Computer Hacking.

[Keith]

Ok, I have a problem that has become a big inconvenience for me. About a week or so ago, somebody evidently hacked in to my computer system, deleted my myspace account.......wiped out everything on myspace. Plus, whoever it is, has gone in on my yahoo account and has changed my password three times. I have had to go to yahoo and create new passwords just so that I can log on to my e-mail.

Today, I went to my xanga account, and somebody had not only changed my password on that account, but they deleted all of my blogs, all the way back to Nov. 2005.

I need some major help. Can anybody give me some advice on what to do...or is there some type of security software that I can install that will keep hackers away?

[Curt]

Ya gotta watch that Myspace...I have noticed some funny stuff that goes on there...friends that got added to my friends list that I never added and stuff like that.

[keving]

You might have some sort of spyware or trojan on your computer. Make sure you have the latest updates for your anti-virus. If you don't have anti-virus, get it!

Also, check out programs like Spybot Search and Destroy. It will search for known programs and remove them for you.

Good luck!

[Midtowner]

Also, get a firewall. ZoneAlarm is a pretty good free firewall.

[Martin]

i doubt your computer was compromised. i'd bet that you use the same password for yahoo mail, xanga and myspace. either that or you signed up for xanga and myspace with your yahoo account and somebody gained access to it. if you forget your password on either xanga or myspace, you can have it emailed to the account with which you signed up. so if the badguys can get into your email, they can get your passwords for xanga and myspace.

if all three were targeted at the same time, i'd venture a guess that it's somebody you know either online or personally. i believe you've stated on this board that you frequently help out with your church's youth group. that demographic has the perfect m.o. for pulling such a stunt. besides, i just don't see a complete stranger figuring out all of the services you use and targeting each one.

bottom line is, it's wise to practice good password habits. don't use the same password for everything. build a password that's hard to guess... one that is at least 8 characters long and has a combination of lowercase letters, uppercase letters and numbers. don't use any common words that'd be in the dictionary. these practices make it pretty hard to crack your password via brute force.

hope that helps... -M

[Keith]

Also, get a firewall. ZoneAlarm is a pretty good free firewall.

Thanks, I actually downloaded Zonealarm last night, so I hope that helps.

Thanks for the advice, mmm. I think it is time for me to start creating some passwords that will be hard for someone to figure out.

I also downloaded Spybot last night, however, after I ran my scan, I ran in to a problem. Spybot says they are free, however, when I tried to delete all of the infected files, it would not let me, until I registered my name and signed up for $19.95 a year.

[Midtowner]

Keith, some good free programs are Adaware, and Spybot Search & Destroy.

It sounds like you picked up a copy of "Spybot" which is probably trading on its name similarity with Spybot S&D.

Here's a link to both programs:

http://www.download.com/Spybot-Searc...ml?tag=lst-4-1

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/


Also, get Microsoft's Windows Defender:

http://www.download.com/Microsoft-Wi...ml?tag=lst-4-6

Let us know if you have any trouble with those.

[drumsncode]

I wholeheartedly agree with Midtowner on his advice. Those two programs helped me reclaim my PC from all the damage that my son did while surfing.

You will be amazed at what AdAware will find when you first run it! There was so much sneaky crap running on my PC there were times when it would hardly run at all. I finally had to ban my son from using the PC, and passworded the login screen.

[Keith]

Keith, some good free programs are Adaware, and Spybot Search & Destroy.

It sounds like you picked up a copy of "Spybot" which is probably trading on its name similarity with Spybot S&D.

Here's a link to both programs:

http://www.download.com/Spybot-Searc...ml?tag=lst-4-1

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/


Also, get Microsoft's Windows Defender:

http://www.download.com/Microsoft-Wi...ml?tag=lst-4-6

Let us know if you have any trouble with those.

Ok, I must really have some big problems here. I clicked on all three links above and tried to download them. Everytime I clicked on download, my internet explorer would completely close down.

I guess I need to get in touch with 1bda12u, and see what is wrong with my system.

BTW, Midtowner, i did have the wrong spybot downloaded on my computer...so I removed it.

[Midtowner]

Keith, try downloading the programs through Firefox. Part of your problem may be that your IE installation is corrupted.

Again, follow the link.

http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/

[Keith]

Keith, try downloading the programs through Firefox. Part of your problem may be that your IE installation is corrupted.

Again, follow the link.

http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/

It is downloading as I type. Thanks for the help. What is my next step?

[Midtowner]

After downloading firefox, download those other programs from the links provided above.

