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5 Best Keylogger Detector Reviews in 2023 | Rootkit Scanners And Removers

5 Top Picks

4 Reviewers

30 Hours of Research

30 Options Considered

Picking an anti-virus is not easy. There are dozens out there and it is hard to tell which one is the right one for you. Here at VSS Monitoring, we designed an easy-to-take quiz that should only take 1 minute to answer. Completing the quiz will help to determine the #1 antivirus for you based off of your needs.

3 Top Keylogger Detectors

mcafee protection

1. [Best Keylogger Detector Overall]

 McAfee Rootkit Remover

4.9/5

Best Rootkit Remover


Only a keylogger detector like McAfee can remove complex rootkits and associated malware.  

It is a stand-alone product that will scan your devices well for rootkits then remove them.

The rootkits that it can remove include Necurs, TDSS family, ZeroAccess, etc.

  • This is one of the best keylogger detectors in the market since it comes with great tools to detect and remove complex rootkits.
  •  It is fast and lightweight hence you will not experience any slowdown after installing it
  • This keylogging detector has a VPN to encrypt your data so you can browse anonymously
avira security

2. [Best For The Money] Avira Prime

4.8/5

Avira Free Security Suite

Normal antiviruses are not able to detect keyloggers since they are designed to hide their presence and avoid detection.  They quietly stay on your computer without detection stealing private information like credit card information, ID numbers, bank account details, and many more.


  •  It is a powerful rootkit remover or anti-keylogger  that will prevent your private information from being stolen by hackers
  •  It also comes with free security for Windows 10
  •  It has a free VPN to give privacy when browsing the internet
total av protection

3. [Best For The Powerful Scanning] TotalAV Security

4.7/5

Powerful Scanning

With their advanced anti-malware engine, TotalAV is able to identify and delete very well deeply rooted keyloggers.

During my tests, the scanner produced excellent malware-detection results. With a total of 300 malware samples, it effectively-identified 99% of the collection.


  • Safe site analyzes and blocks suspicious sites that avoids detection

  • Offers keylogger programs protection-it detects keystroke/s or malicious activities
  • Anti-ransomware encrypts your files to avoid ransom attacks

If you want to protect yourself against keyloggers that cybersecurity threats use to eavesdrop on you, install the best keylogger detector on your PC.  It can detect the newest and most advanced malware such as rootkits, spyware, Trojans, just to name a few, as well as protect your home network.

After several tests, I have identified McAfee Rootkit remover, Avira prime, TotalAv Security, Bitdefender Total Security, and Norton360 as anti-keylogger software that will provide keylogger protection. 

I will discuss their main features, keylogger detection rates, pricing, web protection, and many more. Continue reading to learn more about these tools.

Best Keylogger Detector Reviews

[Best Keylogger Detector Overall]

4.9/5

Your privacy matters more than ever and that’s why you need the best malware protection. Cybercriminals use a keylogger; this is a type of keylogger malware that is designed to steal passwords; record the web pages that you are visiting, take screenshots, and even take your sensitive financial information.

mcafee protection

Best Rootkit Remover

Only a keylogger detector like McAfee can remove complex rootkits and associated malware.  

It is a stand-alone product that will scan your devices well for rootkits then remove them.

The deeply embedded rootkits that it can remove include Necurs, TDSS family, ZeroAccess, etc.

It will monitor all the actions on your devices so it can block in time keyloggers before they steal your sensitive data.

A decent range of features

This rootkit detector comes with a bucketful of features that you will find helpful. First of all, its support for various devices is great. There is McAfee for PC, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

It has 600 million devices that are protected and 67.2 billion queries of malicious software daily.

You will get a VPN that will improve your online privacy. It even hides your IP address so nobody is able to tell your location, or what you are doing online since your data is encrypted.  This feature is also useful when using public Wi-Fi or when trying to access geo-restricted content.

Parental controls; parental controls will enable you to closely monitor well what your kids are doing online. With parental controls you will be able to monitor their social media activities and even block offensive content.

Identity Theft Protection; is an extremely crucial feature that will prevent hackers from stealing your information. Identity theft has evolved beyond credit card fraud, and now criminals obtain identifiable data like social security numbers and passwords to commit more crimes.

