# Are there ways to detect if I have a keylogger on my Windows machine? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 27, 2012, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-ways-to-detect-if-i-have-a-keylogger-on-my-windows-machine/610878 "2012-01-27T17:21:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2012, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-ways-to-detect-if-i-have-a-keylogger-on-my-windows-machine/610878/1 "2012-01-27T17:21:37Z")
One concern I have with viruses is that they may include a keylogger which will monitor my keystrokes and capture my login information for important accounts. Is there a way for me to know if something is intercepting keystrokes on my Windows box? I am running anti-virus and am careful about which websites I visit, but there’s no guarantee something won’t get through. ---
**Author:** ![Lare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Lare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lare)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2012, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-ways-to-detect-if-i-have-a-keylogger-on-my-windows-machine/610878/2 "2012-01-27T17:54:56Z")
I’ve used xxxxxxxx in the past. I can’t tell you how well it works because it didn’t find anything to complain about! Also note that if you’re talking about a hardware keylogger it can’t tell you that. Finding one of those requires a physical search of the machine. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2012, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-ways-to-detect-if-i-have-a-keylogger-on-my-windows-machine/610878/3 "2012-01-27T19:50:35Z")
> [@Lare](#): > > I’ve used xxxx in the past. I can’t tell you how well it works because it didn’t find anything to complain about! Hmmm. How do I know _that_ isn’t a keylogger (or something else nasty)? ☹ Won’t regular antimalware programs like MS Security Essentials. MCAfee, or Malwarebytes detect keyloggers? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2012, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-ways-to-detect-if-i-have-a-keylogger-on-my-windows-machine/610878/4 "2012-01-27T19:59:25Z")
Yes. Most scanning software is designed to detect keyloggers. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2012, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-ways-to-detect-if-i-have-a-keylogger-on-my-windows-machine/610878/5 "2012-01-27T21:44:25Z")
If you have an IT dept at work they can use a packet sniffer to check your pc, Anytime our network detects anything weird (like one pc pinging another) they’ll go to the pc and hook up a black box. By watching the packets sent thru the network they can determine if anything is going on. Some of our staff has company laptops at home and they bring them in to get checked. A keylogger will phone home with the passwords and other info it stole. ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2012, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-ways-to-detect-if-i-have-a-keylogger-on-my-windows-machine/610878/6 "2012-01-27T22:38:47Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Hmmm. How do I know _that_ isn’t a keylogger (or something else nasty)? ☹ Both McAfee and WOT (Web of Trust) are warning me about that site. ---
**Author:** ![Lare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Lare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lare)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2012, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-ways-to-detect-if-i-have-a-keylogger-on-my-windows-machine/610878/7 "2012-01-27T22:58:44Z")
> [@postcards](#): > > Both McAfee and WOT (Web of Trust) are warning me about that site. I’m not saying I wasn’t fooled, it was some time ago that I ran it. If there’s any question, please don’t use it. I will ask a mod to disable the link.