Keystroke Logging

Keystroke logging (often called keylogging) is the action of tracking (or logging) the keys struck on a keyboard, typically in a covert manner so that the person using the keyboard is unaware that their actions are being monitored. However most key logging programs prohibit downloading from the affected victim due to encryption issues and wireless-to-computer difficulties (unless directly on the victims computer). There are numerous keylogging methods, ranging from hardware and software-based approaches to electromagnetic and acoustic analysis.

Related features
Software Keyloggers may be augmented with features that capture user information without relying on keyboard key presses as the sole input. Some of these features include:

• Clipboard logging. Anything that has been copied to the clipboard can be captured by the program.
• Screen logging. Screenshots are taken in order to capture graphics-based information. Applications with screen logging abilities may take screenshots of the whole screen, just one application or even just around the mouse cursor. They may take these screenshots periodically or in response to user behaviours (for example, when a user has clicked the mouse). A practical application used by some keyloggers with this screen logging ability is to take small screenshots around where a mouse has just clicked; these defeat web-based keyboards (for example, the web-based screen keyboards that are often used by banks) and any web-based on-screen keyboard without screenshot protection.
• Programmatically capturing the text in a control. The Microsoft Windows API allows programs to request the text 'value' in some controls. This means that some passwords may be captured, even if they are hidden behind password masks (usually asterisks).
• The recording of every program/folder/window opened including a screenshot of each and every website visited, also including a screenshot of each.
• The recording of search engines queries, instant messenger conversations, FTP downloads and other Internet-based activities (including the bandwidth used).