How to detect keystroke logger?

[Northstar]

Hi, Dis friends. I'm seeking advice for a friend who's just filed divorce papers.
She and her soon-to-be ex have been separated for several years, alternating between near-reconciliation and deciding it's over.

The reason this is relevant is that her soon-to-be ex has continued to service and maintain her computer. That's his business... he manages people's computer systems for them.

When he found out that she has filed the papers at last, he revealed some knowledge about what she's been doing and who she's been talking to that leads her to think he's doing some serious surveillance on her.

So, given that he's a computer whiz and has set up and maintained her computer... do we have any chance of detecting whether he's set up a remote keystroke logger? ( I just read Wikipedia's entry on keystroke loggers and got lost about the third paragraph)

Is her only hope to get rid of this computer and start over?

I've told her to change her account passwords from a different computer, but then what about when she needs to get in from her home computer again?

Any advice is appreciated!

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Tell her to take her computer to a shop and have them check it out for a keystroke logger. It's very possible he installed a program that she is unaware of. Heck, if she can afford a new hard drive or a laptop then she should do it. And here's the important part - DO NOT LET THE EX USE IT! Good luck to your friend.

 

[FireDancer]

Take it into someone who knows what they are doing. Most loggers can be detected with some free tools but a really good one requires the analysis of all the packets that the machine sends out or receives or something that monitors every hard drive write. That isn't easy and since many computer professionals wouldn't know how to do it I highly doubt your friend would be able capture and analyze packets or hard drive writes.

If they want to try something first have them try some of the programs mentioned on this page.

 

[Northstar]

Thanks, Eeyoresthebest and Firedancer.

I was thinking of trying to use some software to check for it until I found out about the "good" keystroke loggers where you have to analyze every packet... (see, I have no idea what that even means, so clearly we are out of our depth here).

The problem with taking it into a shop where they really know what they're doing is that the ex would be my number-one choice for the best in town.

I'll grab a techie friend or two and we will try to see if we can find anything with software. The trouble is, if we don't find anything, she still won't be able to trust that her computer is secure.

I see a new computer in my friend's near future.

 

[Imzadi]

The problem with taking it into a shop where they really know what they're doing is that the ex would be my number-one choice for the best in town.

Take it to another town. Don't you think this is important enough to travel for? Even with the trouble & time of traveling, it's probably still cheaper than another computer.

 

[AndyLL]

Likely he is just reading the email. These days you don't even need access to the computer to do that... most ISPs have webmail. Since he setup the computer he'd have all the email account setup details.

Andy

 

[soccerchick]

There's a little attachment for the cables that can also capture keystrokes. This was the device used in several of the grade change/cheating scandals recently. Look at the cords from the computer and see if there's an extra cable connected to any of them. They look like a usb connection.

a quick google of keylogger will show pictures of them.

 

[soccerchick]

Likely he is just reading the email. These days you don't even need access to the computer to do that... most ISPs have webmail. Since he setup the computer he'd have all the email account setup details.

Andy

true - he could be getting copies of everything sent to him. A neighbor's ex-BF did this. A computer shop/expert was able to detect that for her.

 

[Northstar]

Take it to another town. Don't you think this is important enough to travel for? Even with the trouble & time of traveling, it's probably still cheaper than another computer.

Well, yes, but what I mean is that, because he really knows his stuff, I'm not sure we could find somebody who could figure out what he's done.

Likely he is just reading the email. These days you don't even need access to the computer to do that... most ISPs have webmail. Since he setup the computer he'd have all the email account setup details.

Andy

She uses a web-based email account. But I do think it's mostly email he's monitoring. No "just reading the email" about it... she needs privacy in her email.

 

[Disney Doll]

I'd get a new computer and set up a hotmail account using a name that he'd never think of.

I'd probably also not tell him about the new computer, and would go as far as locking it up somewhere when I wasn't home.

I'd probably also still use the old computer for like FB & benign emails, just so he doesn't relaize that I am onto him.

 

[dakcp2001]

I'd get a new computer and set up a hotmail account using a name that he'd never think of.

I'd probably also not tell him about the new computer, and would go as far as locking it up somewhere when I wasn't home.

I'd probably also still use the old computer for like FB & benign emails, just so he doesn't relaize that I am onto him.

This sounds like the safest bet! I wouldnt even try to fiddle with a compromised computer. I would get a new one & start everything fresh. But keeping the old one up & running for benign stuff is a great idea. Beat him at his own game. Muahahahahaha