Which of the following is the most accurate definition of a software keylogger?

• A. A self-replicating computer program that penetrates operating systems to spread malicious code to other systems
• B. A type of program that monitors and logs the keys pressed on a system's keyboard
• C. A type of software that, while not definitely malicious, has a suspicious or potentially unwanted aspect to it
• D. A program or command procedure that gives the appearance that it is useful but in fact contains hidden malicious code that causes damage

Answer: (B)

A software keylogger is a program that monitors and logs the keys pressed on a system's keyboard. It runs in the background, capturing keystrokes and storing them in a log file or sending them to another location, which can include passwords, messages, and other sensitive input. This behavior is what distinguishes it from other malware types: a self-replicating program that spreads to other systems is a worm; a program that isn’t clearly malicious but has suspicious traits is a potentially unwanted program; a program that hides malicious code behind a useful appearance is a Trojan. So the most accurate definition is a program that monitors and logs the keys pressed on a system's keyboard.