Comments for How can I tell if my computer's been accessed by someone else, and how do I prevent it?

Comment from Mike on 2011-11-03

2011-11-03T19:13:50Z

I have asked a question that has a few simularities with this 1, my query here is assuming some1 has accessed my laptop, (and they have, there was a search history of a site i havent used. though i am fairly sure it was not a physically typed in search on this keyboard) is there anyway to proceed to both prevent it re-occuring? and if it is flagged up and the isp looking at it think that aint right ect what can i do about it? at the time pop up blocker was off as i heard it slowed windows 7 dramatically, it is now firmly switched on. further note : i access the internet via an internet dongle

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Comment from Hostyourspace on 2010-09-29

2010-09-30T05:54:49Z

My friends keep saying that they can access my macbook when I m not around. Therefore I m using ntego virus barrier x5. But still I am not satisfied, is there a way to know who accessed my computer in my absence.

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Comment from tito on 2010-09-17

2010-09-17T22:27:08Z

i have one programmer in my skype abonats. Once he sent me files trogh skype and asked me to send him too one file. Is it possible to view my ip and than throught someway get remote access to my pc. We dont use the same internet providers. And my connection to internet is with wire. Thank you

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Comment from james on 2010-06-01

2010-06-01T21:16:32Z

recently someone corresponded with a craigslist seller about a ring for sale, and it says it came from my computer or I should say my email name. It wasnt me and I was on my computer durring the time of the correspondance how is this possible

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Comment from CJ Lipe on 2010-05-26

2010-05-26T18:50:33Z

My ex is an IT professional,and I believe he used some type of a thumb drive to change administrative rights, and then routed my computer activities throuh his server. How can I undo or fix this?

Without knowing exactly what was done the only answer I can offer is to backup and reinstall windows and all applications from scratch.

27-May-2010

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Comment from becky on 2010-05-21

2010-05-21T11:33:53Z

my history keeps showing porn sites but i am not accessing them and i know no one can access my laptop?

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Comment from Vandana J on 2010-02-28

2010-02-28T13:56:36Z

I strongly feel my laptop has been hacked as my cursor suddenly starts flying all over.When i click on the address bar it doesn't show any web pages that I had visited because of this I have to type the web site name every time I sit down to surf.Pl let me know if my laptop is being monitored.
Thanks a

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Comment from Leslie on 2010-02-05

2010-02-05T20:47:19Z

can someone use my unsecure wireless router to log onto a server and send emails and it appear to come from my computer, will there be a record of this on my computer if they did not use my computer, just my wireless connection?

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Comment from Tmoore on 2010-01-03

2010-01-03T13:13:50Z

I do believe my xboyfriend is following my traffic on my laptop that he gave me??? Plus he was on my home computer.( which now turn off &on when I turn it on ) Everytime I turn on my laptop their is a message " files are ready to be copy" or when I turn off my computer "others that share this computer might lose files" Please help I know he is in my backroom

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Comment from Sue on 2009-11-18

2009-11-18T19:46:21Z

My roommate has access to MY internet, on her comp. Is there a way I can stop the access aside from removing the modem from her room. I have a laptop, hers is desktop. Weird huh? Help

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Comment from Steven on 2009-02-21

2009-02-22T00:30:44Z

Hi, I was wondering whether you came across something like this. I woke up this morning and found that the task manager was opened and a command prompt was opened with the command "ftp: connect" showing. I found this to be very strange, since my bedroom door was locked, and I was asleep. Any ideas/advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Steven.

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Comment from fisher on 2008-11-28

2008-11-29T01:30:31Z

hi Leo,
this one is weird, I was logging in to yahoo messanger and all of the sudden my pointer start moving by itself and my fiel start opening up and fiels got started transfering out of my computer to God knows where. Who accessed it and how can i found out and prevetn from thi shapping again.
thanks

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A comment on: How can I tell if my computer's been accessed by someone else, and how do I prevent it?

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Comment from ron gismondi on 2008-05-10

2008-05-10T13:49:25Z

access to my computer I suspect from someone close to me. When I initially set up my laptop, when opened, it went directly to my connection. But the qhestion is, how does this person know my contents, I thought my email address password is manditory.thanks

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Comment from Nicole on 2008-03-30

2008-03-31T06:01:05Z

I think my husband has somehow managed to get shared access to my computer to check up on me. My comp crashed last week losing all my work stuff he rebooted and swore he did nothing but Im pretty sure he loaded something again....Please help!!!!

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A comment on: How can I tell if my computer's been accessed by someone else, and how do I prevent it?

