antikeylogger recommendations

[angus49]

Can anyone recommend any stand alone antikeyloggers that are safe and from reputable companies?

[cheater87]

ewido

[Martijn2]

SpySweeper also comes with a keylogger shield to detect keyloggers in real-time

[snowbound]

SpyCop is a good one imho. Used it for years,

http://spycop.com/



snowbound

[aigle]

SnoopFree- i don,t think u need anything more than this unless u get a kernel based keylogger on ur system.
OA Armor
ZoneAlarm Pro
None of all these will detect a preinstalled kernel based keylogger though.

Pls see my thraed here.

http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=143853

[JRCATES]

Originally Posted by aigle

SnoopFree- i don,t think u need anything more than this unless u get a kernel based keylogger on ur system.

Rumor has it that SnoopFree will be releasing a version 2.0 sometime in the near future (next few months?) that will deal with kernel level keyloggers, and should also present users an option to "hide" the system tray icon as well as create a desktop icon or other means where the user can open and access the GUI (to make changes, view settings and activity, etc.).....

Oh, and that it will remain freeware as well

[CloneRanger]

ewido and SpySweeper although quite capable in many ways, are not stand alone antikeyloggers. Here are a range other selections you may like to investigate

MyPlanetSoft Anti-Keylogger http://www.myplanetsoft.com/free/antikeylog.php

KL-Detector http://dewasoft.com/privacy/kldetector.htm

Anti-keylogger http://www.anti-keyloggers.com/order.html

Anti-Keylogger Elite http://www.remove-keyloggers.com/

Keylogger Hunter http://www.styopkin.com/keylogger_hunter.html

[Tommy]

I think the upcoming Neoava Guard (Freeware), beta test will start next weeks, will also handle kernel level Keylooger. Seams Arman is doing a god job.

[angus49]

WOW! Thanks to everyone for the leads. I guess I'll have some testing to do now. And yes I was looking for a stand alone product. I have used ewido and SS is no longer on my system, nor will it ever be again after the 5.0 release fiascos.

[angus49]

I went to Download.com to check out some of the reviews for SnoopFree. Most were positive, but the one negative was a little bit disturbing if true. I quote here:

"Beware - Load this program at your own risk!!

24-Nov-2005 05:05:18 PM
Reviewer: GWE
Pros: Not a bad program, there are others like it that do more.
Cons: If this program does not uninstall completely, or you have trouble uninstalling it - YOU ARE IN TROUBLE! Various programs like Yahoo Messenger stop loading, others load but don't work right, and you will begin to have all kinds of trouble with your task bar and your Start Menu. The files are protected and you can NOT delete them UNLESS you bring your PC up in Safe Mode. Then, beware, you can search your PC directories and think you have gotten rid of this pesky program while in Safe Mode, but the program drops a file called Snopfree.SYS in your Windows system directory. Since it is a variation of the name, you normally wouldn't find this program. I happened to find it when I reviewed all my running Windows XP services. I then searched the Windows registry, removed the reference to it, rebooted and becasue it was not load since I had removed it from the registry, two things happened-I could now delete this file AND all the programs it messed up started working and the problems with the Task Bar and Start Menu cleared up and now my PC runs fine again. Like I said LOAD THIS PROGRAM AT YOUR OWN RISK!"

Any comments?

[Remouald]

as I understand it, you should not have problem uninstalling in SAFE MODE and delete manually the driver snoopfree.sys

[JerryM]

Originally Posted by JRCATES

Rumor has it that SnoopFree will be releasing a version 2.0 sometime in the near future (next few months?) that will deal with kernel level keyloggers, and should also present users an option to "hide" the system tray icon as well as create a desktop icon or other means where the user can open and access the GUI (to make changes, view settings and activity, etc.).....

Oh, and that it will remain freeware as well

Now that is good news. Thanks for the info. I have been using SnoopFree for a couple of years.
Jerry

[A1SteakSauce]

McAfee SiteAdvisor classifies that site as "red" for about 111 spammy emails a week.... And now Idon't want to try it!

