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Anti-Keylogging Recommendations?

Posted by timothy on from the start-thinking-lawyer dept.

BeeazleBub writes "A friend asked me about the best programs to detect and remove spyware/logging/monitoring software that might have been placed on her computer by a spouse. Since there are a plethora of good and bad programs out there, I thought I would ask the slashdot crew for their recommendations. What is simple, reliable and most effective? I'm sure some of you have had the same question or circumstance. (No, booting from a Linux CD is not an option for this user)."

2 of 179 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Most Worthless Ask Slashdot Ever. by powerlord · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Trust your spouse or grap your computer and lock it somewhere only you have the key to.


    Too true.

    Nowadays, if you need a "trusted" computer, think about getting a Mac Airbook that you can slip into a folder in a filing cabinet when not in use, or keep with you all the time.

    Using a laptop raises the hurdle for installing a hardware keylogger (they're usually just dongles that sit between the keyboard and the computer), and using OS X should raise the bar a bit to install malware (not that it doesn't exist, it just might be more difficult to find, and navigating in OS X will be more challenging for a user not use to it).

    Using a small footprint laptop (like the Air), means you can hide it "in plain site", or in a place you can ensure physical control over (although personal control trumps al others for security).

    Realize that unless you're using encrypted protocols to browse web sites or send/receive email, your traffic could still be intercepted on the network, but that again requires a more sophisticated user than the average "Spouse who installed a keylogger".
    --
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  2. Is the spouse out of the house? by Cruciform · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Most people are assuming that the spouse resides in the same residence. If the spouse is already out of the house due to separation, and is possibly using spyware/hardware to collect information for blackmail or court, then there is the option of having someone over to purge the system and visually inspect it.
    Any networking hardware like routers that could be compromised would need to be replaced or reflashed. Since she doesn't have the capability of dealing with a boot CD, her only option is third party intervention or going to the library to use their computers.
    We're missing too much info...
    How tech savvy is the spouse? Does he still live there? What kind of network setup is being used? etc. etc.