As the post-pandemic world continues to adopt remote and hybrid work models, employers are seeking ways to keep an eye on their staff when they aren’t physically present in the office. This can mean anything from more frequent sync calls to installing spyware on work computers. At some point, your employer might want to install an app like Spyrix on your MacBook to better track how you spend your time. But what if you found Spyrix on your Mac, and you don’t recall anyone at work mentioning it? Let’s talk about what Spyrix is, how it works, and how to remove Spyrix when it’s unwanted.
What is Spyrix Keylogger?
Spyrix Keylogger is free software that can be installed and run on any device. It records keyboard activity, which reveals everything that is typed by that keyboard to the person who installed the Spyrix software. This can include login details, the content of emails and chats, and much more.
Other than keyboard activity, Spyrix can also record websites visited and take periodic screenshots of the computer monitor. The Spyrix user can access all of this data via an online dashboard in a web account.
Is Spyrix safe to use?
If you are wondering if Spyrix is safe to use, stop and consider what you are installing.
By installing Spyrix, you are installing a piece of spyware that is specifically designed to monitor someone without their knowledge. Therefore, this is hardly a program conceived of with high ethical standards in mind.
Therefore, before you install this keylogger spyware, you need to take the following points into serious consideration and judge if it is worth the risk:
- Spyware can open the door to more spyware. By installing Spyrix, you may also be unwittingly installing something else that is much more insidious. How do you know that the information being recorded — usernames, passwords, sensitive business information — isn’t also being transmitted to a third-party online source somewhere?
- The risk of malware goes up. In addition to possibly loading extra spyware onto your computer, there is also the possibility of malware being brought onto your device. If you give permission for something to be installed on your Mac, your consent can override the security precautions that Apple has in place. Once the digital floodgates are open, anything can come in.
- You’re opening yourself up to legal action. If you are using a keylogger to monitor your kids, then no worries here. They’re hardly likely to have a lawyer on speed dial. But if you are monitoring an adult, they will most likely take great offense at finding keylogging software on their computer. It’s possible that they will seek legal representation. You may not be looking at jail time, but you could be looking at big fines being imposed.
Is using Spyrix Keylogger legal?
Buying and owning the Spyrix software is not illegal, but whether or not it is legal to covertly record the actions of another person will depend on where in the world you use it.
Spyrix could be used as parental control software or employee monitoring software. But even these uses aren’t entirely cut and dried. Some countries have very strict laws in place regarding privacy. They require that you have the consent of the person being monitored. Otherwise, you could find yourself in legal trouble for using Spyrix monitoring.
It can also be viewed as illegal to install Spyrix on another person’s device without permission. So, if your goal is to monitor someone secretly without their knowledge, then the prior consent needed defeats the purpose.
If you use Spyrix to monitor your children, then legal considerations will not be an issue. Using Spyrix to violate the privacy of an employee or friend, however, is much more serious, and a lawsuit could follow.
Can Spyrix be installed remotely?
If it isn’t possible to gain physical access to a device, Spyrix can be installed remotely. But there are two problems.
The first problem is that the device needs to be specially set up for remote access in advance. If remote access hasn’t been set up, then installing Spyrix remotely will not be possible.
The other issue is that you need administrator privileges to install any kind of software on a device. If you are an employer and the device belongs to you, this won’t be a problem. If the device doesn’t belong to you, you’re out of luck.
Installing a keylogger on a device that doesn’t belong to you, without the user’s consent, implies the use of underhanded and unethical strategies that we will not reveal here. Following that path would lead you into murky legal waters.
How to detect Spyrix keylogger
If you are suspicious that your device is being monitored, there are some ways to detect Spyrix, along with some telltale signs that you may have it installed on your MacBook. We’ll also show you how to remove Spyrix.
Your Macbook will slow to a crawl
It’s likely that Spyrix will consume a lot of your CPU power, which will slow other processes down. Open Activity Monitor on your Mac to see which running apps are using up a large amount of CPU. If you don’t recognize the name of a process that’s running, try force-quitting it. If it comes back again and slows down your Macbook, you may have a problem.
