What Is a Keylogger?
A keylogger is a program used to record or log all the keys that a computer user types, usually in secret so that the monitored person didn?t know that they are being tracked. Keylogger is short for keystroke logger and is also known as a keyboard capturer. Keyloggers record everything the user types ? logins and passwords, personal messages on social apps, and even credit card numbers. The recorded data is then retrieved by the user operating keylogging software. It?s very difficult to detect a keylogger ?cause they run in an invisible mode on a device, meaning that computer users don?t guess that a keylogger is installed on their device.
Software-based keyloggers aren?t the only option available if you need to know what was typed on the PC. Some keyloggers come in a hardware format but they are not so widely-used because they?re visible. Such formats need to be physically connected to the device, often through the USB port, which means that they are easily detected and removed by computer users.
Are Keyloggers Legal?
Keyloggers are perfectly legal and useful, especially when you use such software for parental control or employee monitoring. But note that you should have admin rights to install keylogging program on somebody?s device.
Many employers set up keyloggers to control their staff members? activity at work. Monitoring software can help reduce time wastage and boost employees? performance. Keyloggers can also be very handy when you need to protect your corporate data and gather evidence for legal protection of your company.
Besides, keyloggers are very helpful when it comes to kids? monitoring. Good monitoring software can solve many problems at once: you?ll protect your kids from online bulling, manage their time and block unwanted websites. Keyloggers are often used by parents who want to make sure that their kids are staying safe on the internet since there are many predators online. Besides that, they can be used to study human-computer interaction.
If you are a parent worried about your kids? safety on the Net or an employer wanting to boost your staff?s efficiency, then you?ve come to the right place. I have tried out several free keyloggers available online today and figured out that Spyrix Free Keylogger and KidInspector are the best software in this category when it comes to the features. Keep on reading for a comprehensive review of 10 of the best keyloggers available to download free of charge and, hopefully, you will find the right one that best meets your needs.
#1 Spyrix Free Keylogger
Spyrix is sure the first keylogger that makes this list. The program controls and records every single keystroke. Though there is a premium version available, the free version offers so many features that it has proven itself very helpful. This software includes full remote cloud monitoring free of charge. Remote monitoring lets you control any kind of computer activity wherever you?re located, meaning that you don?t need to access to the target computer after you install the software. Everything you need to do is to log into your online account using any browser and any device.
Spyrix Free Keylogger interface
Besides recording every single keystroke, it makes screenshots of all active windows. In other words, whenever you change a window, e.g. from your browser to any other program, a screenshot is taken. This way no activity ever goes unnoticed, and you can see all visited websites and URLs, read all chats and messages, and all social media activity. All keystrokes and screenshots can then be viewed on a secure web account. Spyrix Free Keylogger can also make and send reports of running programs.
Further, the software offers password protection. In fact, it is so well hidden that it is undetectable to antivirus software. This makes it perfect for not only parental control but also employee monitoring. Extra features include a user-friendly interface and quick and easy installation. You don?t need to be tech-savvy to use this software. So, if you have never used a keylogger before, Spyrix is an excellent program to start out with.
#2 KidInspector
It?s pretty easy to guess that this software is designed for parental monitoring of children?s activity on smart devices and computers. In fact, KidInspector can be used by anyone who wants to track somebody?s computer activity. KidInspector records all keystrokes, including deleted ones. In addition to keylogging feature, the software monitors social apps enabling you to read kids? chats and messages on Skype, WhatsApp, Viber, Facebook Messenger etc.
Visited Websites Control
With KidInspector, your child will be definitely safe online as the program controls any kind of Internet activity with visited websites, browsing history (even if it has been removed) and search queries. The soft is also helpful when you need to block some URLs or websites with inappropriate content so that you child couldn?t access it. KidInspector may turn your kids? computer into a surveillance device if you enable secret recording via webcam and microphone. The software is not detected by most popular antivirus programs and offers hidden mode which makes the keylogger invisible on children?s devices.
All recorded data is uploaded to KidInspector online account and can be viewed anytime from any place and any device. KidInspector is available for Android, iOS, Mac OS and Windows thus tackling all the main issues concerning a child?s activity on any smart device or a computer.
#3 Actual Keylogger
Actual Keylogger is very popular among parents due to its good reputation that it has enjoyed over the years. One of the biggest advantages of the keylogger is its stealth mode making it impossible for a user to find it in the Added and Removed Programs, Explorer or Task Manager. The software records all pressed keys, running and closed programs, visited websites, and also controls all print, clipboard and screenshot activity. If you want to protect the recorded files, you can set up a secure password which will make the soft visible.
Actual Keylogger (Keyboard Events)
Actual Keylogger can send you report about the user?s computer activity by e-mail, FTP or local area network. The installation process is pretty easy and intuitive. The latest version of the soft is available on its official website. Actual Keylogger is compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems.
