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Software

Kaspersky stops keylogging with virtual keyboards

By Justin Mann, TechSpot.com
Published: July 1, 2008, 8:10 PM EST

Keylogging is an old but real danger in computer security. The concept is simple: capture keystrokes that someone is making and pilfer all sorts of useful information, such as usernames and passwords. Once a machine has become compromised it's a bit hard to prevent keylogging from happening, but Kaspersky aims to make it a thing of the past. Apparently, their new security suite features a virtual keyboard that can prevent keylogging altogether.

The exact mechanisms they use to accomplish this aren't revealed, but essentially the user is presented with an on-screen keyboard (such as most modern desktop operating systems come with) that accepts mouse input and prevents would-be thieves from listening in on hardware keystrokes sent to the machine.

This has been done in the past, though Kaspersky is making it a stock option with their newer software. In an Internet that is plagued by identify theft it's certainly a novel idea, if not a new one. As security software evolves, so does malicious software right along with it. For some reason I envision the keylogger of the future which will capture the location of the mouse at various click points and try to match it to a virtual keyboard.

User Comments (2)

Post a comment
TimeParadoX
on July 2, 2008
12:57 AM
Windows comes with a on-screen keyboard ( type osk in run ) and it'll offer the same protection, if you're really worried about keyloggers then don't visit sites with urls like "www.hackmeandspinmyharddrivebackwards.com" :>

mut80r
on July 4, 2008
8:14 AM
Originally posted by TimeParadoX:
quote:
Windows comes with a on-screen keyboard ( type osk in run ) and it'll offer the same protection, if you're really worried about keyloggers then don't visit sites with urls like "www.hackmeandspinmyharddrivebackwards.com" :>


Lmao.

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