Keystroke logging

Keystroke logging (often called keylogging) is a method of capturing and recording user keystrokes. Keylogging can be useful to determine sources of errors in computer systems, to study how users interact and access with systems, and is sometimes used to measure employee productivity on certain clerical tasks. Such systems are also highly useful for law enforcement and espionage—for instance, providing a means to obtain passwords or encryption keys and thus bypassing other security measures. Keyloggers are widely available on the Internet.

There are currently two types of keylogging methods, hardware and software based.

Application

Keystroke logging can be achieved by both hardware and software means. Hardware key loggers are commercially available devices which come in three types: inline devices that are attached to the keyboard cable, devices which can be installed inside standard keyboards, and actual replacement keyboards that contain the key logger already built-in. The inline devices have the advantage of being able to be installed instantly. However, while they may go unnoticed for quite some time, they are easily detected visually upon closer inspection. Of the three devices available, the most difficult to install is also the most difficult to detect. The device that installs inside a keyboard (presumably the keyboard the target has been using all along) requires soldering skill and extended access to the keyboard to be modified. However, once in place, this type of device is virtually undetectable unless specifically looked for.

Types of keystroke loggers

1) Local Machine software Keyloggers are software programs that are designed to work on the target computer’s operating system. From a technical perspective there are three categories:

• Kernel based: This method is most difficult both to write, and combat. Such keyloggers reside at the kernel level and are thus practically invisible. They almost always subvert the OS kernel and gain unauthorized access to the hardware which makes them very powerful. A keylogger using this method can act as a keyboard driver for example, and thus gain access to any information typed on the keyboard as it goes to the Operating System.
• Hook based: Such keyloggers hook the keyboard with functions provided by the OS. The OS warns them any time a key is pressed and it records it.
• Creative Methods: Here the coder uses functions like GetAsyncKeyState, GetForegroundWindow, etc. These are the easiest to write, but as they require polling the state of each key several times per second, they can cause a noticeable increase in CPU usage and can miss the occasional key. However, skilled coders can overcome both these limitations by polling all key states several hundred times per second, while still not using more than 1% CPU usage to do so.

2) Remote Access software Keyloggers are local software keyloggers programmed with an added feature to transmit recorded data out of the target computer and make the data available to the monitor at a remote location. Remote communication is facilitated by one of four methods:

• Data is uploaded to a website or an ftp account.
• Data is periodically emailed to a pre-defined email address.
• Data is wirelessly transmitted by means of an attached hardware system.
• It allows the monitor to log into the local machine via the internet or ethernet and view the logs stored on the target machine itself.

3) Hardware Keyloggers are used for keystroke logging by means of a hardware circuit that is attached somewhere in between the computer keyboard and the computer. It logs all keyboard activity to its internal memory which can be accessed by typing in a series of pre-defined characters. A hardware keylogger has an advantage over a software solution; because it is not dependent on the computers operating system it will not interfere with any program running on the target machine and hence cannot be detected by any software.

4) Remote Access Hardware Keyloggers, otherwise known as Wireless Hardware Keyloggers, work in much the same way as regular hardware keyloggers. Except they have the ability to be controlled and monitored remotely by means of a wireless communication standard.

5) Wireless Keylogger sniffers collect packets of data being transferred from a wireless keyboard and its receiver and then attempts to crack the encryption key being used to secure wireless communications between the two devices.

6) Acoustic Keylogger work by analysing a recording of the sound created by someone typing on a computer. Each character on the keyboard makes a subtely different acoustic signature when stroked. Using statistical methods, it is then possible to identify which keystroke signature relates to which keyboard character. This is done by analysing the repetition frequency of similar acoustic keystroke signatures, the timings between different keyboard strokes and other context information such as the probable language in which the user is writing. A fairly long recording (1000 or more keystrokes) is required so that the statistics are meaningful. jadgf,dn,bj jdgh.kdhdf/d,cshgsdufjkgh,kyhktr.yjolj hyfhjlf;jh/f

Cracking

Writing software applications for keylogging is trivial, and like any computer program can be distributed as a trojan horse or as part of a virus. What is not trivial however, is installing a keystroke logger without getting caught and downloading data that has been logged without being traced. An attacker that manually connects to a host machine to download logged keystrokes risks being traced. A trojan that sends keylogged data to a fixed e-mail address or IP address risks exposing the attacker.