#4 REFOG Free Keyloger
REFOG?s free keylogger has the most basic features, but it?s unbelievably easy to install and use. According to the developers, you don?t need a degree in Computer Science to configure and operate this soft. This keylogger also allows remote control via online account, making it convenient to track kids whenever you want.
Social Activity Monitoring
The soft tracks all websites visited by a computer user, all chats and messengers, all typed keys (even passwords if they?ve been typed in). Besides, it records activities on all online and offline applications. Like other most popular keyloggers, REFOG offers invisible mode. The program runs silently so that your target wouldn?t notice that you spy on them. The soft will be helpful for both Windows and Mac OS users.
#5 Iwantsoft Free Keylogger
The keylogger will perfectly meet all your needs in cases you need reliable monitoring software either for business or home. Without further ado, let?s take a look at the list of the features this tracking software offers in its free version:
Keystrokes Recording
– remote control (the reports are delivered by email, FTP, Dropbox, or LAN folder);
– website blocking;
– keystrokes recording;
– used applications;
– activities on social networks;
– setting alerts etc.
For employee monitoring, the keylogger offers extra tools such as collecting statistics, time control and many more. The detailed reports let you check a particular user?s activity as well as general statistics.
#6 KidLogger
KidLogger has become a very popular keylogger among parents thanks to its user-friendly simplicity. The software allows parental control on Android, Windows and Mac OS devices. The features included in the free version for Windows are tracking online activities in Internet Explorer, Mozilla, Google Chrome; limited screenshots capturing (10 screenshots a day);
KidLogger Official Website
webcam snapshots taken at startup (also limited to 10 a day); screenshots capturing and Skype chat tracking. With the help of the free keylogger, you can track up to 5 different devices simultaneously and keep log history during 9 days. As you see, KidLogger is surely a good keylogger for parental control with a plenty of helpful features, though some of the features are limited in the free version.
#7 Best Free Keylogger
The keylogger offers both free and paid versions, which slightly differ in features. Actually, the free version will meet all your needs if you?re looking for a good and intuitive keylogger for computer monitoring. The major features of the software include keystrokes logging, clipboard events monitoring, screenshots capture, and tracking of Internet activity and all running apps. The software can uninstall and clear the recorded logs remotely.
Monitoring of Running Apps
However, the number of screenshots is limited in the free version to 10 pics a day. The free version doesn?t allow you remote monitoring, meaning that log delivery via email, FTP, LAN, USB is available only in the PRO version. Good news for those who think over purchasing the PRO keylogger ? the license doesn?t have an expiration date, so you need to pay only once.
#8 Revealer Keylogger Free
Revealer Keylogger may be too basic software, but it?s a quite useful and user-friendly program offering enough features to satisfy parents? monitoring needs. Though the soft only tracks pressed keys and the apps where keys were typed in, it does a good job of that. Keylogging feature records texts, chats, logins and passwords. The software can monitor conversations over Facebook, Skype and other social apps.
Screenshots Capturing
Password protection is offered to prevent other users from opening it. Thanks to its hidden mode feature, it doesn?t show up in either the Add/Remove Programs or the Taskbar. Extra security is provided through automatic log clean-ups. It also doesn?t slow down the computer which is often a tell-tale sign that someone has installed a keylogger on your computer. The keylogger is also available on CNET with verified users? reviews and ratings.
#9 Ardamax Keylogger
Ardamax is another free keylogger that makes this list. It operates silently in the background, spying on every keystroke and saving all data to a reliably encrypted file accessible only to the admin. A log file may be viewed either as a text or as a web page. Its keystroke logging records all typed keystrokes, hidden characters, and credentials. Chat monitoring is another offered feature, meaning that all messages sent and received via various chat programs are monitored and recorded.
Hidden Mode
The soft also captures periodic screenshots letting you track any kind of computer activity. Moreover, you can record videos via webcam and audio via computer microphone silently. In addition to all these features, Ardamax developers offer remote monitoring via email, meaning that recorded files are periodically sent to your email address. The keylogger is always up-to-date as it?s compatible with all latest Windows versions. The only drawback, though ? the log files aren?t all that easy to read.
#10 Basic Key Logger
Basic Key Logger is software written in python, a widely-used high-level programming language for general-purpose programming and with a design philosophy that emphasizes code readability. The software records keyboard and mouse events, offers invisible icon, though the app is always visible in Task Manager. Despite the fact this keylogger is limited in features, it?s rather helpful when you need to track somebody?s outgoing messages or search queries.
How to Choose the Best Keylogger?
As you see, there?s a plenty of free keyloggers with abundance of useful features both for employee monitoring and parental control.
Some keyloggers such as Spyrix Free Keylogger and KidInspector have no limits on the amount of screenshots or clipboard events and allow remote control via secure web account. Such free keyloggers are perfect for not only simple parental control of 1 device, but also employee monitoring, which can require remote tracking of dozens of devices. Other programs may offer some limits or contain only basic keylogging features. I recommend you to try out the apps from this list one by one and check which one fits all your needs.