This keylogger software will alert you when your information is being sold online so you can do something about it and keep ypur data private.

McAfee WebAdvisor; anti phishing protection will keep you safe from phishing sites that attempt to steal credit card information.

McAfee Rootkit Remover Pros

  • This is one of the best keylogger detectors in the market since it comes with great tools to detect and remove complex rootkits.
  •  It is fast and lightweight hence you will not experience any slowdown after installing it
  •  It can detect and block hidden rootkit or monitoring software
  •  MacAfee will secure your microphone and webcam from hijacking
  • It has an advanced scanner to detect and block any key logger from submitting personal data even if it’s already in your device
  • This keylogging detector has a VPN to encrypt your data so you can browse anonymously
  •  It has been delivering good antivirus solutions against keyloggers for over 30 years now and has over 600 million computers and phones covered

McAfee Rootkit Remover Cons

  • I honestly did not find any limitation with this keylogger detector

[Best for The Money]

4.8/5

Can Avira detect keyloggers? Yes, it has one of the most advanced engines and features on the market to block advanced malware including key loggers. It monitors for suspicious behavior, plus detects and blocks all the keyloggers out there.

avira security

Avira Free Security Suite

Normal antiviruses are not able to detect keyloggers since they are designed to hide their presence and avoid detection.  They quietly stay on your computer without detection stealing private information like credit card information, ID numbers, bank account details, and many more.

 Only a powerful and sophisticated rootkit remover or Anti-keylogger is able to detect these types of malicious programs or activities very well.  

If you suspect that your computer has been infected with a keylogger malware, download and install Avira free security suite.  Follow these steps in order to stay safe from keyloggers.

Open up the program, click antivirus.

  • Proceed to scan your computer for any rootkit. Choose full malware scan to make sure that there is no keylogger malware of any kind left on your computer
  • If the malware scan will detect keyloggers, it will delete automatically. This anti keylogger will also give you a recommendation on how to make regular scans

Avira Pricing Plans

Avira has premium plans and they include Antivirus Pro that costs $35.99 per year for 1 device. Features that you will get in this plan include threat protection including keyloggers, password manager, and software updater.

The second pricing plan is Internet Security that costs $37.99 per year for 1 device. It comes with a monitoring software updater, keyloggers removal tool, a password manager plus you will have access to more premium solutions. The third pricing plan is Avira Prime.

Avira Prime costs $47.99 for 1 year and covers up to 5 devices. It blocks all keyloggers and other suspicious programs including, Trojan, spyware, etc. You will get a free VPN, passwords manager, system speed up,keystroke detector and software updater.

Avira Prime Pros

  •  It is a powerful rootkit remover or anti-keylogger  that will prevent your private information from being stolen by hackers
  •  It also comes with free security for Windows 10
  •  It has a free VPN to give privacy when browsing the internet
  • It comes with a powerful scanner to detect and delete keyloggers programs unlike its competitor Spyshelter
  • It also deletes major malicious programs like Trojan, and spyware
  • It supports various operating systems of a user such as Windows, Android, iOS, etc
  • It also comes with a password manager to protect your accounts on the internet. It also generates strong passwords for you

Avira Prime Cons

  •  Its pricing plans are a bit expensive for some users

[Best for The Powerful Scanning]

4.7/5

TotalAv is an easy to use antivirus with a built-in anti-keylogger.  Its engineers focused on performance, web protection, ease of use, just to name a few. Despite a late entry in the security niche, TotalAv is one of the companies that have made a name for itself in the last few years.

total av protection

Powerful Scanning

Unlike traditional virus scanning, with their advanced anti-malware engine, TotalAv is able to identify and delete very well deeply rooted keyloggers.

During my tests, the rootkit scanner produced excellent keylogger detection results. With a total of 300 malware samples, it effectively-identified 99% of the collection.

This Anti-keylogger gives top-notch security for all of your devices including computers, smartphones, and tablets.

This is because it supports different operating systems like Android, iOS, and Windows 10 so you don't need to get different antivirus software for all your devices.