Use antivirus software to track down the problem
If you’re having performance issues with your MacBook and unknown programs in Activity Monitor are chewing up your CPU, then it’s time to find out for sure. We recommend Clean My Mac X.
After installing Clean My Mac X, run a malware removal scan. If Spyrix is on your Mac, the Malware Removal tool will find it and remove it for you. We’ll cover these instructions in more detail below. You can also run Optimization, System Junk, and Privacy scans to clean up anything that is slowing down your computer and putting junk files in your hard drive.
Finally, figure out how the keylogger got onto your computer in the first place and take action to make sure that it doesn’t happen again.
What is Spyrix Keylogger used for?
Spyrix can record everything a user types on their keyboard, take screenshot captures, do live screen hacking, and remotely turn on your webcam.
Additional features include:
- Application activity: Reveals live running programs
- User activity: Registers who uses the device and when they use it
- Remote installation: Installed on remote devices via Web access
- Search services monitoring: Can recognize search terms
- External devices: Can spy on USB connections, printer activity, and removable drives
- Invisible mode: Runs in the background and does not show in the list of running and installed applications, desktop tray, or Start menu
- Keyword alerts: Can detect specific keywords and issue alerts
There are many ways spyware can end up on your computer, smartphone, or other devices. To install the app, someone had to download it and run it either physically or remotely via the web. Your remote work company may have installed it if you agreed to the use of remote employee monitoring programs. Additionally, if you are underage, your parents may have downloaded it.
Other than that, you may have installed it without knowing what it is. Or you may have been tricked into installing it. Apps can be installed by downloading them, clicking on a link, or even visiting a website and granting permissions or accepting updates. You should also check for bundled apps when doing downloads. This is a common way unwanted apps can get into your devices.
Is Spyrix malware?
Malware, by definition, is coded to spy, damage, disrupt, or gain unauthorized access to a device. While some apps are coded and used strictly by cybercriminals, others exist in a gray area. These include monitoring software for workers, parenting apps, and other commercial spyware that have the potential to be used for criminal purposes. If the user has not granted their permission to have Spyrix installed and used, then it is malware and therefore prohibited under law.
How to remove the free Spyrix Keylogger from your Mac
You can remove this software manually by following a few steps. It’s important to note that because the app usually runs in the background, once you power up your Mac, you first need to close the app to uninstall it.
Uninstall Spyrix manually
To remove Spyrix from your Mac:
- Force-shutdown Spyrix by pressing Option-Command-Esc. This will launch the Force Quit menu.
- Find Spyrix Keylogger in the list of apps.
- Click Force Quit.
- Go to the Finder window, and choose Go > Applications.
- Right-click or hold Control and click Spyrix Keylogger.
- Click Move to Trash.
Spyrix, like any malware or spyware, may also create temporary or permanent files hidden in folders, in your system, and in your cache.
Remove Spyrix using CleanMyMac X
Manually removing the program should prevent it from running. However, if you don’t know how it got there in the first place, removing all traces of the program is a good idea. You can do this by using software like CleanMyMac X. It can delete any malware or malware-like application, including its leftover files, in just a few clicks.
To remove Spyrix with CleanMyMac X:
- Download CleanMyMac X and open it.
- In the sidebar, select Malware Removal.
- Click Scan.
- CleanMyMac X will detect the keylogger.
- Select it and click on Remove.
CleanMyMac X will detect the malicious app and all files it created, and you will be able to completely remove it from your Mac. CleanMyMac X can also help you detect other spyware or malware. Plus, if you run the System Junk scan, it will remove all outdated cache and log files, freeing up space for better performance.
It doesn’t take a professional hacker to install spyware, keyloggers, and malware on your Mac or your iPhone (here’s what to do if you’re worried your iPhone might be listening to you). Today, countless sites offer apps and software that can not only breach your privacy rights but cause a lot of damage. Staying informed and taking the correct action is the best way to prevent someone from knowing what you type, seeing the sites you look at, recording your screen and video chats, and much more.
