Learn how to detect Keyloggers on Mac to verify and secure your devices.
Keyloggers can basically be defined as monitoring software. It can be used in order to monitor your typing speed and record keystrokes. But some of the companies use it so that they can keep the data safe and security can be maintained at all levels.
There are different types of keyloggers, hardware keyloggers, and software keyloggers namely. Hardware keyloggers use hardware in order to connect the keyboard with the computer and set the terms. Meanwhile, in the case of software keyloggers, it is like an application running as a background process. It behaves like malware and cannot be detected by anti-virus software either.
When it comes to Mac, keylogger detectors may function very differently. You might find it harder to know if a detector is getting used on your Mac or not. In order to get rid of this problem, you will have to find some solid solutions.
Also Read: How to tell if your Mac has been Remotely Accessed?
How to detect keyloggers on Mac
There are various ways through which you can detect keyloggers on your Mac. You would be requiring an application that would make it easy for you to locate and remove the keyloggers from your screen. Let’s check out some of those methods which may help you out in this cause:
1. Detecting manually
When you go for manual detection, it might end up taking a lot of your time. As we have already talked about it, software keyloggers may be very difficult to find through the help of anti-virus software as well. You will have to thoroughly check out what is going on your computer. You will be required to see if certain processes are running in the background or not and how to get rid of them. You can use the “top” command in order to know about all the hidden processes. Now if you don’t know many of them, you will have to kill all such processes. It has a chance of putting the data on your Mac at the risk too.
2. Inspecting hardware
In the case of hardware keyloggers, you will have to change your plan of action completely. When you use a keyboard that is also used by others, you might find that these keyloggers have occupied your space in one way or the other. Now in the case of hardware keyloggers, you will have to be more cautious. You will have to check the connection between the hardware and computer nicely. It might be that the hardware keylogger is very difficult to locate and in case you cannot see it at all, you wouldn’t be able to get rid of its effects. The best thing to do would be to call up a professional for help. There are professional removal services required to get rid of such problems and it is possible only if someone who’s an expert at this job would end up doing it.
3. Using virtual keyboards
One thing that you can try to do is use virtual keyboards. There are certain applications that make it easier for you to type without having an actual keyboard with you. Although the chances of having a software keylogger are still going to be there, it will be easier to remove such keyloggers since they would be set up within the software. But when it comes to hardware keyboards, it becomes more difficult to judge if something wrong is taking place with your system or not. It is easier to do so on Mac since the touch works very well. You just have to go to the system preferences and click on the Show input menu in the menu bar. You can do this until you get your physical keyboard checked properly and it will work smoothly too.
4. Installing operating system again
This is a major solution available to you as well. You can just install the entire operating system handling Mac all over again. It would be able to get rid of all the settings and problems with your device. But it will also be able to remove the settings of a keylogger completely and it will start becoming ineffective. The thing with the installation of the operating system is that it will take a lot of time. Another thing is that you will end up losing a lot of data so you will have to create backups in the first place. Use this solution only if nothing else is working for you.
5. Installing security software
One solid option available to you is the installation of security software. If the data with you is very important to you and may cost you big, you can install certain security options that might end up putting the risk away for good. The only thing is that they might require you to pay on a consistent basis. If you are already facing the keyloggers problem, you can install security software and scan your entire system. If a keylogger exists, the security software will be able to remove it permanently.
FAQs
Q1: Who installs keyloggers into a device in the first place?
It can be anyone who wants to spy on you. Sometimes, a person has installed keyloggers on his public Mac so that he can privately check out all the details regarding it on his personal Mac and if someone is using it wrongly or not.
Q2: Is it difficult to get rid of keyloggers from Mac?
It is usually very difficult to detect keyloggers on Mac. You will have to try different methods in order to make sure that you are able to detect those keyloggers.
Q3: If I don’t remove keyloggers on time, will it put the security of my Mac at stake?
Yes, it will definitely put the security of your Mac at stake. If you know that keyloggers have been installed on your device, try your level best to remove it for good.
Conclusion: Detect Keylogger on Mac Devices
Keyloggers can become irritating if you are not able to locate them. When you use either of the solutions we have discussed, it will eventually lead you to the removal of the problem!