Real-time antivirus and malware protection

This Keylogger detector software or Anti-keylogger provides real-time keylogger protection of your home network. It runs in the background to make sure that there is no keylogger spyware recording of your computer’s encrypt keystrokes.

If there is an attack, TotalAv may prompt you to reboot your system so as to complete keylogger malware removal.

Before every scan, this powerful tool will automatically check for virus definition updates for better scan results. It has a free version but you will not get active real-time keylogger protection.

Other Useful Features

  • Intuitive user interface; It has an easy to use user interface and installs with only a few mouse clicks, making it a great option for users with little or no experience with antivirus programs.
  • Has a good VPN to offer online anonymity
  • Duplicate file finder checks your computer system for duplicates documents, photos, music, or video and then delete so to save disk space
  • Safe site analyzes and blocks suspicious sites that avoids keylogger detection
  • Offers keylogger protection-it detects keystroke/s or malicious activities and other running processes
  • Anti-ransomware encrypts your files to avoid ransom attacks
  • A remote firewall allows access and manage devices of a user remotely
  • System clean up deletes potentially unwanted programs so as to speed your computer performance

TotalAV Security Pros

  • Its Keylogging detection is superb; it is able to remove deeply rooted keyloggers
  • The app is lightweight and can be installed easily by users with little computer experience
  • It offers you all the tools you need to block Keystroke logging.  It also comes with anti-malware, anti-ransomware, anti-adware, and anti-spyware to keep your devices safe
  • TotalAv always updates their virus definitions so you can always be protected from new malicious program/s
  • It supports all operating systems such as Windows, Android, iOS, etc
  • They have a good customer support  staff that is always ready to assist

TotalAV Security Cons

  • Its free version has limited features

Bitdefender is at the forefront of rootkit monitoring. It deals with them quickly and effectively to prevent hackers from exposing your private data or recording all the keystrokes.

bitdefender protection

Remove keyloggers

It is one of the best keylogger detectors in the market today.

It is an anti-malware and anti-keylogger at the same time. 

With a quick scan, Bitdefender total security scans the files in devices of a user for both known and unknown keyloggers that avoid detection.

You can run the Bitdefender rootkit remover without switching your computer to safe mode.

 Just click on start scan and then watch Bitdefender rootkit remover scan each file on your device to remove keyloggers.

Bitdefender keylogger detector

Bitdefender's new hyper-detect feature detects and blocks attacks at pre-execution. For instance, you might receive a phishing email with an aim of tricking you to click on a malicious site.  When you click on the link, you get a keylogger installed on your computer.

Bitdefender's will be able to prevent very well such file attacks before they execute and infect your computer system. Using real-time keylogger protection, Bitdefender will protect your computer data and user names, as well as take the necessary steps to terminate hidden online malicious threats processes such as;

  • Banking Trojan
  • Targeted attacks
  • Malicious websites
  • Keyloggers
  • Ransomware  and malware

It's considered one of the best anti-keylogger programs due to its ability to analyze command lines and stop attacks from executing.

Affordable Pricing Plans

This security company offers 3 pricing plans and they include Bitdefender Antivirus plus which costs $24 for 3 devices per year. The second one is Bitdefender Total Security and costs $34 for 5 devices per year.

The last one is Bitdefender Internet Security that costs $29.99 and covers up to 3 devices for a year.

Bitdefender Total Security Pros

  • The antivirus program is lightweight, fast, and accurate, at detecting and removing hidden rootkit/s and keyloggers
  • Offers great keylogger protection;It can handle a colossal of keyloggers software in real-time
  • It has bonus features to protect your computer system from vulnerability attacks and other data-stealing spyware
  • Bitdefender comes with a browser extension to protect your financial transactions
  • It supports various operating system such as Windows, Android, iOS, etc
  • Uses the most advanced innovative tools to predict and eliminate potential system threats unlike its competitors such as Spyshelter
  • This Keylogging detector has a free version to test how the anti virus software works plus comes with affordable pricing plans
  • Carries out vulnerability scans to check for system leaks

Bitdefender Total Security Cons

  • It can sometimes be too aggressive to block or disable installed software

4.5/5

Use Norton 360 to eliminate deeply rooted and hidden keyloggers that normal antivirus programs fail to detect and remove. It has a Norton power eraser, a free tool specifically designed to deal with malicious threats such as rootkits.