Trojan

Young and Yung devised several methods for solving this problem and presented them in their 1997 IEEE Security & Privacy paper (their paper from '96 touches on it as well). They presented a deniable password snatching attack in which the keystroke logging trojan is installed using a virus (or worm). An attacker that is caught with the virus or worm can claim to be a victim. The cryptotrojan asymmetrically encrypts the pilfered login/password pairs using the public key of the trojan author and covertly broadcasts the resulting ciphertext. They mentioned that the ciphertext can be steganographically encoded and posted to a public bulletin board (e.g. Usenet).

Ciphertext

Young and Yung also mentioned having the cryptotrojan unconditionally write the asymmetric ciphertexts to the last few unused sectors of every writable disk that is inserted into the machine. The sectors remain marked as unused. This can be done using a USB token. So, the trojan author may be one of dozens or even thousands of people that are given the stolen information. Only the trojan author can decrypt the ciphertext because only the author knows the needed private decryption key. This attack is from the field known as cryptovirology.

Federal Bureau of Investigation

The FBI used a keystroke logger to obtain the PGP passphrase of Nicodemo Scarfo, Jr., son of mob boss Nicodemo Scarfo. Scarfo Jr. pleaded guilty to running an illegal gambling operation in 2002. The FBI has also reportedly developed a trojan-horse-delivered keylogger program known as Magic Lantern.

Use in surveillance software

Some surveillance software has keystroke logging abilities and is advertised to monitor the internet use of minors. Such software has been criticized on privacy grounds, and because it can be used maliciously or to gain unauthorized access to users' computer systems.

Keylogger prevention

Currently there is no easy way to prevent keylogging. In the future it is believed that software with secure I/O will be protected from keyloggers. Until then, however, the best strategy is to use common sense and a combination of several methods. It is possible to use software to monitor the connectivity of the keyboard and log the absence as a countermeasure against physical keyloggers. For a PS/2 keyboard the timeout bit (BIT6 at port 100) has to be monitored [1]. But this only makes sense when the PC is (nearly) always on.

Be aware that - by contract - most anti- virus/spyware and firewall software will NOT alert on keyloggers and other malware developed for use by law enforcement ! (fedware) [2]

Monitoring what programs are running

A user should constantly observe the programs which are installed on his or her machine. Also, devices connected to PS/2 and USB ports (which can both be hacked) can be used to secretly install a keylogger and then remove it (along with the user's data) by the perpetrator.

Anti-spyware

Anti-spyware applications are able to detect many keyloggers and cleanse them. Responsible vendors of monitoring software support detection by anti-spyware programs, thus preventing abuse of the software.

Firewall

Enabling a firewall does not stop keyloggers per se, but can possibly prevent transmission of the logged material over the net if properly configured.

Network monitors

Network monitors (also known as reverse-firewalls) can be used to alert the user whenever an application attempts to make a network connection. This gives the user the chance to prevent the keylogger from "phoning home" with his or her typed information.

Automatic form filler programs

Automatic form-filling programs can prevent keylogging entirely by not using the keyboard at all. Form fillers are primarily designed for web browsers to fill in checkout pages and log users into their accounts. Once the user's account and credit card information has been entered into the program, it will be automatically entered into forms without ever using the keyboard or clipboard, thereby reducing the possibility that private data is being recorded. (Someone with access to browser internals and/or memory can often still get to this information; if SSL is not used, network sniffers and proxy tools can easily be used to obtain private information too.)

It is important to generate passwords in a fashion that is invisible to keyloggers and screenshot utilities. Using a browser integrated form filler and password generator that does not just pop up a password on the screen is therefore key. Programs that do this can generate and fill passwords without ever using the keyboard or clipboard.

Alternative keyboard layouts

Most keylogging hardware/software assumes that a person is using the standard QWERTY keyboard layout, so by using a layout such as Dvorak, captured keystrokes are nonsense unless converted. For additional security, custom keyboard layouts can be created using tools like the Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator.

One-time passwords (OTP)

Using one-time passwords is completely keylogger-safe because the recorded password is always invalidated right after it's used. This solution is useful if you are often using public computers where you can't verify what is running on them. One-time passwords also prevents replay attacks where an attacker uses the old information to impersonate. One example is online banking where one-time passwords are implemented and prevents the account from keylogging attacks as well as replay attacks.

Smart cards

Because of the integrated circuit of smart cards, they are not affected by keylogger and other logging attempts. A smart card can process the information and return back a unique challenge every time you login. The information cannot usually be used to login again.

