keylogger

[kee-law-ger, ‑-log-er]

noun

1. a software program or hardware device that records all keystrokes on a computer keyboard, used either overtly as a surveillance tool or covertly as spyware.

Word History and Origins

Origin of keylogger¹

First recorded in 1990–95; key ¹ ( def. ) + logger ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

She reached into her pocket and pulled out the keylogger that she’d found in her desk the first day.

Read more on Literature

“It looks like a normal flash drive, but it’s not. It’s actually a nasty little device called a keylogger. It copies everything someone types on a computer. It’s basic gear for a hacker.”

Read more on Literature

If a computer is attacked by malicious software, or malware, a “keylogger” may be installed for surveillance of keystrokes, including credit card data.

Read more on Seattle Times

It’s the only way to guarantee that there’s not a keylogger—which lets the person who installed it monitor every single thing you enter on your keyboard, including passwords, emails, etc.—or some other kind of spyware that they’ve put on there.

Read more on Slate

He described the monitoring as similar to a keylogger that records everyone’s keystrokes.

Read more on Washington Times