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Remember when everyone wanted to keep computer viruses off of computers because they were simply destructive?  There were those that their sole purpose was to wipe data off of your hard drive.  Some were bold enough to fire off a message on your screen, before continually rebooting your computer or other annoying actions.

Then along came spyware, a separate subset of computer viruses.  Their purpose was to look for information on your computer or direct you somewhere on the Internet in order to get data from you.  Spyware does not always want to harm your computer, although it can in the process of trying to extract information from your computer.

One type of spyware that is incredibly harmful, and typically very quiet, is the keylogger.  What keyloggers do is exactly what the name implies, it logs or records your key strokes.  They sit on your computer and watch what you type.  While recording your key strokes, it will send them off to another computer where they are reassembled, usually by criminals, and put into a format they can use.  Think about it, when you pay bills online, if you access your bank account through the Internet, maybe even an email to friends; they may all be recorded.

“Well I have the latest and greatest anti-spyware, anti-virus, and a firewall protecting my computer.” your friend says.  Fair enough, but how often does he or she update their software?  How often is their computer scanned with their security tools?  What type of Internet sites are they visiting?  How apt are they to open email from anyone?  The better question here would be, “What is the harm in having one extra application that encrypts your key strokes, is light on system resources, and is designed in mind to circumvent even

Read more at Source: Online Tech Tips

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