Well, you have read our reviews of the KeyGhost hardware-based keystroke logging utility. But, you probably weren't aware of another company in the field. Meet Amecisco Incorporated.

Security, since the events of last September, has become an even bigger concern among everyone. Not just corporations. People have become wary of other users on their own computers. And, sure, there are software products out there that will monitor your system, record keystrokes, and whatnot. But, you need to be aware, these are designed for particular operating systems, they need to be installed to be used, and of course, you need to make sure that it can't be found (which is nearly impossible - even children can find software titles on computers).

What's the alternative? KeyGhost makes a hardware logger, no operating system restrictions, but, for individuals, it can be quite expensive, just for the shipping from New Zealand. In America, we are lucky to have a company that produces a hardware-based logging device, Amecisco.

Amecisco specializes in stealth products and security. This allows them to focus strictly on this field and to produce products that will work better than expected. We were lucky enough to receive their latest hardware product. The 'Hardware KeyLogger Keyboard Edition.' Don't let this long name distract you, as that is exactly what it is.

Hmm, looks like an ordinary OEM (White box) keyboard

Our KeyLogger arrived directly from them, and, if it didn't come with a couple particular items, one would not even know that this was a specially "rigged" keyboard.

The label on the box describing the model (password blurred for obvious reasons)

A Dell QuietKey keyboard is a nice little keyboard that looks like your everyday keyboard. Amecisco can install the device in any type of keyboard. So, if you have a standard keyboard within your office, they can probably make it "special."

Opening the box

Upon opening the box, we discover the keyboard, looks factory packaged, and a special "note" from Amecisco. You may not want to lose this as it contains instructions on how to use the keyboard (discussed later on), and your ever important password to access the data (which can be changed). You also receive your warranty through Amecisco (you don't want to send the keyboard back to it's manufacturer). The standard warranty is 1 year through Amecisco.

The Keyboard, another view

** MCW NOTE: This review was started by one of our reviewers in the hospital after an accident, please ignore the white sheets the pictures were taken on, that was his bed. :)

The Keyboard also has the Dell warranty paper!

Okay, so enough with the keyboard pictures, and on to the testing. Well, our first major testing always consists of trying to break the product, on purpose, through what a normal user can do. With this keyboard, it consisted of a variety of keystrokes. Multiple keystrokes, holding keys down, checking delayed responses. We then checked for any signs during use that would indicate something is wrong (i.e. taking too long for the information to appear on screen, any abnormalities in what we type/press and what appears, etc....).

What did we find? Absolutely NOTHING* (see note later on). To anyone, including us, it was impossible to tell that we would have been monitored if this was our keyboard in an office. Even at home. Parents can keep an eye on what their children are doing. A spouse can monitor their significant other. Roommates can keep track of what goes on behind their backs.

Physical testing for this keyboard was thought about, but, this is a keyboard. It's going to go through standard keyboard lifecycles of excess usage, being dropped, pounded on, etc... We decided to open the keyboard up to see if we would destroy anything.

The keyboard open (sorry, we can't show it)

There is no way that normal keyboard usage will harm or destroy the special addition made to the keyboard by Amecisco. This makes the keyboard something can be used at home/in the office without having to worry about your expensive investment being harmed. Of course, there's no way to stop someone from taking the keyboard, but that's a different security matter.

THE KEYBOARD LOGGER:

Well, just as with the KeyGhost logger, this device uses a special "word" that must be typed out to access the menu. In our case, it came with some long, eight character mix of letters and numbers. Typing this out in Notepad reveals our menu:

The KeyLogger menu

Simple, effective. The Menu gives the user the ability to download the entire logs (or sections, if too large), to erase the logs (and a secure method to make sure it can not be recovered, even by directly viewing the logger's memory), to change the password, filter out keys (good idea during playback), to adjust the playback speed, to see some information about the device (such as version), and exit.

As you can see in the above screen shot, we exposed the keyboard to about 78,000 keystrokes. The 1MB capacity gives about 1 million keystrokes, enough to last about a month of normal use. Of course, if one works for a newspaper or writes manuals, it is probably not going to last that long.

