A Novel Approach to Detecting and Mitigating Keyloggers

Damilola Elelegwu, Lei Chen, Yiming Ji, Jongyeop Kim

Research output: Contribution to book or proceedingConference articlepeer-review

Abstract

As the digital world gets increasingly ingrained in our daily lives, cyberattacks - especially those involving malware - are growing more complex and common, which calls for developing innovative safeguards. Keylogger spyware, which combines keylogging and spyware functionalities, is one of the most insidious types of cyberattacks. This malicious software stealthily monitors and records user keystrokes, amassing sensitive data, such as passwords and confidential personal information, which can then be exploited. This research introduces a novel browser extension designed to effectively thwart keylogger spyware attacks. The extension is underpinned by a cutting-edge algorithm that meticulously analyzes input - related processes, promptly identifying and flagging any malicious activities. Upon detection, the extension empowers users with the immediate choice to terminate the suspicious process or validate its authenticity, thereby placing crucial real-time control in the hands of the end user. The methodology used guarantees the extension's mobility and adaptability across various platforms and devices. This paper extensively details the development of the browser extension, from its first conceptual design to its rigorous performance evaluation. The results show that the extension considerably strengthens end-user protection against cyber risks, resulting in a safer web browsing experience. The research substantiates the extension's efficacy and significant potential in reinforcing online security standards, demonstrating its ability to make web surfing safer through extensive analysis and testing.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationSoutheastCon 2024
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages1583-1590
Number of pages8
ISBN (Electronic)9798350317107
DOIs
StatePublished - 2024
Event2024 IEEE SoutheastCon, SoutheastCon 2024 - Atlanta, United States
Duration: Mar 15 2024Mar 24 2024

Publication series

NameConference Proceedings - IEEE SOUTHEASTCON
ISSN (Print)1091-0050
ISSN (Electronic)1558-058X

Conference

Conference2024 IEEE SoutheastCon, SoutheastCon 2024
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityAtlanta
Period03/15/2403/24/24

Scopus Subject Areas

  • Computer Networks and Communications
  • Software
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Control and Systems Engineering
  • Signal Processing

Keywords

  • Browser Extension
  • Keylogger spyware
  • Keystroke logging
  • Keystrokes
  • Mobile security
  • Routes
  • Threat detection

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