New malware is being created and released into the wild everyday, and it’s a fact that your antivirus software does not protect you 100% from everything. Sometimes it may take a few days for the antivirus analysts to get hold of the sample which will then be added to the latest virus definition. Within this time frame of unknowingly being infected by a new computer virus, probably all your sensitive information such as passwords, are already being stolen through a keylogger and the damage has been done.
A keylogger is a common feature found in most Remote Access Trojans (RAT). When either the offline or online keylogger mode is activated, anything that you type on the keyboard will be recorded and logged to a file or transferred instantly to the controller. The purpose of a keylogger is to steal the login credentials or probably to know who the user is talking to on the Internet. Whatever the reasons are, keylogging is an invasion of privacy and is against the law in some countries.
When an antivirus fails to detect the threat, a very effective extra layer of defense to keep your sensitive information safe is through keystroke encryption. Basically a keystroke encryption software works in a very deep level of the Windows operating system kernel to prevent the keyloggers from logging the real keystrokes, either completely blocking them or sending garbage text. Currently there are 4 pieces of keystroke encryption software available today. We’ve tested them against 13 different keyloggers and compared the features offered by these applications.
The tested keystroke encryption software is listed below. If you prefer to jump straight to the performed tests and the verdict for the best software we tested, they can be found on page 2.
1. GuardedID Premium 3.01.1060
Price: USD 29.99 for 1 year, 2PC
Encryption Method: Replaces logged keystrokes with sequential numbers
Password Protection: None
Additional Protection: Block Screen loggers by sending black screenshots. Will also do the same for legitimate screenshot software.
Supported Operating System: Win 2003/XP/Vista/7/8 32-bit only
Supported Applications: Limited and unspecified
2. Zemana AntiLogger Free 1.5.2.652
Price: Free
Encryption Method: Blank output. Only the application with keyboard focus receives the keystrokes while others are blocked.
Password Protection: None
Additional Protection: None
Supported Operating System: Windows XP/Vista/7/8 32 & 64-bit
Supported Applications: All
Visit Zemana AntiLogger Free Website
3. KeyScrambler Premium 2.9.3.0
Price: Free (Personal), $29.99 (Professional), $44.99 (Premium)
Encryption Method: Blowfish (128-bit) and RSA (1024-bit). Output random characters.
Password Protection: None
Additional Protection: None
Supported Operating System: Windows 2000/2003/XP/Vista/2008/7/8 32 & 64-bit
Supported Applications: Limited and published
4. NextGen AntiKeylogger 3.3.0.1
Price: Free, $25 (Pro), $39 (Ultimate)
Encryption Method: Unknown but replaces logged keystrokes with random characters.
Password Protection: Yes
Additional Protection: None
Supported Operating System: Windows 2000/2003/XP/Vista/7 32-bit only
Supported Applications: Limited and published. Scroll to the bottom of the page to view the protected applications list.
Visit NextGen AntiKeylogger Website
Would luv to see the results for Spyshelter (Latest VErsion) that now has keyboard encryption
Thanks for this info. I would really install Zemana Antilogger Free for my laptop. This is really great for a free program.
So what actually was recorded with Zemana and Keyscrambler. It’d be interesting to see, unless it’s just blank and the key logger complete fails to record anything with those programs.
Zemana outputs blank while KeyScrambler random characters. Please check the part where it says “Encryption Method”
thanks for your articles.i usually check ur site for new articles.
Hi Raymond
I want to ask can I use together Zemana AntiLogger Free and KeyScrambler free?
Zemana for my folders and KeyScrambler for Internet!!
Hi John,
Zemana AntiLogger Free and KeyScrambler free does the same thing, so you should not be using them simultaneously. Do note that the free version of KeyScrambler only protects your web browser while Zemana AntiLogger Free protects all programs.
A very important point that was not included and I was stung by. I main host machine contains all my sensitive data…I connect to this machine using remote connection when away from home (ie logmei.com / Teamviewer etc). Keyscrambler will NOT work over remote connections…the vendor has confirmed this too me after I purchased the full product. So…if all the other products are the same…there is your major security flaw. If you host has a keylogger…and you connect to the host remotely…your keystroke software will NOT encrypt typed keys from remote connection. Major Fail.
Thanks for pointing this out Sandu. I too confirm your findings after testing it.