It is one of the advanced virus removal tools. It is also lightweight on your system.

norton deluxe

High-tech security suite

The Norton 360 engine uses advanced machine learning technology to detect and remove keyloggers that might be deployed to steal your personal information.

 The antivirus program was able to block 100% of the keyloggers that I tested it with.

Proactive defense

One of the unique things I've noticed about Norton 360 is their usage of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to increase computer keylogger protection and prevent cyberattacks before they execute.

Its other features include the following;

  • Protection against Identity theft
  • Protection against phishing attacks
  • Blocking or disabling suspicious programs from recording your keystrokes
  • Offers keylogger/rootkit protection
  • It keeps updating its malware database

NortonLifeLock

Apart from keeping your devices safe, this company gives insurance policies. It alerts you in any case, your social security number or any other personal information is used to apply for credit or any other service.

It will reimburse you up to $25,000 for lost or stolen funds on their $10 plan if you are a victim of identity theft. It will alert you if any payment transaction is done from your account.

Generates security and credit reports

Depending on the package you have subscribed to, LifeLock will generate a credit  report once a year.

It is also equipped with an excellent tool for Darkweb monitoring. If your email address or personal information pops up on some dark web site, they will alert you so you can take the necessary measures.

Norton Power Eraser

This tool uses advanced malware scanning technology to get deeper into your computer system and eliminate hidden threats compared to other antivirus programs.

Norton360 Pros

  • Norton360 provides a secure VPN to offer online anonymity
  • Comes with great keylogger protection;it is a powerful Anti-keylogger software that removes deeply rooted malware unlike its competitors such as Spyshelter
  • They have a good customer support staff dedicated to answering all your questions
  • Their antivirus program ensures your devices are safe from ransomware and other viruses that record keystrokes like keyloggers
  • This  anti-keylogger program produces excellent results
  • This keylogging detector has support for various operating systems such as windows, android, and Mac
  • The packages come with cloud storage to backup system files and personal information

Norton360 Cons

  • Because Norton power eraser is an aggressive rootkit removal tool, it can flag legitimate programs. There is an option to undo the results of a scan if this happens to you

Best Keylogger Detector Buying Guide

Can a keylogger be detected?

Before answering this question, it is extremely important to know what a keylogger is.  Also known as rootkit virus, this is software that is able to record all keystrokes.

Your device can be infected by keyloggers when you click on a compromised link. Keystroke recording programs can be installed just about anywhere inside your device system, starting from the operating system, a script inside the web page, device memory, or by posing as a keyboard driver.

Detecting Keyloggers is usually difficult because most of them penetrate deep into your computer. They hide their presence and some modify various API functions. Others come with their own drivers which they install so as to remain invisible.

They are also tough to remove especially if they are deeply rooted in the Microsoft Windows root system. Others insert themselves into the antivirus whitelists making them difficult to detect and remove.

This is the reason why you need Internet security software that can remove them such as a keylogger detector, a rootkit remover, or an anti-keylogger software.

How do I know if I have a keylogger?

If your computer appears to lag when you type, this could be a sign of a keylogger, although many other scenarios could also cause this symptom. Another straightforward test is to look for a small hardware-based keylogger device connected between the end of the keyboard cable and the computer's keyboard input.

What is the best keylogger?

Like I mentioned before, keyloggers are programs used to record everything you type on your keyboard. It is a harmless tool but in the hands of a hacker, it is dangerous since it is used to steal sensitive information for them.

Can a hacker see my keystrokes?

Keyloggers record every keystroke the user makes, and hackers can use this data to decipher your passwords and other confidential information. Unfortunately, keyloggers are very difficult to detect and remove.

Keyloggers can be installed through webpage script. This is done by exploiting a vulnerable browser and the keystroke logging is launched when the user visits the malicious website.

How cyber-criminals use key loggers

criminals will use keyloggers to steal personally identifiable information such as;

  • Your account username and password
  • Gain access to private content or personal information
  • Financial information such as account PIN codes
  • Credit card numbers

 Once they have this information, they will be able to access your financial accounts, commit fraud, or steal your identity.

