How to Detect if Keylogger is installed in Mac BookAir

jhoomjhoom · jhoomjhoom #1 (**permalink**)

01-31-2012, 07:49 PM

Long story short - someone got a hold of my laptop and borrowed it. I'm concerned about the integrity of the laptop.

How do I determine if there is a keylogger installed?

On this laptop, I make sure I don't go onto any email-based accounts, or perform any sensitive transactions, and it has Antivirus, but I'd really like to know if there is a way to detect whether this Mac Air has a keylogger installed.

Raz0rEdge · Raz0rEdge #2 (**permalink**)

01-31-2012, 08:43 PM

If you have a time machine backup from before you lost control of your laptop, restore to that..a GOOD keylogger should be undetectable, that's the whole idea..so if you are that worried about the person who take your laptop, a full re-install is your only option..

chas_m · chas_m #3 (**permalink**)

02-02-2012, 06:50 AM

Also, uninstall that anti-virus. There aren't any viruses for Mac, and some anti-virus programs CAUSE problems instead of fix them.

McBie · McBie #4 (**permalink**)

02-02-2012, 06:59 AM

I am not saying you have a keylogger but take a step back and consider this ...

What's the purpose of installing a keylogger ? To collect information about what you type on your keyboard.
That collected information is of no use to anyone if it stays on your machine, so at some point in time, a keylogger will " call home " and transmit the logged information to a predefined destination.

This outbound connection will go undetected for yourself, but a firewall like LittleSnitch can detect it and prompt you for an action.

So before going of and re-installing your OS based on some vague assumptions, maybe you can think about this as an alternative check.
( Re-installing your OS may indeed be required if you really have a keylogger installed )

Cheers ... McBie

jhoomjhoom #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 23, 2010 Posts: 53 Mac Specs: MacBook Air / 1.86GHz / 2 GB / Version 10.6.2	01-31-2012, 07:49 PM Long story short - someone got a hold of my laptop and borrowed it. I'm concerned about the integrity of the laptop. How do I determine if there is a keylogger installed? On this laptop, I make sure I don't go onto any email-based accounts, or perform any sensitive transactions, and it has Antivirus, but I'd really like to know if there is a way to detect whether this Mac Air has a keylogger installed. Thanks, jhoom jhoom
	QUOTE Thanks

Raz0rEdge #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Jul 17, 2009 Location: MA Posts: 5,845 Mac Specs: 27" i7 iMac with 16GB RAM and 1TB HDD, iPhone 3G & 4, iPod Nano 16GB, iPod Shuffle, iPad 2 16GB WiFi	01-31-2012, 08:43 PM If you have a time machine backup from before you lost control of your laptop, restore to that..a GOOD keylogger should be undetectable, that's the whole idea..so if you are that worried about the person who take your laptop, a full re-install is your only option.. -- Regards ...Ashwin Be sure to read the Community Guidelines \| The more information you provide, the better answers you get, remember GIGO.
	QUOTE Thanks

McBie #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 26, 2008 Location: Belgium Posts: 1,838 Mac Specs: 2008 MBP 17" - 10.8.2 & iPad - iOS 5.1	02-02-2012, 06:59 AM I am not saying you have a keylogger but take a step back and consider this ... What's the purpose of installing a keylogger ? To collect information about what you type on your keyboard. That collected information is of no use to anyone if it stays on your machine, so at some point in time, a keylogger will " call home " and transmit the logged information to a predefined destination. This outbound connection will go undetected for yourself, but a firewall like LittleSnitch can detect it and prompt you for an action. So before going of and re-installing your OS based on some vague assumptions, maybe you can think about this as an alternative check. ( Re-installing your OS may indeed be required if you really have a keylogger installed ) Cheers ... McBie " Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler. " A. Einstein The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude towards the problem. You understand ?
	QUOTE Thanks

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