This page will show you how to look for keyloggers and get rid of them in Windows 10. Malware isn’t just an infection on a computer; it can come in many different forms. A keylogger is a software that secretly keeps track of what you type and sends it to someone else. Hackers and other cyber criminals often use keyloggers to record usernames, passwords, instant messaging, email, credit card information, chat chats, and additional information without the user knowing.
Someone who thinks your Windows computer isn’t what it seems could put a keylogger on it to see what you type and find out. It’s easy to get rid of keyloggers from Windows 10 if you follow these steps.
How does a Keylogger work?
Keyloggers are harmful programs secretly installed on your computer that keep track of what you type and see on your screen. A keyboard capture program takes notes on your computer and sends them to a computer far away. This software is often made, so people who use your computer won’t notice it. Keyloggers may look like harmless programs, but they are not.
How Do Keyloggers in Windows 10 Work?
Keyloggers are made to work in the background and keep track of what you type. They do this without your knowledge, so you might not even know that the application is running.
- Keyloggers can keep track of your keystrokes for several reasons, such as:
- With the intention of stealing your information
- In order to keep track of your typing even while you’re not online.
- In order to record your keystrokes even if your hands aren’t on a keyboard
- You use the computer to keep track of the time, date, or IP address.
- To keep track of the programs and websites you use
- To keep track of what you type when you’re not at your computer
How to Check Windows 10 for Keyloggers?
Several techniques prevent keyloggers from gaining access to your private information and computer if you’re concerned that someone else might be utilizing them.
1. Use passwords that are hard to guess
Use strong, unique passwords for each account. Consider making passwords that are hard to guess, and don’t write them down everywhere. Make sure your passwords are safe! Use a USB memory stick with a password instead of your computer to store them. Passwords should be kept secret and never said to anyone else. Password-protect all of your internet accounts, including financial ones and those for shopping, social media, and other uses.
2. Always use safe Wi-Fi.
Keep your operating system, browser, and anti-virus or anti-malware software at the most recent versions.
Maximize your computer’s security and privacy settings. Never click on links in emails or reply to emails asking for personal information. Instead of Internet Explorer, use a safe (IE) browser.
Don’t put your birthday, passport number, or other information that could be used to find you on a website. You shouldn’t give out information about your bank account on a website.
3. Use software to keep your computer safe.
Put security software on your computer and keep it up to date. Look for security software that can find malware, spyware, and other dangerous programs and stop them from running. Check to see if the software can protect against keyloggers.
Use security software with automatic updates turned on or set up to look for updates automatically (e.g., Norton, BitDefender, Kaspersky).
4. Don’t trust free software too much.
Free software may seem like an offer that is too good to be true. Free software is also called “trialware.” Many trialware programs may have spyware and other dangerous software on them. Don’t install trialware because it might have malware hidden in it.
5. Don’t install or download software from places you don’t know about.
- Be careful about downloading free software from sites that offer it.
- Don’t download software from dangerous websites because they might have malicious software.
6. Make copies of your security programs.
Use backup software to make frequent copies of your stuff. If your computer gets infected with malicious software, you can use your backups to get your files back.
How to Check Windows 10 for Keyloggers?
These are the main ways to check a Windows 10 computer for keyloggers.
1. Are there any programs on your computer that you don’t know what they are?
In general, the taskbar and the task manager will show you what programs are running on your computer. If you see software running on your computer that you don’t know, it could be a keylogger.
2. Have you noticed any new shortcuts on your desktop that you don’t know about?
Keyloggers like PC Guard, Security Shield, Ace Keylogger, and Keyguard may add a few shortcuts to your desktop. These shortcuts don’t help your computer, so you should eliminate them.
3. Have you seen a new symbol on your computer that you don’t know?
Keyloggers might put a few files on your desktop, like those in the AppData or My Documents folders. These files should not be on your computer because they have nothing to do with it.
4. Does your computer have popups?
Most of the time, keyloggers leave the computer alone while they get information from their server to send to the person who set them up. Keyloggers can either collect data and send it to the attacker’s server or collect information and send it to the attacker’s server. In this case, the attacker might show popups.
5. Are there a lot of ads on your screen?
On the computer screen, keyloggers may show ads or popup messages. Most likely, the attacker is behind these ads and messages that pop up.
6. Do you get messages or alerts about fraud?
Most of the time, keyloggers take information and send it to the attacker. In this case, you might get warnings or messages about scams.
7. Can documents be looked at or changed in the background?
Keyloggers are devices put in place by someone to watch and record the actions of a user. The user is then told what the device is doing. In this case, you might not be able to see or change documents being worked on in the background.
8. Is your CPU or memory being used a lot more than usual?
In this case, your computer may use more processing power or memory than usual.
9. Do you have any strange things going on in the background?
If your computer seems to be doing strange things in the background, like popup notifications, windows, processes, or system tasks that you don’t know about.
10. Are strange websites being sent to you?
If you are looking at websites, popups or referral links could send you to strange sites.
11. Does it take forever to run your programmes?
Most of the time, keyloggers take information and send it to the attacker. In this case, your programs may run slowly.
12. Does your Windows 10 computer seem to be running slower than usual?
If Keyloggers are in Windows 10, they usually take information and send it to the attacker. In this case, your computer may become especially slow.
How to Remove Keyloggers in Windows 10
If you’re worried about how to get rid of Keyloggers in Windows 10, you can limit and stop information from being collected on your computer by following the steps.
1. Go to Settings and then Privacy.
2. Click the Feedback & Diagnostics menu on the Privacy page and choose the Basic option.
If you choose the “Basic” option, Microsoft won’t be able to find out what apps and programs you use on your computer.
3. Next, go to Settings > Privacy > Diagnostics & feedback and turn off the Send data from writing and drawing to the Microsoft option.
Also, ensure that in the Privacy screen’s Activity History section, “Let Windows collect my actions from this PC” is turned off.
4. Go to Settings > Privacy > Activity History and uncheck “Let Windows keep track of what I do on this PC.”
If you’re still concerned, you can disable Telemetry and data gathering by adjusting some registry settings. It helps get rid of keyloggers on Windows 10.
Windows 10 app to get rid of keyloggers?
You can also use the Microsoft Malicious removal tool to get rid of keyloggers on a computer running Windows 10.
- The Microsoft Malicious Removal Tool – 32 bit
- The Microsoft Malicious Removal Tool—64 bit
Conclusion
Keyloggers in Windows 10 can’t be removed until you know what kind they are. Use a keylogger detection program like Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, Spybot Anti-Malware, or Anti-Keyloggers Free for Windows 10 if you’re not sure if you have keyloggers on your computer. If you’re sure you have a keylogger, take your computer to a reliable computer repair shop to have it taken care of. Read also how to fix Windows Security, Not Working.