What is a "keylogger"?

A keylogger is fundamentally understood as a type of spyware that records keystrokes made by a user on their keyboard. This surveillance tool captures everything typed, including letters, numbers, and sometimes even screenshots, without the user's consent or knowledge. The primary purpose of a keylogger is to gather information, which might include login credentials, personal messages, and financial information, making it a significant security threat.

Keyloggers can be hardware-based or software-based. In the case of software keyloggers, they may be installed on a device through malicious links or email attachments and can run in the background, transmitting the collected data to the attacker. This makes them particularly dangerous in the realm of cybersecurity, as users may unknowingly become victims of identity theft or fraud due to the information harvested by these tools.

The other options refer to different technologies unrelated to the malicious activity associated with keyloggers. Tools for tracking software updates and programs for enhancing keyboard performance do not inherently bear the characteristics of data capture or user surveillance. Similarly, a device designed to protect keyboards from wear does not involve the interception of user inputs. Evaluating these distinctions helps clarify what defines a keylogger in the context of cybersecurity threats.