[JerryM]

Originally Posted by A1SteakSauce

McAfee SiteAdvisor classifies that site as "red" for about 111 spammy emails a week.... And now Idon't want to try it!

That is not good news.
Thanks,
Jerry

[JRCATES]

Originally Posted by A1SteakSauce

McAfee SiteAdvisor classifies that site as "red" for about 111 spammy emails a week.... And now Idon't want to try it!

Which site would that be, A1? Download.com?

[JerryM]

Snoopfree.com is red, and also download.com.
That is a disappointment.

A couple of sites, including Tucows, are showing it as shareware for $20.00. I don't remember it costing anything when I downloaded it.

Jerry

[A1SteakSauce]

download.com isn't red! checks out perfectly!

[ESQ_ERRANT]

Originally Posted by angus49

I went to Download.com to check out some of the reviews for SnoopFree. Most were positive, but the one negative was a little bit disturbing if true. I quote here:

"Beware - Load this program at your own risk!!

24-Nov-2005 05:05:18 PM
Reviewer: GWE
Pros: Not a bad program, there are others like it that do more.
Cons: If this program does not uninstall completely, or you have trouble uninstalling it - YOU ARE IN TROUBLE! Various programs like Yahoo Messenger stop loading, others load but don't work right, and you will begin to have all kinds of trouble with your task bar and your Start Menu. The files are protected and you can NOT delete them UNLESS you bring your PC up in Safe Mode. Then, beware, you can search your PC directories and think you have gotten rid of this pesky program while in Safe Mode, but the program drops a file called Snopfree.SYS in your Windows system directory. Since it is a variation of the name, you normally wouldn't find this program. I happened to find it when I reviewed all my running Windows XP services. I then searched the Windows registry, removed the reference to it, rebooted and becasue it was not load since I had removed it from the registry, two things happened-I could now delete this file AND all the programs it messed up started working and the problems with the Task Bar and Start Menu cleared up and now my PC runs fine again. Like I said LOAD THIS PROGRAM AT YOUR OWN RISK!"

Any comments?

FYI: I noticed your post (before or after you posted here?) on CNET. I also came across the McAfee site advisory that A1SteakSauce mentions. I think I will stay clear of SnoopFree. It sounds like one of those programs that takes as much as it gives: sends one's address to marketing firms and hides files under a name other than its own, making a clean uninstall difficult.

Snoopfree apparently likes to snoop on the user. No thanks. I will stick with PrivacyKeyboard. It tends to play havoc with a lot of my software unless I place each and every execute file on the whitelist. And, as PKB does not do a very good job of checking one's legitimate apps either on install or thereafter, it is a devil to work with, I have found. Still, PKB does uninstall completely, albeit if you do it right. That means that you MUST use the product's own uninstall program. Even the MS Add/Remove uninstall program is not safe. And I would not trust "Total Uninstall" either.

I had not used the Company's own uninstaller and as I had attempted initially, unsuccesfully, to uninstall the program with the MS Add/Remove program, I felt compelled to manually uninstall various files. This made the matter worse. I was completely undone until I went back to an earlier snapshot using FDISR. Certain files apparently latch onto kernal registry coding and cannot be extricated whatever one does. The result for me was ghost images of PKB "stops" all over the place and an inability to use some apps.

PKB mentions the importance of using its own uninstall program, but this grave point is, unfortunately, buried rather deep in the program's white papers, and, even then, as a mere passing note. The caution should be set forth in big bold letters front and center on Raytown's website.

I suppose the Company avoids this, believing that the warning will frighten prospective purchasers and users away from the product just as the warnings on cigarette packs are meant to do. And, as most software sellers, I presume, warn the user, in their licenses, that the user uses the product essentially at his or her peril -- as the seller will provide no guarantees that the product won't compromise the user's system and will provide no recourse if it does -- the user is ultimately on his or her own if the program crashes the system.

It may be that all anti-keylogger programs have tricky uninstalls. It is best to pay really close attention to those uninstall procedures before loading one of these apps up.

[JerryM]

My error, CNet Download.com is not red.
Jerry

[ESQ_ERRANT]

I apologize Angus49. I misread your entry. You found the same negative report on CNET that I did. It wasn't your own, but did raise alarms for you as it did for me.

