Anti-Keylogging Recommendations?

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)."

Comments

Most Worthless Ask Slashdot Ever.

[inTheLoo]

It's a domestic dispute that no one wants to get into. The obvious solution, to own your computer with free software, is not an option. All that's left is to delve into the cesspool of Winblows "solutions" and other inappropriate technical answers to an environment of broken trust.

Re:Most Worthless Ask Slashdot Ever.

[Simon (S2)]

I agree. There is no solution. There are hardware keyloggers, software keyloggers, the spouse could log all traffic to/from the machine or take a screenshot every now and then. There is no solution to this. Trust your spouse or grap your computer and lock it somewhere only you have the key to.

Re:Most Worthless Ask Slashdot Ever.

[powerlord]

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".

Re:Most Worthless Ask Slashdot Ever.

[NewbieProgrammerMan]

Oh, there's a solution: the friend needs to uninstall their spouse.

Honestly, if you're at the point in a relationship where you're spying on each other, it's time to just throw in the towel and find a partner you can trust.

Re:Most Worthless Ask Slashdot Ever.

[plover]

Marriage is "til death do you part", not "until we aren't happy anymore."

Sorry, gotta call utter bullshit on this one.

Seriously, if you are in an abusive relationship, LEAVE. Leave before it gets worse, leave before it injures or kills you.

A psychologically abusive relationship is just as bad as a physically abusive one -- perhaps worse, because the victim is led to believe a pack of lies that keeps them from leaving.

There is no reason to stay married in this situation. If you're worried about the whole "till death do us part" thing, consider that the abuser broke the vows first by failing to love and honor.

Re:Most Worthless Ask Slashdot Ever.

[NewbieProgrammerMan]

If you're worried about the whole "till death do us part" thing, consider that the abuser broke the vows first by failing to love and honor. What an excellent point. That I haven't seen it stated so clearly until now probably says something unfortunate about the amount of slack given to abusers.

I'll bet there's a good back story

[astrashe]

I'll bet there's a really interesting story behind this.

Here's the answer. She's trying to solve a human problem with a technical solution. It won't work. If she has to use a suspect windows computer, there's no software that will guarantee it's clean. It can't be done.

And if you can't trust the person you're married to, your main problems in life aren't computer problems.

Re:I'll bet there's a good back story

[MBCook]

I agree. My first thought was "don't get involved."

Even if you think the husband is a spouse-abusing homicidal maniac, don't do this. If there is evidence, turn him into the police. Otherwise stay out.

She can google it. She can take it somewhere (like Best Buy, Circuit City, etc). I know their terrible, but hey. If they work things out, you are the guy who tried to help her get out of the marriage. That won't ender you to him. If things go farther, how do you think you'll be treated if there was a key-logger and your solution didn't work? If there is no key-logger and she is just reaching and scared and overwhelmed, then playing into that could make things worse (in the harder for them to get together and fix their marriage if possible sense).

She can use another computer, reinstall Windows, whatever. Don't get in the middle of someone else's fight (unless it is to save their life or some such, in which case, again, call the police). I seriously doubt doing this will make your life easier in any way.

Tell her to go to a private eye. Talk to a (better) divorce attorney. But tell her you don't want to get involved in this.

Divorce.

[The Warlock]

Only solution. Either the wife is spying on the guy, in which case she doesn't trust him, or the guy is baselessly convinced that his wife is spying on him, in which case he doesn't trust her. Either way, this relationship is doomed.

Divorce

[jps25]

If trust in a relationship is gone and you have to play hide and seek, there's only one option left. Divorce.

Re:Divorce

[PachmanP]

Divorce is messy and you lose half your stuff. Further more some take the "til death" vows seriously. This leaves open the superior option, Murder.

Format disk

[coldfarnorth]

Format, Reinstall. That wipes software. Splurge and buy a new keyboard if you don't trust it. Do a quick look for suspicious looking hardware. That should handle the worst. Ah, and change the locks to the house. No point going to all the trouble is the Ex-Spouse has access to the machine.

that's the least of her problems

[Stradivarius]

If I had any good recommendations for such tools, I'd give them, but I don't, so I'll try to help in another way. I'll pose some questions that hopefully your friend will be asking herself:

1) Isn't this missing the forest for the trees? If a marriage is so lacking in trust that she thinks her spouse is spying on her, there's a problem. If her spouse actually did install such a thing, there is similarly a problem. This is a much greater problem than the software itself. If she wants to save the marriage, this is the sort of situation where a counselor or similar trusted third party could be very helpful.