The best keylogger detectors should record all the keys that are typed on a site and in secret. The person monitored should not know that there is a program tracking them hence it should hide in the system.

Is Installing a Keylogger Illegal?

It is worth noting that Keyloggers are legal. They are useful when monitoring the online activities of your kids, your employee, etc. If there are free versions, better so you can test how these tools work.

It is used as monitoring software to record the information typed on a site then sends it to a third party.  The software can be used legally. Parents can use this program to closely monitor well what their kids are doing on the internet.

Companies can track their employees to see if they are sharing out information that could damage their businesses. However, criminals use key loggers to steal personal data and user names, which is illegal. Only a good Keylogger detector or an anti-keylogger can tell if your privacy has been compromised or not.

What is the Best Anti keylogger

If you suspect that someone gained access to your logins, probably you have a keylogger in your operating system.

The best anti keyloggers such as McAfee Rootkit remover, Norton power eraser, Avira Prime, Spyshelter, TotalAV Security, Bitdefender Total Security, and Norton360 have been designed to remove undetectable programs.

They are also my favorite companies since they provide microphone and webcam security protections. They come with good keylogger protection features that will detect keyloggers and get rid of them including;

  • Machine learning and advanced scanner to remove even the most disguised keyloggers that record all the keystrokes.
  • Real-time computer protection; this will be running in the background to provide keylogger protection
  • Support various operating systems such as Windows, Android, iOS.
  • Password Manager; Password manager stores your passwords and even generate new ones. Password manager can enter password for you when logging to your favorite sites.
  • A VPN; is a good tool if you care about your privacy online. It will block ISP, governments, hackers from accessing your browsing data. It is provided free by most keylogger detectors
  • Lightweight; Antivirus software that are lightweight have operations in the cloud. Only a small agent is installed on your computer and does not slow down its performance, even when doing a malware full scan.

FAQs

1. What is the best Keylogger detector?

Here are the Top 3 Keylogger Detectors that we can recommend.

1. McAfee Rootkit Remover -
Only a keylogger detector like McAfee can remove complex rootkits and associated keylogger malware.
The rootkit detector is a stand-alone product that will scan your devices well for rootkits then remove them.
The rootkits that it can remove include Necurs, TDSS family, ZeroAccess, etc.

2. Avira Prime -
Normal antiviruses are not able to detect keyloggers since they are designed to hide their presence and avoid detection. They quietly stay on your computer without detection stealing private information like credit card details, ID numbers, bank account information, chat messages and many more.

3. TotalAV Security -
With their advanced anti-malware engine, TotalAV is able to identify and delete very well deeply rooted keyloggers and potentially unwanted programs. During my tests, the scanner produced excellent malware-detection results. With a total of 300 stealth malware samples, it effectively-identified 99% of the collection.

2. Can keyloggers be detected?

Yes, keyloggers can be detected. There are a few different ways to do this, but the most common is by using an anti-virus program. If you have a good anti-virus program, it will scan your computer for any programs that are designed to track your keystrokes.

3. Can a keylogger listen to your conversations?

Yes, keyloggers can listen you every conversations in your device. Additionally, a remote keylogger can activate the microphone and record conversations. This enables the hacker to listen in on your private communications, which may include video calls and voice chats. The information is transmitted to a remote server via a remote keylogger.

4. Will a keylogger record passwords?

Yes. A keylogger is a piece of software — or, more frighteningly, a hardware device — that records every keystroke you make on your keyboard. Personal messages, passwords, credit card numbers, and anything else you type can be captured.

5. Is a keylogger spyware?

A keylogger is a type of spyware that is particularly damaging. Keyloggers are software programs that monitor your online activity and provide hackers with access to your personal information. The passwords and credit card numbers you type, the websites you visit – all of this information can be gathered by logging your keyboard strokes.

About Dusan Stanar

I'm the founder of VSS Monitoring. I have been both writing and working in technology in a number of roles for dozens of years and wanted to bring my experience online to make it publicly available. Visit https://www.vssmonitoring.com/about-us/ to read more about myself and the rest of the team.