Keylogger?

[Booimaninja]

A few days ago, I was going through the boards on neopets and someone was advertising these nice pets and said to see the rest, go to this pet page and all it showed was a basic pet. All of a sudden a lot of people were posting on the board that it's a CG'd page.

 

Ever since I clicked that link, my anti-virus (Kaspersky) would tell me that I have a keylogger every time I turn on my computer but whenever I scan it, the keylogger cannot be found. Does that mean it's hidden? What should I do?

 

I have an HP Pavilion with Windows 7. My laptop's practically new (since around February). I honestly don't know how to reboot my laptop.

 

I don't know if I should be worried. So far nothing has happened. I still have everything on my neopets account but it's my personal accounts that I'm worried about like my e-mail.

 

All I know about a keylogger is that it records/tracks everything the person types from that computer. I don't know how dangerous it is. I have a very limited knowledge about this..

[Noog]

I don't really know what a keylogger is.

 

You should change your passwords.

[Spritzie]

My knowledge of the word, keylogger, are things that are used at companies. (Some of the bigger ones.) They keep record of every keystroke you make while on the computer.

 

That might not be what it is, but I would recommend using a different computer to change passwords, then don't use that computer for important things, until you can get it sorted out.

[Booimaninja]

I don't really know what a keylogger is.

 

You should change your passwords.

 

Oh, I should edit that then, haha, sorry.

I don't know what it is but I know what it does. It records everything you type.

 

And I changed my passwords already but I'm still not too sure if that really helped.

 

My knowledge of the word, keylogger, are things that are used at companies. (Some of the bigger ones.) They keep record of every keystroke you make while on the computer.

 

That might not be what it is, but I would recommend using a different computer to change passwords, then don't use that computer for important things, until you can get it sorted out.

 

This is the only laptop that's available to me though :/

[Spritzie]

Oh, I should edit that then, haha, sorry.

I don't know what it is but I know what it does. It records everything you type.

 

And I changed my passwords already but I'm still not too sure if that really helped.

 

 

 

This is the only laptop that's available to me though :/

 

I don't think changing passwords on there will help. If you do have a keylogger, it's been recorded.

 

You don't have any friends or family who has a computer you can borrow to reset, and find out what's going on? Does your library have computers that can be used maybe?

[Noog]

Don't change your passwords again.

 

I talked to Ian about this problem. Keyloggers will give whomever put that on your computer EVERYTHING that you've typed into the computer. I wouldn't log onto any sites that don't already remember you for a while, or type up anything personal.

 

Your computer may be a lost cause. Even Ian says that he wouldn't do anything on a computer that said it had a keylogger.

 

There is also a SLIGHT chance that your Anti-Virus is incorrect. I wouldn't even think about that though. I would focus on the problem at hand.

[Booimaninja]

I don't think changing passwords on there will help. If you do have a keylogger, it's been recorded.

 

You don't have any friends or family who has a computer you can borrow to reset, and find out what's going on? Does your library have computers that can be used maybe?

I could change it when I go to my cousin's but I rarely use their computer because my cousin is very very selfish and is on that computer 24/7 -__-;

 

I honestly don't know who to ask because none of my family members have any knowledge about this kind of stuff.

 

Don't change your passwords again.

 

I talked to Ian about this problem. Keyloggers will give whomever put that on your computer EVERYTHING that you've typed into the computer.

 

I wouldn't log onto any sites that don't already remember you for a while, or type up anything personal.

I'll change it asap when I get to my cousin's if she's not on it. But my anti-virus program has this anti-keylogger thing where a virtual keyboard is available and you have to click it. Do you think that actually works? Because that's what I have been using when I type my passwords and stuff but I didn't use it when I changed it. You think it will work if I change it with the virtual keyboard now?

[Noog]

I don't know how reliable this Kaspersky or whatever it's called is, so I wouldn't know about the virtual keyboard.

 

Please read the edits I made to my last post for your own sake.

[Ian]

Hi there,

 

This sounds like a really interesting thing... what exactly happened on the page on Neopets? If something was physically downloaded onto your computer and installed (i.e. you saw it with your own eyes install, or a window froze in the background), I'd definitely be a bit concerned. But doesn't Windows 7 have new security features that require you to "authorize" the application to install? If so, I doubt the keylogger successfully installed.

