software that eliminates key loggers hasn't been available. But Raytown gives computer users who are paranoid about computer monitoring some ammunition to fight back. The software is called Anti-keylogger, and its purpose is to hunt down and expose the monitoring program so you can delete it.
Click the "Read more..." link to see the full review by TechTV.
News source: TechTV - Review: Raytown Corporation Anti-Keylogger 1.12 View and download: Anti-keylogger - provide protection against unauthorized keystroke monitoring programs.
To test the software's claims, TechTV Labs installed a recently released key-logging app, WinWhatWhere Investigator 4, an alarmingly solid performer that provides myriad ways to monitor and record keystroke activity. In our test, Anti-keylogger was able to ferret out the software, which was buried in an obscure file location.
When the software detects a key logger, you'll get the path name for the file and a frightening message:
"Anti-keylogger has detected unauthorized keystroke monitoring programs running on your system. All your passwords, credit card details, and confidential documents (as they are typed) are probably saved in the Log."
In one scan, the program listed a common .dat file (a Windows file that contains user information) as a key logger. The application was technically correct, but you might not want to delete the file. According to a company spokesman, the software uses mathematical calculations to determine the location of a key logger, though when asked precisely how it works he declined to elaborate further, alluding to trade secrets.
There are some un-install issues associated with the application, plus more importantly, the software doesn't offer much beyond detecting and removing key loggers. It doesn't, for instance, leave the offending program on your computer at the same time that it disables its features. The only option is to delete it, a function that's available only to registered users.
Additionally, another drawback is that the software only works with Windows 95/98/Me. Windows NT and NT-based operating systems like Windows 2000 and Windows XP won't be able to use the software.
Meanwhile, a cheaper alternative, Anti-Keylogger 2002 from Centurian Software, is scheduled for release soon.
Conclusions: Anti-Keylogger 1.12 hunts down key logging software so that you can delete it from your computer. Aside from its being a one-trick pony, it's expensive and at times brings back results for software that you might not want to delete.
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