2) If the logger or other software is indeed there, what is she worried about him discovering? If she's just (rightfully) angry about the installation of this software, and trying to demonstrate a point by removing it, that's one thing. But if there actually is something she wants to hide, again this is a far bigger problem in the relationship than the software.

Good luck to your friend. This sounds like a tough spot to be in.

Re:that's the least of her problems

[Basje]

Or maybe he is. For all we know BeeazleBub, the poster, is having an affair with her. A friend indeed.

Simple

[Bill, Shooter of Bul]

Just install a key logger of your own. Then you'll be able to see any access he's been making, including any to the keylogger he has installed.

From my own experience, Tin foil hats are good, but access to the government computers to make sure they aren't after you is more comforting to me.

Note to federal agents: I have not gained access to your computers. And you might want to change your desktop wallpaper, scantily clad women on a work computer is just begging for a lawsuit.

Is the spouse out of the house?

[Cruciform]

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.

A friend....

[wbren]

A friend asked me about...

A friend... riiiiiight....

Why do...

[geekboy642]

Why do these moronic ask slashdot questions always rule out the one useful answer in the very question?

"A Linux live CD is not an option". Bullshit. You windows-swilling pansy, grow some balls and try Linux. It won't kill you, it won't make you gay, and it won't rape your dog. Are you terrified of being free from >99% of viruses/trojans/spyware/adware/rootkits? Is there some kind of Stockholm syndrome going on here? You LIKE it when windows beats you, don't you? You hide the bruises, that's why you always wear those sweaters.

You sick, twisted fuck.

Re:Impossible

[caitriona81]

More possible data gathering points:

• Previously compromised accounts (email/chat/google web history)
• Email forwarding settings (yes this is overt, but how many users actually look at their forwarding rules)
• Recoverable "deleted" files on disk
• Browser plugins
• Saved passwords - even if they are "encrypted" any encryption that allows the application to read the password lets someone else do so as well.

Solutions to these additional threats:

• Every time a compromise is suspected, change all passwords from a secure computer immediately.
• Check forwarding rules, particularly to web-based email services.
• Always use SSL/TLS encryption whenever they are available. Learn not to give passwords over unencrypted channels - this won't help you against a keylogger, but it will help you against sniffing.
• Be aware that "deleting" files doesn't really delete them unless you use specialized tools

Further protection against keyloggers.

• Reformat.
• Make your computer as tamper-evident as possible. Buy a UPS so that if the computer reboots, there will be a reason for it. Keep the computer turned on. Secure all accounts on the computer with a password. If it's Windows, encrypt the SAM database with a password that you have to enter at bootup. Remove your own administrator rights, and have a separate administrator account that you only use to install software. Use a BIOS password. Disable booting from anything other than the hard drive. Install physical locks on the case to prevent it from being opened. Epoxy over the screws on the keyboard (after you've bought a new one).
• Use an alternative web browser.
• Be careful about opening links and attachments in email. Learn about phishing, particularly the type of targeted phishing that can be attempted by someone with intimate knowledge of their target. (Don't trust the return address on mails in particular - many of the keyloggers out there get on via a trojan horse that you have to be tricked into running)
• If any evidence of tampering is found, start over.
• Learn about computer security. http://www.cert.org/homeusers/ is one of the best starting places for non-technical users. Even if you don't understand it all, you have a starting place to ask questions.
• Remember, trust is the enemy of security. Look for it. Understand how it makes you vulnerable, and decide if the risks are acceptable or not. This mindset extends all the way from the bare metal up to the human being at the keyboard. You have to start to think that way to really be able to keep a computer secure.

Here are some good ones....

[Skylinux]

Since most of the posts are not answering your question at all, here are some programs which can help.

I have been fixing Windows computers for over 10 years and can suggest the following programs from personal experience. There is no guarantee that they will find all keyloggers but they will detect the progs you find by using google.

1) Spybot Search & Destroy (free) http://www.safer-networking.org/
    This is a spyware checker, cleaner. It will also find keyloggers and screen capturing software
2) Antivir (free for personal use) http://www.free-av.com/
    This is an Antivirus / malware program which I have found to kick the shit out of Norton Antivirus (Personal + Corporate) and McAfee.
3) Norton Antivirus 2008 (not free)
    This is another antivirus program, it is not as good as Antivir but it may contain different malware signatures then Antivir.
4) Adaware (free) http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
    Like Spybot but less strict, I don't use it anymore but you should run it anyway.
5) Windows Defender (free) http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
    This one is made (purchased) by Microsoft and is actually quite good, I can highly recommend it to remove crap from a computer. This one is free and includes an "active shield"

If you run suggestions 1,2,4 and 5 above you can assume that your computer is clean. To be sure format and reload.

As for the rest, follow the advice above and end the relationship....