keylogger

noun key·log·ger \ ˈkē-ˌlȯ-gər , -ˌlä- \

|Updated on: 17 Jul 2018

Definition of keylogger

: a piece of software that records the signals sent from a keyboard to a computer usually for the purpose of gaining information about the user without the user's knowledge

Malware works most commonly by installing a keylogger or some other form of spyware that watches what you type or see.
—Mat Honan

Recent Examples of keylogger from the Web

Mycicil, a keylogger created by underground hackers in China.

— dan goodin, Ars Technica, "China-based hackers burrow inside satellite, defense, and telecoms firms," 20 June 2018
Detecting keyloggers can range from being very easy to very difficult depending upon how and what was installed.

— ken colburn, azcentral, "How to detect keyloggers on your computer or smartphone," 7 June 2018
The malware also comes with a variety of Windows components that provide among other things a reverse shell, a keylogger, and a mechanism for recording Skype conversations.

— dan goodin, Ars Technica, "Found: New Android malware with never-before-seen spying capabilities," 16 Jan. 2018
Wylie said Russian officials could easily have stolen the data from Kogan's laptop with a simple keylogger, which is software that can be installed remotely to track which keys are struck on a computer keyboard.

— erin kelly, USA TODAY, "Russia may have Facebook users' data mined by Cambridge Analytica, whistleblower says," 16 May 2018
During testimony last week, Franklin vehemently denied knowing anything about the keylogger software.

— ashley remkus, AL.com, "Morgan sheriff and deputies acted criminally in probe of blogger and warden, judge says," 27 Apr. 2018
The keylogger is part of a malicious package that also installs an in-browser cryptocurrency miner that's surreptitiously run on the computers of people visiting the infected sites.

— dan goodin, Ars Technica, "More than 2,000 WordPress websites are infected with a keylogger," 30 Jan. 2018
The keylogger was apparently included for debugging during development and is disabled by default.

— sean gallagher, Ars Technica, "Laptop touchpad driver included extra feature: a keylogger," 11 Dec. 2017
However, a user or software with administrative privileges could activate the keylogger by making a registry change—potentially remotely using Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) or PowerShell scripts.

— sean gallagher, Ars Technica, "Laptop touchpad driver included extra feature: a keylogger," 11 Dec. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'keylogger.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.