How To Detect and Remove a Keylogger

You can detect a keylogger if you notice unfamiliar apps on your device, slower performance speeds, a lag in mouse movements or strange background noises on phone calls. A keylogger is a type of malware that requires an entry point, such as an email or cloud program, to be installed on your device. Once it is on your device, a cybercriminal can monitor every keystroke you make to learn your login credentials and private information.

Continue reading to learn the common signs of a keylogger, how to find one on your device and how to remove it to stay protected.

Signs of a keylogger

If you are worried your device has been infected with a keylogger, see if you can detect any of these common signs:

• You notice unfamiliar software running on your device or apps you didn’t download
• Your device is performing slower than usual by crashing often or freezing
• Your mouse’s movements are lagging and your keystrokes are delayed
• You hear strange background noises during phone calls
• Your cursor disappears randomly while you’re using your mouse
• You see ads related to what you’ve searched or browsed even if it wasn’t recent in your search or browser history
• Your device overheats often, even if all your programs are closed
• You receive texts that make no sense, such as texts with random characters

How to detect a keylogger on your device

If you suspect you have a keylogger on your device, there are several programs and tools you can use to detect this type of malware.

Scan your device using antivirus software

You should install antivirus software to detect, stop and remove most known viruses and malware from infecting your device. It’s important to note that sometimes even the best antivirus software won’t be able to detect keyloggers since they are very deceptive. However, it is always better to take precautions and have antivirus software installed to protect your device from other viruses and malware threats. Once you have installed the antivirus software, it will constantly scan your device to see if any viruses or malware match its database of known viruses. If it does find a match between a known virus and what’s on your device, it will delete the file or program before the malware can infect your device.

If you use a Windows computer, use the Task Manager

Task Manager is a program built into the Windows Operating System (OS) that allows you to monitor and manage troubleshooting tasks. Since you can use Task Manager to see which apps or programs are running, Task Manager can also tell you if any suspicious program like a keylogger is running in the background of your device. Follow these steps to access your PC’s Task Manager to check if a keylogger is running:

1. Right-click the taskbar on the bottom right section of your screen
2. Select Task Manager, then click More Details which will show a list of apps and programs currently running on your computer
3. If you see any unknown apps or programs on this list, right-click them in Task Manager and select End Task
4. Go to the Startup tab at the top of Task Manager
5. If you see any unusual app set to Enabled, right-click it and select Disable

If you use a Mac, use the Activity Monitor

The Activity Monitor for Macs has a similar function to the Task Manager for Windows computers. You can check your Mac’s performance and troubleshoot any issues using the Activity Monitor, including whether apps are not responding correctly, which could be a sign of a keylogger. Access the Activity Monitor on your Mac by following these steps:

1. Open Finder, then go to your Applications
2. Click on the Utilities folder
3. Select Activity Monitor

From there, you can see which apps or programs are taking up storage or energy on your device within the past 12 hours. If you notice any apps or programs running that you don’t recognize, end their activity by selecting the app within Activity Monitor and force quitting it.

Inspect programs and features

On both Windows computers and Macs, you should inspect your programs and features to ensure that everything installed on your device looks familiar. Unfamiliar or unused apps or programs can contain malware like keyloggers, so checking your programs regularly can prevent your private information from being stolen.

For Windows users, you can follow these steps to check for keyloggers on your computer:

1. Search Control Panel in your taskbar and click it in the search results
2. Click Programs, then Programs and Features to see all your installed apps
3. If you find an app you don’t remember installing, right-click it and select Uninstall

For Mac users, you should go to your Applications folder within Finder and browse your app library for any unfamiliar apps. Research any suspicious apps or programs, and if you find out that they are dangerous, uninstall them.

How to remove a keylogger

After learning that you have a keylogger on your device, you are most likely panicked at the idea of cybercriminals spying on your every online move. However, you can remove a keylogger by following a few simple steps.

Uninstall malicious apps, programs and browser extensions

The first thing you should do upon realizing that you have a keylogger on your device is to remove any malicious apps, programs or even browser extensions. The steps to eliminate a keylogger from your Windows or Mac computer above are easy to follow and will result in a simple removal of any unfamiliar apps or suspicious programs. Once you uninstall any malicious apps, programs or browser extensions, make sure to restart your device to ensure everything begins to run smoothly.

Remove temporary files

Temporary files are a common hiding spot for keyloggers because you don’t regularly check these files. This messy collection of hidden files allows keyloggers to disguise themselves as real files, so you’ll want to clear your temporary files to remove any elusive keyloggers.

On your Windows device, you can remove temporary files by following these steps:

1. Open Settings, then select System in the top left corner of that window
2. Click Storage, then click Temporary Files
3. Select all the boxes to delete all temporary files, then click Remove files to confirm

On your Mac, removing temporary files can be done with the following steps:

1. Open Finder
2. On the top of your screen, click Go
3. At the bottom of this drop-down menu, select Go to Folder
4. In the search bar, enter ~/Library/Caches to access all temporary files on your Mac
5. Select all files you want removed, then delete them
6. Enter your Mac’s password to confirm the removal of these files

Factory reset your device

If none of the above steps work, you might need to factory reset your device, but make sure to back up your data beforehand. Completing a factory reset of your device without backing up your data will result in losing everything on the device since it will be reverted to its factory settings.

You can factory reset your Windows computer with Windows 11 by following these steps:

1. Go to Settings, then System
2. Click Recovery
3. Select Reset PC
4. A pop-up window will appear and you should select Remove everything to remove all your files, apps and settings

Factory reset your Mac with OS Ventura or later by following these steps:

1. Go to the Apple menu in the top left corner of your screen
2. Select System Settings, then click General
3. Select Reset on the right, then Erase All Content and Settings

If you factory reset your device and a keylogger continues to exist, you should contact an IT professional. If all else fails, you may have to buy a new device.

Stay protected against keyloggers

Keyloggers are sneaky and invasive, as they allow cybercriminals to spy on you and gather your private information based on your keystrokes. However, you can stay protected against this type of spyware by installing antivirus software, keeping your software regularly updated and removing any suspicious apps from your device. By frequently checking your collection of apps or programs, you will notice if anything looks out of place and can quickly take action by uninstalling anything that might contain a keylogger.