Uninstall Keystroke Apps: A Guide To Protecting Your Privacy

Keyloggers are a form of spyware that record everything you type on your keyboard. They can be installed on your computer over the internet, allowing hackers to figure out your logins and passwords for different sites without seeing them on the screen. They do this by parsing through everything you type to pick out sensitive data. This data is then sent to a hacker database over the internet. Keyloggers don't slow down your computer and you may not even notice when one is in operation.

There are several types of keyloggers, including rootkit viruses, which embed themselves into your computer’s operating system, and hypervisor malware that works at much lower levels. These two, in particular, are usually hard to get rid of, so they continue operating unhindered.

To remove a keylogger, you can use a combination of a strong anti-keylogger and anti-rootkit software that can find and eliminate keyloggers. Anti-keyloggers audit all the processes running on your computer, including background apps and services, the operating system, and other settings.

Check your Task Manager for unusual programs

The Windows Task Manager is a powerful tool that provides valuable information about system resource usage and process statistics. It can be used to identify and terminate malicious processes running on your system. Here are some detailed instructions on how to use the Task Manager to check for unusual programs:

Opening the Task Manager:

• Right-click on the taskbar at the bottom of the screen and select "Task Manager" from the pop-up menu.
• Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut "Ctrl + Shift + Esc" to open the Task Manager directly.
• You can also press "Ctrl + Alt + Del" and then click on "Task Manager" on the screen that appears, or find the Task Manager shortcut in your Start menu.

Navigating the Task Manager:

• When you first launch the Task Manager, you will see a simple window listing the visible applications running on your desktop, excluding background applications.
• To see the more advanced tabbed interface, click on "More Details" at the bottom of the simple view window. This will display additional tabs, including "Processes," "Performance," "App History," "Startup," "Users," "Details," and "Services."

Checking for Unusual Programs:

• Click on the "Processes" tab to view a list of running applications and background processes, along with their resource usage information (CPU, memory, disk, network, GPU, etc.).
• Look for any unfamiliar or suspicious processes. Pay attention to the "CPU" and "Memory" columns for unusually high usage.
• Right-click on a process to access more options, such as "Open File Location," "Search Online," "End Task," and "Properties."
• The "Open File Location" option allows you to verify the source of the process. If the location seems suspicious or unrelated to known software, it could indicate a potential threat.
• The "Search Online" option can be used to research the process using antivirus or malware databases.
• If you confirm that a process is malicious, you can right-click and select "End Task" to terminate it, or use an antivirus program to remove it.
• Additionally, you can check the "Startup" tab to view a list of programs that start up with your computer. Look for any suspicious programs that you don't recognize and disable them if necessary.

Remember that not all processes with high resource usage are necessarily malicious, as some legitimate applications may require significant resources to run. It is important to research and verify the processes before taking any action.

Use Control Panel to inspect programs and features

The Control Panel is a component of Microsoft Windows that allows you to view and change system settings. It is made up of a set of applets that let you add or remove hardware and software, control user accounts, change accessibility options, and access networking settings.

To open the Control Panel, you can:

• Search for it in the Start menu
• Use the keyboard shortcut +R, type control and press Enter

The Control Panel has been part of Microsoft Windows since Windows 1.0, with each new version introducing new applets. From Windows 95 onwards, the Control Panel is implemented as a special folder that only contains shortcuts to various applets.

The Add/Remove Programs applet in the Control Panel allows you to manipulate software installed on the system in several ways:

• Uninstall and change existing software packages
• See how much space individual programs take up and how frequently they are used
• Install software from a CD-ROM or floppy disk, and install add-ons from Windows Update
• Change which Windows components are installed, such as Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player, and Windows Messenger
• Specify default applications for certain tasks, such as internet browsers, media players, and email programs

If you are unable to uninstall a program from the Control Panel, you can try using the Revo Uninstaller free edition to uninstall it.

To find the location of a program listed in the Control Panel's Add/Remove Programs section, you can:

• Go to Control Panel --> Right-click on the Control Panel grid header --> Select More --> Check the location option
• Use Regedit to go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall and use the search function to find the name of your program
• Open Start (press Windows + Q) and type the application name in the Search Box, then right-click on the Application and click on 'Open File Location'

Clean Windows Registry

The Windows Registry is a complex database that contains entries about your computer's hardware and software. Over time, your registry collects broken, outdated, and missing registry keys that can slow down your PC's performance and even trigger error messages. While you usually don't need to make any changes to the registry files, cleaning the registry can be helpful in some cases. Here are some detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to clean your Windows Registry:

Back up your Registry:

Before making any changes to your Windows Registry, it is essential to back up your Registry:

• Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
• Type "regedit" and hit Enter.
• In the Registry Editor, click on "File" in the upper-left corner and select "Export" from the context menu.
• Select "All" as the Export range, enter a name for your file, choose a safe location, and hit "Save."