On-screen keyboards

Program-to-program (non-web) keyboards

It is sometimes said that a third-party (or first party) on-screen keyboard program is a good way to combat keyloggers, as it only requires clicks of the mouse. However, this is not true, because for most on screen keyboards (such as the onscreen keyboard that comes with Microsoft Windows XP), a keyboard event message must be sent to the external target program to type text. Every software keylogger can log the text sent as typed characters from one program to another with an on-screen keyboard, and additionally, some programs also record or take snapshots of what is displayed on the screen. (Screenshot recorders are a concern whenever entire passwords are displayed; fast recorders are generally required to capture a sequence of virtual key presses.)

Web-based keyboards

Web-based on-screen keyboards (written in Javascript, etc.) may provide some degree of protection. At least some commercial keylogging programs do not record typing on a web-based virtual keyboard. (Screenshot recorders are a concern whenever entire passwords are displayed; fast recorders are generally required to capture a sequence of virtual key presses.)

Notably, the game MapleStory uses, in addition to a standard alphanumeric password, a 4-digit PIN code secured by both on-screen keyboard entry and a randomly changing button pattern; there is no real way to get the latter information without logging the screen and mouse movements; another MMORPG called RuneScape makes a similar system available for players to protect their in-game bank accounts.

Anti-keylogging software

Keylogger detection software is also available. Some of this type of software use "signatures" from a list of all known keyloggers. The PC's legitimate users can then periodically run a scan from this list, and the software looks for the items from the list on the hard-drive. One drawback of this approach is that it only protects from keyloggers on the signature-based list, with the PC remaining vulnerable to other keyloggers.

Other detection software doesn't use a signature list, but instead analyzes the working methods of many modules in the PC, allowing it to block the work of many different types of keylogger. One drawback of this approach is that it can also block legitimate, non-keylogging software. Some heuristics-based anti-keyloggers have the option to unblock known good software, but this can cause difficulties for inexperienced users.

Speech recognition

Similar to on-screen keyboards, speech-to-text conversion software can also be used against keyloggers, since there are no typing or mouse movements involved. The weakest point of using voice-recognition software may be how the software sends the recognized text to target software after the recognition took place.

Handwriting recognition / Mouse gestures

Also, many PDAs and lately Tablet PCs can already convert pen (also called stylus) movements on their touchscreens to computer understandable text successfully. Mouse gestures utilize this principle by using mouse movements instead of a stylus. Mouse gesture programs convert these strokes to user-definable actions, among others typing text. Similarly, Graphics tablets and light pens can be used to input these gestures, however, these are getting used less commonly everyday.

The same potential weakness of speech recognition applies to this technique as well.

Macro expanders/recorders

With the help of many Freeware/Shareware programs, a seemingly meaningless text can be expanded to a meaningful text and most of the time context-sensitively, e.g. we can be expanded en.Wikipedia.org when a browser window has the focus. The biggest weakness of this technique is that these programs send their keystrokes directly to the target program. However, this can be overcome by using the 'alternating' technique described below, i.e. sending mouse clicks to non-responsive areas of the target program, sending meaningless keys, sending another mouse click to target area (e.g. password field) and switching back and forth.

Drag & Drop

Most keyloggers cannot intercept texts which are drag & dropped from one window to another. With the help of this technique, sensitive data could be transferred, for example, from a password manager to the target application.

Window transparency

Using many readily available utilities, the target window could be made temporarily transparent, in order to hinder screen-capturing by advanced keyloggers. Although not a fool-proof technique against keyloggers on its own, this could be used in combination with other techniques.

Non-technological methods

Most keyloggers can be fooled by alternating between typing the login credentials and typing characters somewhere else in the focus window. Similarly, one can move their cursor using the mouse during typing, causing the logged keystrokes to be in the wrong order. One can also use context menus to remove, copy, cut and paste parts of the typed text without using the keyboard.

Another very similar technique utilizes the fact that any selected text portion is replaced by the next key typed. E.g. if the password is "secret", one could type "s", then some dummy keys "asdfsd". Then these dummies could be selected with mouse, and next character from the password "e" is typed, which replaces the dummies "asdfsd".

See also

• Black-bag cryptanalysis
• Hardware keylogger
• Computer surveillance
• Spyware
• Trojan horse

External links

• Keylogging Hardware and software keylogging methods.
• Introduction to Spyware Keyloggers - http://www.securityfocus.com/infocus/1829
• How To Login From an Internet Cafe Without Worrying About Keyloggers
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