How Keyloggers Work

The way keyloggers work varies enormously. However, there are two main types of keyloggers.

External Keyloggers (hardware):

They can be connected directly to the keyboard's cable. The spy does not need actual access to the computer nor to turn it on, he just needs to be physically there. Anyone with access to your computer may install such devices secretly and it's very hard to notice them. The main downside is that the spy can be caught if anyone finds out, for he needs to be physically there to both install and retrieve the keylogger. However, if successfully installed, this keylogger won't be detected by any antivirus your computer may have. It will log every single keystroke and save it to its enormous database where everything you type, including passwords and credit card numbers shall be later viewed.

External keyloggers are very difficult to acquire as well. The government has many, but for a regular individual, knowing where to buy them may be the hardest part. This is of course no obstacle for the advanced spy who knows where to get them from (or even make them himself).

Internal Keyloggers (software):

The most common type of keyloggers. If anyone has physical access to your computer, then it's a "piece of cake" to install a keylogger with a CD. That's the easier way, for if he is knowledgeable, he can also disable a given antivirus for that keylogger (so it doesn't interfere). Remote keylogging is very popular despite the numerous anti-virus programs out there that block them. There are many programs that do not only send you a report of the keystrokes, but they do it in real-time. A spy can see exactly what his victim is typing as he or she is doing it. More advanced keyloggers such as SubSeven may go as far as being able to turn on a person's microphone, control his or her mouse and even shut down the computer - just as if the spy were the one in front of it.