January 2013 Meeting on 1/14

The Mission Computer Users' Group meets to discuss computer issues. Beginners and veterans are welcome.

We meet from 1pm till around 3pm on the second Monday of each month (where that day is not a library closure day) at the community meeting room in between the Mission Branch of the Oceanside Public Library 3861 Mission Avenue, Oceanside, CA 92058 [map link] and the Oceanside Police Station.

Key Logging and one way to stop it

Keylogging [defined] is a major security problem for internet-connected computer users. It can enable bad guys to record and play back anything you type, copy to and from the clipboard, etc., to steal your passwords and other credentials, possibly resulting in identity theft or worse.

Keylogging software can be installed by malware inadvertently downloaded from the internet or inside an email from a trusted, unknowing friend. It can be installed by a USB memory stick, CD and many other ways.

If you have a keylogger on your system, it is not necessarily detectable. "Rootkit" technology [defined] allows some versions to remain completely invisible.

Fortunately there may be a way to stop it in its tracks.  Software like Perfect Guard [link] installs at both ends of the "data pipe" [my term] which is vulnerable to attack, encrypting the keystrokes at the front end and decrypting them at the back end.

I'm buying a license to Perfect Guard (PC only) soon and I know I'll be sleeping more easily at night for that reason.

I believe a Mac compatible application of similar effect is available and will post a link here when I find it.

FYI there are things which can be installed in between your keyboard and keyboard port which do keylogging and this software will not stop them. Physically inspect for those.

Rob