Data logger is a kind of software to track data. These applications are able to track your activity to send it later to the developer of the program. The development of modern technologies, and the Internet in particular, has made it possible to spread various malicious software, many of which is are very harmful and may cause severe damage to the user. Data logger is one among tons of the software alike. Data logger may vary in appearance and in the functions it performs.
A data logger may be used to track the activities performed by the user while using his documents, surfing the Web and whatever. Keyloggers, which is the variety of data logger, track the sequences of keystrokes you do. Such keystroke logger is able to save every push of any button on your keyword. This kind of data logger is extremely dangerous as it empowers its developer to steal your passwords, credit card numbers and then use it for obviously malicious purposes.
Data logger is something hard to track for an ordinary user. Data loggers are usually distributed as standalone applications or are installed into various legitimate applications thus performing as Trojan horses. A usual data logger performs in hidden mode thus staying completely invisible to the user and quite often even to the anti virus software. The creator of such an application is powered to know what you are doing when at your computer, track the documents you open, websites you visit and keystrokes you do.
Keyloggers intercept everything entered by the user from his or her keyboard and saves the data into a text file. The log is sent to the developer of the application and is usually presented in a neat and comfortable form so it is easy to use. The creator of such software is able to sort the keystroke sequences, search through them to identify passwords, credit card numbers etc.
However, data loggers in general and keyloggers in particular can be used for the useful purposes. Very often data loggers are used by the company administration to track the working process of their staff to understand the progress or to spy for the prohibited activity. Parents may use keyloggers to see if their children are subject to any sort of abuse through visiting the potentially dangerous websites with explicit content. Lets have a look on the advertisement of one of the most popular keyloggers - Golden Keylogger:
Do your kids e-mail, chat and use instant messengers? Are you sure that this is all innocent and no stranger wants to take advantage of your child's inexperience? Protect your children and your family with Golden Keylogger, world's only family-friendly keylogger. The program records every single keystroke and then e-mails you report of your child PC use with every single word he or she wrote! The program is 100% FREE to download and try!
As you can see, the developers of this software distribute their product for free, claiming it will help protect your children from the possible danger of online chatting. Of course, you will be subject to some advertisement, but that seems to be a fair price for the security of your little darlings.