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Comment from Leo A. Notenboom on 2008-01-13

2008-01-13T20:22:18Z

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You haven't given a lot of details to go on, but perhaps
this article might be a start:
http://ask-leo.com/iexploreexe_has_generated_an_error_now_what.html

Leo

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A comment on: How can I tell if my computer's been accessed by someone else, and how do I prevent it?

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Comment from mary blankinship on 2008-01-12

2008-01-12T17:10:14Z

hello im not sure whats going on. my computer acts like someone else is doing something on the other end of my computer.everytime i log on a message comes on telling me that windows internet explorer has to abort! this happens (every time)!i have scanned it and it tells me all is fine i am the (only one) who uses this computer so i dont understand what is going on can you help me thanks!

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A comment on: How can I tell if my computer's been accessed by someone else, and how do I prevent it?

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Comment from Marka on 2007-11-28

2007-11-29T00:40:21Z

Hello Leo,
this is my first time to read Your articles, I'm from Croatia, studying informatics, and I think that this theme is very interesting.
I'm not best in English but I have some questions, so please can You answer me :
1. I have ZoneAlarm free firewall. What did You mean by Advanced firewall, or Hardware firewall, because my computer is significantly slowed down, like You said beacuse of my software firewall. And in the last 2 weeks I reinstalled my WinXP 5 times because of trojans and other spyware. I had Avast but now I switched to NOD32 plus Adaware 2007.
2. I have D-Link wireless ADSL 2+ Router (DSL-G684T) and I would like to change the ip address so that only me and my roomate can access the router. We don't even use wireless cards, we are connected to the router with cables. Antenna is also switched from router. Can anyone other now access our internet connection, because we can download 1Gb/month (I know it's silly for US standards) and don't want someone else to use it. And how to turn on that WEP, will it ask me for a password if it's turned on?

Thank You

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A comment on: How can I tell if my computer's been accessed by someone else, and how do I prevent it?

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Comment from wawa on 2007-11-01

2007-11-02T01:19:44Z

Leo,Thank you so much for your answer! Sorry for this late reply. I just found your email in my box tonight. I was so surprised and happy to know that you have answered my question. I really appreciate that you explained everything so well,in details and that you cared to answer all my questions one by one.

Your answer is so clear and easy to understand although it covers a good range of complicated issues. Now I do understand more about internet and internet security because of your great help. I am going to make some changes according to your advice.

I am very grateful. You are great, Leo!!

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A comment on: How can I tell if my computer's been accessed by someone else, and how do I prevent it?

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Comment from leah schenker on 2007-10-19

2007-10-19T14:50:28Z

Thanks for the answer. I also checked the event viewer. It showed some activity during that same period I was away. But apparently nobody had access to me house.
So basically the event viewer and IE History are showing that someone has used the Computer, but nobody was there!? Are those (History and event viewer) reliable? Because you said before " sadly there really isn't a practical way to determine if your computer has been accessed"
If yes, i need to protect my home. I am desperate.
Thanks for your help.

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A comment on: How can I tell if my computer's been accessed by someone else, and how do I prevent it?

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Comment from Leo A. Notenboom on 2007-10-18

2007-10-18T19:59:11Z

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I wouldn't suspect a hack. I think someone just used your computer while you were away.

Leo

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Comment from leah schenker on 2007-10-17

2007-10-17T07:14:39Z

dear Leo,
how realible is the internet explorer hitory? if I see that a document has been accessed during my vacation, how can that be ? could it be a mistake? am I beeing hacked ? thanks, L.S.

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Comment from Craig Williams on 2007-10-13

2007-10-13T20:13:42Z

Under the Start fly-up is Recent Documents.
I was thinking if I did not access the most recent documents listed...........Then someone else must have turned on my computer and and accessed my docs. Yes or No

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Comment from Chris on 2007-10-09

2007-10-09T23:39:04Z

If you really want to be secure, get an advanced firewall that will block EVERYTHING first, and then learn through dialogs sent to you for each application/user/port that tries to access your machine.

Windows Update uses service files for example that connect to the internet to check for updates. Most firewalls will not warn you of this. An Advanced firewall will ask you to give every file permission permanently or just for this session. Even the simple update for your clock requires certain service files to access the internet. You will be prompted about everything...

The downside to this, is that you must have extensive knowledge of exactly what services/files/ports you should be letting through, and which you should not... For example, some random .dll might be asking you for permission to access the internet and you would chose no because you dont know what it is... Later you find out that your clock never updated to modify the new daylights savings time because you never received the hotfix from windows update... You have to know what does what and when to let it through..

Be wary though, software firewalls have to search the header of every single packet that comes in to find a port number. If you have a lot of data coming in and out, a software firewall will give your CPU a workout.. Possibly 15%-30% CPU usage on a decent connection on full load. You chose if it's worth it..

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