SECURITY outfit iDefense expects crackers to release more than 6,000 keylogging programs this year- up 65 per cent from the number in 2004.

According to iDefense, in 2000, hackers released just 300 keyloggers. In 2001, the number dropped to 275. However the hacking technique started to gain in popularity between 2002 and 2003, when the number rose from 444 to 1230.

This year, the total is expected to nearly double from 3,753 last year to just under 6200 by December.

iDefense Security Intelligence Services Joe Payne said that keylogging was an effective method for hackers. Fraudsters can launch hundreds of keylogging attacks around the world in seconds, gathering sensitive data to conduct large-scale monetary transfers for their illegal activities.

The company reckons that each key logging attack costs a company just under $4,000 in wasted time, extra security precautions and call outs for pizza and coffee.

I kind of like that realistic last sentence.