Keylogging, keyboard sniffers, VoIP telephone trackers, system monitors, loggers, and trackers are programs that monitor every keystroke and data flow to and from the keyboard. There are generally three types:

• Software loaded into computer memory
• Wireline physical connector device connections including telephones
• Wireless “sugar cubes,” Trojan Horse (fake) Wi-Fi AP (Access Points), or other “bugged” spy devices such as wireless video cameras and phones

Anti-spyware programs remove even the most devious spyware programs using a constantly updated database of thousands of known threats. You can schedule regular scans or perform one manually to find and remove spyware and adware from your PC. Smart software (shields) block browser hijacks before they happen.

Cookies are scripts to record access to a host/server. Cookies fall into the script-centric domain, not in the page-centric domain. Like a “laundry ticket,” a cookie lets the server/host record your access. Cookies were created because HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) is a “stateless” (without record) protocol. That is, HTTP does not create/save a session with the server/host. That is, in order to keep track of the laundry, Amazon and thousands of other sites use cookies to create special presentations in your browser such as recommended lists of products to buy based on your purchasing history. A cookie contains text-only information that is placed in the RAM (Random Access Memory) on your computer and then saved to the hard disk drive when the browser is closed (X).

GUID (Global Unique IDentifier) is a text-character string (message) based on an IP (Internet Protocol) address contained (embedded) in the down-loaded software program or a browser cookie. The GUID is a type of spyware/adware that identifies the user to the providers server/host program. Some programs require the user to enter an e-mail address to download the program or access certain areas on the Web site.

The insidious part is that the spyware, adware, GUID (and associated IP addresses), e-mail, and other content-tracking information can create a log of IP addresses visited by the user which can be saved for marketing, legal, or other reasons. This Web log can be saved in a database and cross-referenced against other databases such as credit-banking, public information (driver’s license), and location services such as telephone number, address, etc. as well as police records. This information can be sold without legal restrictions regarding transfer of this information to any third-party.

[Thomas B. Cross of TECHtionary]