How this happens

BOISE -- A local attempted rape trial continued today to reveal just how easy it is to have your privacy invaded by someone with sinister intentions.  

Stephen Newman, 32, of Meridian is on trial in a case that involves offering an intended rape victim a free iPod online, and then making arrangements for her to pick it up at a porta-potty in a Boise park.

The woman realized the offer was suspicious, and called police.

Officers later arrested Newman at McDevitt Park and say they found several incriminating items in his car.

During the trial, a forensic expert testified he believes Newman chose his victim and made contact with her by hacking into her computer and then her MySpace account - even though it was set to private. 

Ada County prosecutors say it was all part of an elaborate plan to lure his target to a location where he could rape her.  The prosecution rested its case today and Newman's defense will start Wednesday.

In the meantime, NewsChannel 7 has been digging into the issue this case raises - how vulnerable you might be to computer hackers. What Newman is accused of doing is called key logging. We talked to a local computer expert about how it allows total strangers to get inside your computer.

It’s a simple device either physically put on a computer or it can be downloaded as well.  And it allows people to monitor your typing to pick out your password.

It would seem that a simple stroke of a key would be only that.  Putting numbers and letters on your computer screen for what you intend it to do.

But for some that innocent push of the button is actually a way into your world.  They're known as key loggers -- and they're watching your every stroke.

"Key logger is a piece of software or hardware that traps your key strokes," said Paul Peterson.

Boise Computer Store Owner Paul Peterson says key logging started as a way for employers to monitor how much data was put in a computer. But over the year's it's grown to be much more.

"It's a tool of choice for criminals because it tells everything that that person is doing, every keystroke, every Web sites, all the letters or memos that they are typing in, the key logger will record that," said Peterson.

There are three ways to install key loggers.  Hardware, which is a thin cord from your keyboard to your computer.  Software, which the hacker has to install on your hard drive.  And the most dangerous, the Trojan horse.

"If it is sent to you via a Trojan horse and you double click on that file and it executes, you wouldn't see that execution take place," said Peterson.

Without you knowing, the key logger is in -- and every button you push recorded.   

With that information -- it's easy access to everything from online bank accounts to MySpace.  And it's happening without you even knowing.

The key loggers hide in your computer's control panel under names you would never consider suspicious.

They’re hard to detect and use very little memory -- so they don't slow down your system.

Peterson says the best way to find out if a key logger has infected you is get an anti-virus that specifically looks for key loggers.