Treffer: Keylogger Simulation using Python for Cybersecurity Awareness

In this article we have showcased the development and deployment of a Keylogger Simulation through use of the scripting language Python, to depict the operation of keystroke logging and logging devices as reflected in the context of cybersecurity in general and data privacy in particular. The system was capable of logging keyboard input, obtaining data of the currently active application, and taking screenshots at timed intervals to illustrate how malicious software may work. The data was recorded locally and optionally sent via email as part of the demonstration. Notably, unlike some of the commercially available malicious keyloggers, this activity is strictly for civic or educational value, with an objective of sharing awareness of data privacy and the associated implications and the associated risks and countermeasures. Experimental testing confirmed that the system could reliably record keystrokes and save screenshots. Overall the project was instrumental in providing a practical illustration of how keystroke loggers operate, while providing a valuable reminder of ethics and obligations of respectable legal conduct where cybersecurity is concerned.