SPEED TEST:

We decided to see how long it would take to extract the keystrokes. Unlike the KeyGhost, you aren't told the exact number of keystrokes in the buffer, just how much memory is used. This is good and bad. It is good in that you can tell how much memory is left, but, is bad when you need to know exactly how much was typed without going through the complete buffer. But, considering that on average, each keystroke fills one byte, 78 Kilobytes is approximately 78,000 keystrokes. (For reference: each KB shown is 1024 bytes)

By now, the buffer shows 80KB, so, we're going to be extracting approximately 82,000 keystrokes at the FAST speed.:

As you can see, if you're going to be extracting a lot of keystrokes, it's wise to go get dinner or grab some coffee, as it will take a while. To do a side by side comparison with the KeyGhost, we extracted the same amount of information, 16,256 characters:

These are our extraction testing results. As you can see, it will take quite some time to extract a lot of keystrokes. Compare this to the KeyGhost:

The KeyGhost beats the KeyLogger, with full retrieval, no questions asked. If speed is a concern, the KeyLogger lacks. BUT, If you don't mind losing the control characters, escape keys, special characters, then the KeyLogger will be the better choice for extraction rate. After all, you don't always need to extract the number of times someone pressed the "left arrow" key, or hit "Escape." But, remember, the KeyGhost offers a faster alternative download method through the serial port, while the KeyLogger does not.

**NOTE: A discussion with Amecisco reveals that a "download adapter" similar to the KeyGhost Turbo Download Adapter is in production phases at this moment, and should be available soon. This will make the KeyLogger on par (if not faster) than the KeyGhost.

PRACTICALITY IN SECURITY:

During the course of our extensive testing, we discovered a few anomalies which would could cause issues during retrieval which would hinder the swiftness required in certain situations.

We have discussed these issues, and they are no longer a problem. We were able to resolve them in house. As soon as the serial port download adapter is released, then the extract speed will not be a concern.

HARDWARE:

As we have gone over earlier, the keyboard we received was the Dell QuietKey keyboard. Amecisco can place the logger in any type/make of keyboard, and can even integrate it into one that you send. This allows for integrating these modified keyboards into the uniform office environment, and not drawing any eyes.

This keyboard is nothing special (it is actually an NMB Keyboard rebranded for Dell). It can be a bit loud at time when typing rapidly. But, that is the keyboard. For those that understand how the keyboard works (internally), it is possible to remove the special logging hardware from within the keyboard, and place it in your own. BE AWARE! We do not recommend this, we would not want anyone to try this, and in all likelihood, you may be "over your head." Please, please, please do not attempt anything that can possibly damage this item. We would not want you to lose your investment. We are able to perform these tests in controlled environments, under close monitoring.

OTHER USES:

The KeyLogger not only serves in matters of security, but is a wonderful backup tool. For those that spend long hours typing away, and need more of an assurance that their precious data is backed up. The KeyLogger ensures that everything you type will be safe. SAFE. Not subject to hard drive crashes, not subject to other computer delays. You can take the keyboard elsewhere, retrieve your data from the keyboard, and continue typing away. This is a great accompanying product for people on the go (the modular version), and if one system goes down, head over to another. Or, if you need to transport data from one type of computer system to another, the KeyLogger comes into play.

PRICING:

Pricing of the Amecisco products compare to the prices offered by Interface Security, Ltd (the makers of the KeyGhost). Shipping, however, will be less (if you are located in the US) when purchasing from Amecisco. The decision is truly yours. We are happy with both. But, if you are not located in New Zealand, it may be an issue if you must return a product as shipping can be quite pricey.

OVERALL:

Amecisco has gone to great lengths to ensure a quality component. Technical support is answered rapidly, and, the 1 year warranty that comes with the product keeps your mind at ease. Of course, theft isn't covered, but if you ever recover your keyboard, you can see what those criminals were up to.

We were very satisfied with the quality of the product. Our testing process produced favorable results, and we have incorporated this keyboard into use. This whole article was retrieved from the KeyLogger keyboard, and as you can see, it's all there (trust us).

Please keep in mind that devices like this used in monitoring purposes may or may not be legal depending on circumstances. For example, in some states, an employer can monitor an employee if they are using the employer's products. But, the employee must be aware of the fact that they are being monitored (although the method does not need be revealed). Check with your local laws to see if you can deploy these in your workplace. In the home, it's all up to you, although, again, in legal matters, you may need to research.

The Amecisco Hardware KeyLogger Keyboard Edition is a wonderful tool for anyone. To monitor your children, your spouse, your friends, your workers, your inept boss (when he keeps losing his password), or for use by 'spies' and legal agencies. If not monitoring, it serves as a wonderful, driver-less backup tool. We were very pleased to have been given the chance to review this wonderful product.

FINAL RATING: EXCELLENT!!! 10 / 10