Understanding Keyloggers

Keyloggers, which can be hardware or software tools that record the keystrokes of users, have a multifaceted history and application. Although they are often associated with malicious intent, they can also be used by IT departments for troubleshooting purposes. The origin of keyloggers dates back to the Cold War when the Soviets used hardware keyloggers to intercept classified communications at U.S. embassies, leading to the discovery of numerous listening devices by the NSA. More recent examples include significant cyber breaches, such as the theft of 80 million customer records from Anthem, where keyloggers were instrumental in compromising employee systems through phishing attacks.