How To Stop Keyloggers Stealing Your Identity

Would you know a key logger if you saw one? Well since you can't see key loggers I'm sure you don't! OK let me tell you about key loggers. Key loggers are invisible software programs that are used to track your online activity. Most importantly, they are being used more and more to steal your vital financial information either to sell to criminals or to be used in the theft of your identity.

Finding a keylogger on your computer is next to impossible unless you have professional help in the form of an updated spyware removal software system. The real; problem is that if you don't know that a keylogger is tracking everything you do then you won't know when the little darlin' has stolen your bank account passwords or your credit card numbers until a theft of your assets has been attempted. And the discovery may only be made by you after your assets have been raided and depleted.

When a keylogger is busily at work, you won't even see your machine slow down or see anything peculiar happening. But visualize that the potential thief is standing right behind you watching and recording everything that you do on the machine.

I'm not sure where this statistic comes form but it is said that more than one third of all online ID thefts can now be traced to keylogging. Unfortunately, keyloggers are easily found and acquired. They are cheap and available. Worse yet they are perfectly legal in and of themselves.

There are perfectly legitimate reasons for employers to use key logger software to monitor employees use of the computer at work and for parents to monitor their children's web browsing habits. But the corollary is that it is an easy way for a criminal to gain access to your valuable assets and plunder them. And the software itself is perfectly legal.

In view of the foregoing take steps immediately to protect yourself:

* Install a respected anti spyware software that not only scans your computer but prevents unauthorized access

* Install a firewall

* Do not click on pop-ups

* Do not open spam email - when in doubt delete!

* Do not open e-mail attachments unless you can be sure it is coming from a legitimate source for a legitimate purpose

* Make your passwords hard to crack and change them frequently

The keylogger situation is getting worse, not better. Don't wait until your identity has been stolen. Get the protection you need now and stay alert. You have been warned!

John Garvey specializes in the world of computer and internet security. His analyses and recommendations on spyware and other threats to internet security are widely known in the field and appear frequently at the website http://www.spyware-gone.com