Do Anti-Virus software detect KEYLOGGIN software?

[AE86Lover]

Call me a little paranoid, but i do online transactions on my pc. Of course, it's all sensitive information.

I use AVG AV for virus scanning but i feel it isn't enough to protect my pc against KEYLOGGING software/virus or any type of malicious worm that might send my personal information (user id and password) to hackers who created the software.

So if you guys could input your experiences/thoughts, do ANTI-VIRUS software detect this kind of stuff?

 

[Mr Bob]

AVG AV is about the worst program you could ever think about using for AV.

reference 1 | reference 2 | reference 3
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Zone Alarm will detect when a program is trying to monitor/log keystrokes, AV will pickup trojans and such, but not always keyloggers.

 

[43st]

AV software doesn't typically scan for trogans or keyloggers. If you're truely paranoid you'll copy/paste the individual letters for your online accounts and passwords into the proper form fields. Just make sure not one's watching the screen. 😛

 

[mechBgon]

Good antivirus software does scan for Trojans and keyloggers, including "commercial" keyloggers. Example: <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://search.mcafee.com/search?q=keylog&site=Virus&num=10&sort=date<img src=---i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif--- border=---0--->:L<img src=---i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif--- border=---0--->1&output=xml_no_dtd&proxystylesheet=default_frontend&client=defa
lt_frontend&getFields=description&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&filter=0&">quick search of McAfee's stash for "keylog"</a> and for Trojan. In some cases you get those detections turned on by fully configuring the software.

If you need a free antivirus because you can't afford anything better, then I'd switch to AntiVir from http://www.free-av.com instead of AVG. If you can afford good stuff, try Kaspersky Antivirus Personal 6, here's free 30-day trials. Uninstall AVG before installing something else.

Bigger picture: if you want to increase youre system's security against that stuff, prevention is not difficult.

1) keep Windows, Office, web browsers, email programs, media players and IM programs patched/updated to the latest versions. Make a list of what programs you've got, and check monthly for new versions and updates. For Office software like Word, Excel and Outlook, use the Office Update site. Naturally, turn on Automatic Updates to full-auto mode so the system keeps itself patched.

2) fully enable DEP like this pic

3) Make a new Administrator-class account named ADMIN and password-protect it. Now switch your own user account to a Limited account instead of an Administrator-class account. This is far, far more resistant to the installation of malware, including keystroke loggers.

4) Protect your system by putting a router between your computer and your modem as a perimeter firewall.

5) Scan your system with Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer.

6) if other people use your computer, make another Limited account named Visitors, and make them use it by password-protecting all the other accounts so it's their only option.

 

[mechBgon]

Whoa, there's something wacky going on with FuseTalk, I cannot edit my previous post 😕 Bear with the broken links for the moment.