Is winlogon.exe. A keylogger program.

[notcomputersaavy]

I received an email stating if I have 2 winlogon.exe programs listed in my task manager I may have been keylogged. I only see one. Is that a program that logs everything I do, even my keystrokes? If yes can I remove it. If no, how can I tell if a keystroke logger is installed on this laptop. It is a work laptop.

 

[Someone Somewhere]

winlogon.exe is the Windows logon service; your computer won't work without it.

It looks like there's malware that might disguise itself as that, making it look like you have two copies. If you only have one, you're fine.

Trusting everything you read in a random email is usually a bad idea, though.

 

[dataDINK]

Someone Somewhere, Great Avatar. I have that comic strip posted all around at work to get rid of the demons of stupidity.

As for your keylogger question. Since the laptop is owned by the business you work for, it is legal to track internet usage how they see fit, yes even using a keylogger. I'm not saying there is one, if you want to know, you should just ask. However, if there is, and you use the computer, say, to check your personal email, and they infact use those logs to violate your privacy then they are now in violation of wiretap laws.

The problem is, as with anything, that there is a grey area in wiretapping laws right now. In Illinois, a few years ago, they had to rewrite wiretapping laws because cops were arresting people for recording police encounters. Just understand that when there is no reasonable expectation of privacy, such as in a work setting, they have the right to record video sound and keystrokes without notifying you. BUT, when there is a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as a private phone call between you and a friend, recording without notification is ILLEGAL.

I know that right now the US is trying to rewrite wiretap laws in favor of the federal government, but the same general rule of thumb will probably apply. Privacy expected, Illegal. No expectation of privacy, not illegal. In this case, I personally would just not do anything personal on the laptop.