 

ALSO, there is a significant difference between a cookie grabber and keylogger. They are COMPLETELY different and often confused by users on Neopets. Keyloggers are by far more powerful than cookie grabbers.

 

A cookie grabber is a piece of code that is executed ONE TIME on a WEB PAGE (not on a person's computer) that "grabs" a snap shot of your browser's cookies (which contain usernames and passwords to web sites). Often times, cookie grabbers are programmed to transmit the information to another off-site user to see. They are NOT a program that "runs" on your computer. They happen on a web page. ONCE. And ONCE only (unless you choose to refresh).

 

A keylogger, however, requires a physical program on the person's hard drive to truly "key log" their entire computer.

 

Based on these definitions, you may be able to self-diagnose what actually happened on that web page. What I am saying is, if you can define what actually happened, you can determine whether or not your antivirus is giving you a "fluke" or "false positive."

 

I hope this helps...

[Booimaninja]

Hi there,

 

This sounds like a really interesting thing... what exactly happened on the page on Neopets? If something was physically downloaded onto your computer and installed (i.e. you saw it with your own eyes install, or a window froze in the background), I'd definitely be a bit concerned. But doesn't Windows 7 have new security features that require you to "authorize" the application to install? If so, I doubt the keylogger successfully installed.

 

ALSO, there is a significant difference between a cookie grabber and keylogger. They are COMPLETELY different and often confused by users on Neopets. Keyloggers are by far more powerful than cookie grabbers.

 

A cookie grabber is a piece of code that is executed ONE TIME on a WEB PAGE (not on a person's computer) that "grabs" a snap shot of your browser's cookies. Often times, cookie grabbers are programmed to transmit the information to another off-site user to see.

 

A keylogger, however, requires a physical program on the person's hard drive to truly "key log" their entire computer.

 

Based on these definitions, you may be able to self-diagnose what actually happened on that web page. What I am saying is, if you can define what actually happened, you can determine whether or not your antivirus is giving you a "fluke" or "false positive."

 

I hope this helps...

 

Nothing happened at all. I just opened the page and closed it. Nothing was downloaded or anything. But the next day when I turned on my computer, I got a warning from my Kaspersky anti-virus saying my laptop has a keylogger. And my windows 7 does require a lot of authorization but it never asked anything after I opened that window. I'm just a bit worried because I get the warning all the time. What if it's a CG? Should I still be worried? And is there any way of fixing this possible keylogger problem?

[Noog]

No, it's a false alarm if you have windows 7 and you didn't authorize an installation of the keylogger.

 

As far as a CG, either you don't have one or Kaspersky is incredibly stupid at identifying one.

[Booimaninja]

No, it's a false alarm if you have windows 7 and you didn't authorize an installation of the keylogger.

 

As far as a CG, either you don't have one or Kaspersky is incredibly stupid at identifying one.

Hmm, I really hope so ^^;

 

Thanks a lot for all the help! :)

[Viridian]

It seems like most has been told already.. Keyloggers really just keep track of what you type (and where, mind you, they can track in which program you type). I'd recommend disabling Kaspersky and install another free virus scanner like AVG and see if any other result turns up.

 

It's very true that a keylogger would have to be installed, so it is probably a false alarm.. Double checking can never hurt though!

[GyniE]

Hey Booimaninja

 

If you got it from that randoms Pet Page, that means he is probably hiding the keylogger in an image, yes you can do that. ;)

 

I would advise others not to visit the offenders pet page.

 

As for big companies using the keyloggers to get all your information. However in this case it is quite obvious, that he wants to get it on your computer for long enough to see you login. After that the removal of the keylogger will be meaningless to him. Unfortunately I would advise that you do not login to any important sites like PayPal, Email, Internet Banking, eBay etc. Ohh And ofcourse Neopets ;)

 

I hope everything turns out fine.

 

Cheers

GyniE

[antiaircraft]

Would you mind copying/taking a screenshot of the exact signature Kaspersky reports for us geeks to look at? That way, we might be able to judge whether it's a false positive more easily, and provide tailored instructions for removal if it there is indeed a keylogger on your system. :)

[DiamondZ]

Well, like Random Invisible Guy said try to get a screen shot of it, but if you have stuff you want to keep on there don't login to any game sites, bank sites etc. places that he can have a advantage and could do some real harm :(