Sending keystrokes from the real keyboard and remote connections is quite different.
I believe the remote connection is similar to using the on-screen keyboard utility where the keystrokes doesn’t get encrypted.
Silly question: Do these programs protect portable programs against Keyloggers?
I use Firefox Portable as my main browser these days (and occasionally use LibreOffice Portable) and was wondering would portable programs be protected if I installed one of these programs on my computer?
Yes, these programs protect portable programs against keyloggers as long as they are in the list of supported applications.
Merci Raymond, j utilise keyskrambler depuis plus de deux ans, il est super ! passe un tit coucou à la p’tite ! j ‘espère qu elle va bien ! @ très bientôt.
SpyShelter Personal (Free) is the best.
What about Comodo Int. Security, does it protect fom keylogger?
This is why I read your blog. Excellent work.
Thanks Raymond. Used Zemana for a couple years now but didn’t realize I failed to install it on this very machine after a rebuild!
Please advise:
“Delete UpperFilters: FAILED. Keyboard stops working. Program detects the problem when Windows is booted up and offers to automatically repair by rebooting the computer. Failed to auto repair even when logged in as an administrator with UAC turned off.”
– Does this mean that the system booted suessfully and you only had to manually reinstall Zemana or that there was a system boot failure that required manual removal of the UpperFilters to fix?
– What recommendation(s) do you make to protect against the more insidious “form grabbers”? I suppose password managers (LastPass, RoboForm), etc.) offer some protection. Since you have to enter data at least once before those apps canbe used, are they enough/any protection?
Thanks and regards. Kinda missed you. :)
Hi JMJ. After manually deleting the UpperFilters for the keyboard as a test, Windows still booted up fine but the keyboard stops working. A simple way to fix it is to reinstall the application which is possible using your mouse. This simple test is to determine whether the application can detect the problem and attempt to auto fix it.
Form grabbers can be prevent by some antivirus such as Emsisoft that is capable of detecting code injection and API hijacking on web browsers. Password managers such as LastPass and RoboForm does not protect you against such attack.
I use KeyScrambler Premium very happy with it I have also used Zemana in the past and also like it Your post was helpful to me Thanks
Zemana Antilogger is the best !!!
Hi,
Really nice to se you back!!!
Keep doing good job.
Hello Raymond . . . Glad to see that you are back!
I have the Premium version of Keyscrambler and so far am pretty happy with it – - In fact, I LOVE it!
The Man behind Keyscrambler, Mr. Chen, does attend to the needs of his subscribers and is open to suggestions to improve said software (in fact, he immediately corrected a typo I once discovered on his nice-looking website).
He is a good customer care person as demonstrated by his prompt response to inquiries (as he has done in the past regarding my case).
I recommend Keyscrambler to friends and colleagues and they too are impressed about how it makes them feel safer while traveling on the Internet.
I am certain that he has seen today’s review and will do his best to make this an even Better product!
Thank You for Listening (as always),
TheRube
Hi TheRube,
Yes, the guy behind KeyScrambler is a very nice guy. Talked to him a few times via email and he’s always very polite. I’ve in fact forwarded this URL to him to consider adding the extra protection to the upcoming 3.0.
Hi Ray,
very nice tests. how about spyshelter firewall beta 2.0. it now has a keystroke encryption. many would like to see the test results on win 7 x64
Thanks
Hi John,
Thanks for informing me about spyshelter firewall beta 2.0 that comes with keystroke encryption. We’ll add it to this post once the program is out of beta. We prefer not to encourage “beta” versions especially security software.
Thanks Raymond. I was just discussing keyloggers yesterday with a co-worker. I will follow your suggestion and install the recommended software tomorrow. I’ve also forwarded this to my professional circle.
Thank you Josh. Hope it helps!
Hey name sake,
Thanks for sharing this crucial matter witrh us. Jeep it up!
Hugs
Thanks Raymond again.
Keep making these excellent reviews. Cant wait to test Zemana Antilogger :)
Zemana Antilogger is the best ;)
I use Zemana AntiLogger (paid)…………
Currently the paid version of Zemana AntiLogger doesn’t have keystroke encryption built-in to the program but it will in future.
I know it Ray,thank you very much!
Thanks for the heads up Raymond.
How are you and your family :) ??
We’re fine, thanks for asking :)