[ibda12u]

Keith,

Yes once you get Firefox (FF) installed install the programs midtowner sent you the links for. It sounds as if you may have some malware on your system. Some software will prevent IE from going to certain sites where you can download cleanup software. Generally though they will simply re-direct you to one of their sites. Once you've installed FF, and and before you install and run a scan with the other programs. install and run this software http://www.ccleaner.com/
it will remove any temporary files from your pc. which will reduce the run time of the spyware scans, also removing temp files can sometimes fix browser issues especially if there are some virus files loaded in your browser's temp folder.

[Keith]

Keith,

Yes once you get Firefox (FF) installed install the programs midtowner sent you the links for. It sounds as if you may have some malware on your system. Some software will prevent IE from going to certain sites where you can download cleanup software. Generally though they will simply re-direct you to one of their sites. Once you've installed FF, and and before you install and run a scan with the other programs. install and run this software http://www.ccleaner.com/
it will remove any temporary files from your pc. which will reduce the run time of the spyware scans, also removing temp files can sometimes fix browser issues especially if there are some virus files loaded in your browser's temp folder.

First of all, I would like to thank you and Midtowner for your help and advice on this issue......

Ok, I finally got Firefox downloaded, and I installed and ran ccleaner. It took awhile, but it finally downloaded. I tried to go back and download Adaware and Spybot search and destroy, and each time I tried to download either one of them, internet explorer kicked me off. I would click on download, and internet explorer would shut down.

So, how can I download adaware and spybot without internet explorer shutting down?

[Midtowner]

Download them with firefox. That's why I suggested you download firefox

[Keith]

Download them with firefox. That's why I suggested you download firefox

Ok, you are talking to Mr. computer illiterate here.......I didn't realize that I could download with firefox. I was able to download Spybot S & D, and run a check. Everything was clear. Tomorrow, I will attempt to download adaware. Thanks again.

[dirtrider73068]

You can also boot up in safe mode and it will disable whatever malware you have and can do a scan or or delete, or download what you need to clean your system, I had downloaded a codec for media player and it ended up being malware that screwed up my system bad. Everytime my IE would open it was some weird security software alert, only way I could rid it was booting in safe mode. Another tip when you get spy bot search and destroy, it has a lots of features under advanced mode, one will lock IE keeping it from being hijacked, by another browser.

[MadMonk]

Then again, there's always the nuclear option - wipe and rebuild. I try to do this once a year. There's nothing like that fresh-install feeling.

[ibda12u]

BUT FIRST, BACK UP BACK UP BACKUP!!!

LOL you never real how many people realize how valuable their docs, images, emails are. And also how quickly they all just disappear after a wipe and rebuild

I've even heard someone say "this isn't my computer, the background picture of my kids birth isn't there, that was my only copy!"

Etc...
Backup. Backup Backup. If you don't have a backup solution, lemme know, I'll help where I can.

[MadMonk]

I've even heard someone say "this isn't my computer, the background picture of my kids birth isn't there, that was my only copy!"

Ouch! Yeah, of course you back up your stuff beforehand. I guess I just assumed people realize that. [Insert old "You know what happens when you assume." line here]

[Stealth]

People are using spoofed MySpace log-in pages to harvest e-mail addresses and passwords associated with accounts.

The main thing I’ve seen this info being used for at the moment is to send-out bulletin spam from accounts. That’s why you’ve been seeing bulletins posted from your friend’s accounts that obviously aren’t posted by them. So once they get your myspace login which would be your email address. Their going to assume you use the same password for everything. Once they login to your email, which probally is your email for every service that you use out on the net such as xanga/yahoo.They could of went through your email and found out you used xanga and went from their.

[nschmoyer]

I've found that "Ewido" is a very efficient Virus scanner and I would recommend getting it.

Running this with Spybot and AdAware should eliminate the majority of your problems, although a couple items may scrape through the cracks.

Spybot has some really nice tools that allow you to dig a little deeper. I suggest you check them out.

Also, here is a proven method that I have been using since malware really began to become a threat:
Don't touch your computer for an entire day. Then, open up your C Drive, view by detail, and sort everything by date. You will notice that some files may have been updated THAT day even though you never used your computer. At that point, you can do more research on the file in question (google the file name) and decide whether to delete it or not. BE CAREFUL with what you delete.

Here are the typical directories that suspicious files can be found in:
C:
C:Windows
C:Windows/System32
C:Program Files
C:Program Files/Common Files

[MadMonk]

I've been toying around with Comodo's personal firewall for a few days now and it seems pretty good. Do any of you have any experience with it (or their anti-virus software)? So far, it's tested very well (especially for a free product).
SSL Certificate Security Authentication Services SSL Secure Server Digital Certificates SSL Authority

[ibda12u]

hmm... I've never used it, but I'll test it out.

[Luke]

Get a Mac.



Apple