Keyboard Collector surprise

[MaxVal]

I just got a rude surprise.
Upon rebooting my machine a red box popped up on the wallpaper advising me that I was using a trial version of "Keyboard Collector".

I have no idea where this came from as I am careful as to what programs I install
On second thought, I was looking for an XP driver for my Mustek Paragon 800 scanner and I did run a couple of installs of files claiming to be for that with no success.

I installed Spybot, updated it and ran it. It found a few things, but nothing regarding keyboard collector.

Anyone know about this one?

[Mead]

well keyboard collector isnt really a spyware program so much as a system tool. But like port sniffers it can be used maliciously. If you didnt install it on there yourself and noone else has access to your computer that would put it on there, you might want to scan for viruses and make sure you dont have a trojan on there although most trojans would have their own keylogger rather than a commercial one that pops up to tell you to buy it.

[elroy]

Run a google search on keyboard collector, you're not going to be happy. Someone is spying on you.

From their website:
Secretly log and view all keys typed, including emails, instant messages, passwords, and more. You simply choose to have it run all the time, or to start at a specific time of the day, and it runs undetected while capturing all keyboard and data entry. Even if the computer is restarted, Keyboard Collector will automatically start running again. It runs invisible, does not show when CTRL-ALT-DEL is pressed, and does not slow down system performance. This also has the ability to show when the user has pressed the return key or tab key, making it easier for you to read the text logs. You can even activate the program from diskette if you wish, which makes it even stealthier by removing the software from your system. (Runs on ALL Windows systems).

Requirements: Windows XP, 95, 98, ME, NT, or 2000

[butch81385]

that sucks

play some video games so they get sent
"wwwwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaaaaaddddddddasssssssssssssswww wwwwwwwwwwwdeeeefwwwwwwwww ssssssssddddd"
hehe

[nomaxim]

Wife? Mistress Boss ?

Yiparo, That is monitoring software.

It is not spyware and will not show up as such, most of the time.

[Droppyale]

I would find out if this sofware saves the data collected on your HD, or if it sends an e-mail to someone...

Most likely somebody that has access to your computer installed it...

I would find out immediately

[Bill in SD, CA]

IMO I would be doing a format and re-install of everything .......well not everthing.

And then disable software installations after that.

Bill

[Starfury_2260]

i would suggest running something like personal antispy or see if that keyboard collector has a removal tool on it's site.

[Bill in SD, CA]

Originally posted by Starfury_2260
or see if that keyboard collector has a removal tool on it's site.

I ran a program called Winspy at my work and the only way to get into it was by a key combination and password.

Bill

[MaxVal]

Thanks for the advice!

This is my home PC where only my family has access to it.

I know no one installed it intentionally!

I guess I'll google over and check it out.

Thanks all!