Use a Registry Cleaner App:

Using a reputable registry cleaner app is generally the safest and most effective way to clean your Windows Registry. Here are the steps to use the Registry Cleaner app:

• Install the Registry Cleaner app from http://www.auslogics.com/en/software/registry-cleaner/
• Open the app and click on "Settings."
• Ensure that "Back Up Changes" is checked.
• Click on "Scan Now" to initiate a scan of your Registry for bad entries.
• Once the scan is complete, click on "Repair" to remove any unnecessary or corrupted entries.

Clean the Windows Registry Manually:

If you prefer to clean the Windows Registry manually, follow these steps:

• Press Win + R and type "regedit" to open the Registry Editor.
• Navigate to the "HKEY_CURRENT_USER" folder and expand it by clicking on the folder icon.
• Locate the "Software" folder and look for any software or apps you have uninstalled.
• Right-click on the folder of an uninstalled program, and select "Delete" from the context menu.
• Repeat this process for any other uninstalled programs you find.
• Once you're finished, navigate to the "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE" folder and repeat the deletion process for any software folders of uninstalled programs.

Use Built-in Tools:

You can also use built-in Windows tools like Disk Cleanup and DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) to clean your Windows Registry. Here's how:

• For Disk Cleanup: Open the Start menu, search for "disk cleanup," and select the Disk Cleanup tool. Select the system drive and click "OK." Then, click on "Clean up system files" and select the files you want to delete.
• For DISM: Open the Command Prompt with administrative rights and type the following command: "DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth." Hit Enter to scan for system image corruption. You can then run additional commands like "DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth" and "DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth" to perform more advanced scans and repairs.

Use Third-Party Tools:

In addition to the methods above, there are several third-party tools available to clean your Windows Registry, such as CCleaner, Wise Registry Cleaner, and Auslogics Registry Cleaner. These tools offer both free and premium versions and can help you safely scan for and remove unnecessary or corrupted registry entries.

Remember, always exercise caution when making changes to your Windows Registry. It is recommended to back up your Registry and your data before proceeding with any cleaning or deletion processes.

Scan for keyloggers using antivirus software

Keyloggers are a type of spyware that records everything you type on your keyboard. They can be installed on your computer over the internet, allowing hackers to figure out your logins for different sites without seeing them on the screen. They can also embed themselves into the operating system of your computer, in which case they are called "rootkit" viruses.

To scan for keyloggers using antivirus software, you can follow these steps:

Install a Reputable Antivirus Software:

• Choose an antivirus software that is known to be effective against keyloggers, such as Norton, Bitdefender, TotalAV, McAfee, Avira, Panda Dome, or Kaspersky.
• Look for an antivirus with a proven ability to identify and eradicate all kinds of malware, including keyloggers and other advanced threats.
• Ensure the antivirus provides real-time protection to stop new threats from compromising your device.
• Consider the additional features offered by the antivirus, such as a password manager, VPN, parental controls, or identity theft protection.
• Some recommended free options include Malwarebytes, Avast, Avira, and Panda.

Download and Install the Antivirus Software:

• Follow the installation instructions provided by the antivirus software you have chosen.
• This typically involves downloading the software from the developer's website and running the installer.

Run a Scan:

• Once the antivirus software is installed, initiate a full system scan to detect any potential keyloggers or other malware on your device.
• Refer to the antivirus software's user guide or support resources for detailed instructions on running scans.

Review and Remove any Detected Keyloggers:

• After the scan is complete, review the scan results to identify any potential keyloggers or other malware detected by the antivirus software.
• Follow the recommended steps provided by the antivirus software to remove or quarantine the detected items.
• This may involve deleting files, uninstalling programs, or taking other corrective actions as guided by the antivirus software.

Update and Optimize your System:

• Keep your operating system, applications, and web browsers up to date with the latest security patches.
• Regularly scan your system using the antivirus software to detect and remove any new keyloggers or malware that may have infected your device.
• Utilize the system optimization tools provided by the antivirus software to improve your device's performance and security.

Check your privacy and security settings

To ensure your privacy and security settings are optimised to prevent keylogging, there are several steps you can take.

Firstly, ensure your operating system is up-to-date. Outdated software may have exposed security holes that can leave your computer vulnerable to infection.

Secondly, configure your web browser's security settings. The process for this differs depending on the browser you are using. Open the Settings menu and look for the Privacy and/or Security settings. Here, disable any unwanted plug-ins, block malicious websites, and clear your browser history. You should also delete cookies that track personal information.

Thirdly, install reputable security software. It is recommended to install both an on-demand anti-malware and an always-on antivirus. Free options include Malwarebytes, Avast, and Panda.

You should also check your desktop computer for any hardware keyloggers. This could be an extra jack on your computer, a keyboard overlay, or other hardware. Check where your keyboard cable connects to your tower, and if there is a device plugged in between the keyboard cable and the tower, it might be a hardware keylogger.

Finally, be vigilant about the programs you download onto your computer. Keyloggers often find their way onto computers as part of a Trojan, so be cautious about downloading free apps and programs from unknown sources.

Frequently asked questions