I think, though, that as to the matter of anti-keyloggers, we've come full circle. I do not think that any of them are truly safe. I do, however, believe that there are reputable companies and I feel that, despite the problems I have had, as, for example, with PrivacyKeyboard, Raytown is a legitimate Company that takes pride in its products. Indeed, they have responded to my personal query in a timely manner. The Company said that my problems were "atypical" and wanted a complete rundown of my system, together with the error messages generated. I did not, unfortunately, have a record of the error messages and I did not want to send out a complete BELARC or WinPatrol Report of my system to the Company.

Another point, I wish to make: you will find that the manufacturers of anti-keyloggers often, if not invariably, are also manufacturers of key logging programs. This sounds a bit dubious to be sure -- sort of like playing both ends against the middle.

By the way, Anti-Keylogger is produced by the same Company that manufactures PrivacyKeyboard. Anti-Keylogger has been getting more press attention here than PKB. PKB is really nothing more than a souped up version of Anti-Keylogger though, nothing more.

[aigle]

Originally Posted by angus49

I went to Download.com to check out some of the reviews for SnoopFree. Most were positive, but the one negative was a little bit disturbing if true. I quote here:

"Beware - Load this program at your own risk!!

24-Nov-2005 05:05:18 PM
Reviewer: GWE
Pros: Not a bad program, there are others like it that do more.
Cons: If this program does not uninstall completely, or you have trouble uninstalling it - YOU ARE IN TROUBLE! Various programs like Yahoo Messenger stop loading, others load but don't work right, and you will begin to have all kinds of trouble with your task bar and your Start Menu. The files are protected and you can NOT delete them UNLESS you bring your PC up in Safe Mode. Then, beware, you can search your PC directories and think you have gotten rid of this pesky program while in Safe Mode, but the program drops a file called Snopfree.SYS in your Windows system directory. Since it is a variation of the name, you normally wouldn't find this program. I happened to find it when I reviewed all my running Windows XP services. I then searched the Windows registry, removed the reference to it, rebooted and becasue it was not load since I had removed it from the registry, two things happened-I could now delete this file AND all the programs it messed up started working and the problems with the Task Bar and Start Menu cleared up and now my PC runs fine again. Like I said LOAD THIS PROGRAM AT YOUR OWN RISK!"

Any comments?

I have installed and uninstalled it many time swithout problem. It never tried to call home according to my firewall. No conflicts. Takes little resources.
Pls read the reviews about NOD. KAV and PG on download.com and see how many people wrote negatively about these software.
Any software can do unexpected things on any PC, I can,t say that It will not give any peoblem on ur system. All that i can say it is running very well on my PC. Regarding SA, there assessment is not 100%. I never got a spam from them as afr as I can remember.

[JerryM]

Originally Posted by aigle

I have installed and uninstalled it many time swithout problem. It never tried to call home according to my firewall. No conflicts. Takes little resources.
Pls read the reviews about NOD. KAV and PG on download.com and see how many people wrote negatively about these software.
Any software can do unexpected things on any PC, I can,t say that It will not give any peoblem on ur system. All that i can say it is running very well on my PC. Regarding SA, there assessment is not 100%. I never got a spam from them as afr as I can remember.

I never received spam either from them, but I wonder if this is a new situation.
Jerry

[aigle]

Originally Posted by JerryM

I never received spam either from them, but I wonder if this is a new situation.
Jerry

I wonder how u can get spam, u don,t need to give ur email address to download it. Am I true?

[JerryM]

Originally Posted by aigle

I wonder how u can get spam, u don,t need to give ur email address to download it. Am I true?

I would assume that they need your email address. I also assume that I gave them that when I downloaded the original program, but I may be incorrect on that.

Jerry

[TNT]

Originally Posted by ESQ_ERRANT

It sounds like one of those programs that takes as much as it gives: sends one's address to marketing firms and hides files under a name other than its own, making a clean uninstall difficult.

SnoopFree doesn't require you to send your e-mail address to anyone. It doesn't phone home. And its uninstall process always went like a breeze for me. Get your facts straight, please.