Help my sister with computer security, someone else looking?
Discussion
Most of my family including me are quite useless on computers.
My sister has recently messily split with her long term partner.
She has kept the family laptop so the children can still do their homework, however of late the ex partner has been asking about things he shouldn't know about.
She has also changed the broadband supplier and the little tab thing with all the codes has gone missing during his last visit.
We are assuming he has installed something that allows him to access the laptop from elsewhere - is this easily checked and if so how?
Anything else do try? - and please keep it simple!
Many thanks!
My sister has recently messily split with her long term partner.
She has kept the family laptop so the children can still do their homework, however of late the ex partner has been asking about things he shouldn't know about.
She has also changed the broadband supplier and the little tab thing with all the codes has gone missing during his last visit.
We are assuming he has installed something that allows him to access the laptop from elsewhere - is this easily checked and if so how?
Anything else do try? - and please keep it simple!
Many thanks!
randlemarcus said:
DO you have anybody who IS good with computers. Keyloggers can be tricky to find - easiest way is a rebuild.
It's unlikely though - chances are that he just has her facebook password or that her profile is open to friends of friends (assuming that they still have some in common). Do that first. A new lappy costs just a few hundred quid and will be more than enough for the kids to do homework. Free open source software like open office is a good alternative to the expense of Microsoft. A new lappy is a better way for peace of mind, especially as you guys don't have the knowledge to go looking for key loggers etc...
extraT said:
A new lappy costs just a few hundred quid and will be more than enough for the kids to do homework. Free open source software like open office is a good alternative to the expense of Microsoft. A new lappy is a better way for peace of mind, especially as you guys don't have the knowledge to go looking for key loggers etc...
That's the way I'd lean if you really think he's likely to have done something like that.You can run stuff like MalwareBytes but there's plenty of stuff out there that won't be detected and with all due respect to the OP it's clear they haven't a clue what to be looking for so rather than be forever paranoid about it, it's probably a few hundred quid well spent if the existing one can't be re-imaged.
Do the obvious stuff too like change any passwords especially email as those are where any "I need to reset my password" reminders are typically sent.
All passwords have been changed a few times now.
It is odd things he knows - like new clothes/electrical that have been bought, possible holiday destinations etc. Probably easily available from her emails?
We will be buying her a new laptop asap, frustratingly he has set himself up as administrator and getting things like the pictures and videos off is not easy. Might ask the local shop to have a look, was just hoping it would be something easy.
It is odd things he knows - like new clothes/electrical that have been bought, possible holiday destinations etc. Probably easily available from her emails?
We will be buying her a new laptop asap, frustratingly he has set himself up as administrator and getting things like the pictures and videos off is not easy. Might ask the local shop to have a look, was just hoping it would be something easy.
Blakeatron said:
All passwords have been changed a few times now.
It is odd things he knows - like new clothes/electrical that have been bought, possible holiday destinations etc. Probably easily available from her emails?
We will be buying her a new laptop asap, frustratingly he has set himself up as administrator and getting things like the pictures and videos off is not easy. Might ask the local shop to have a look, was just hoping it would be something easy.
Who does she use for email? If it's GMail or Outlook (or probably most webmail providers) they will show you recent logons and locations.It is odd things he knows - like new clothes/electrical that have been bought, possible holiday destinations etc. Probably easily available from her emails?
We will be buying her a new laptop asap, frustratingly he has set himself up as administrator and getting things like the pictures and videos off is not easy. Might ask the local shop to have a look, was just hoping it would be something easy.
It will be easy for the computer shop so don't worry about being able to get the data off once it's in the hands of someone who knows what they're doing with it (no offence intended at all )
Is she able to send you photos for you to upload? Might be worth checking Add / Remove programs.
If windows 7, press the start button in the bottom left, then control panel bottom left of the box that opens will say "Uninstall a program".
This will open a list of almost all the installed programs on the machine, assuming he is using some remote login software hopefully it'll be listed here, if she could take a picture of all installed programs (Will take 2-3 pictures as the list might be long) and if you post it here, it might be something as simple as a remote desktop program that you can uninstall.
If windows 7, press the start button in the bottom left, then control panel bottom left of the box that opens will say "Uninstall a program".
This will open a list of almost all the installed programs on the machine, assuming he is using some remote login software hopefully it'll be listed here, if she could take a picture of all installed programs (Will take 2-3 pictures as the list might be long) and if you post it here, it might be something as simple as a remote desktop program that you can uninstall.
I use a piece of software called "logmein" and it allows me to pick up my iphone or ipad and watch/control the PC that logmein is installed on.
It is on my work PC, and I sit at home on my ipad sorting out all my tasks I didn't want to stay late in the office and do.
Could be another option.
It is on my work PC, and I sit at home on my ipad sorting out all my tasks I didn't want to stay late in the office and do.
Could be another option.
If she is using Google Chrome Browser and it is synchronised with another device (i.e. Tablet/Mobile) it would explain how he knows about everything.
If she is, simply "log out" of Chrome, or open a new Gmail account, or use Internet Explorer etc.
The other option is to backup all data and reinstall the operating system.
If she is, simply "log out" of Chrome, or open a new Gmail account, or use Internet Explorer etc.
The other option is to backup all data and reinstall the operating system.
Blakeatron said:
frustratingly he has set himself up as administrator and getting things like the pictures and videos off is not easy. Might ask the local shop to have a look, was just hoping it would be something easy.
Just buy a USB disk caddy, remove drive from the laptop and pop it in the caddy.The disk will then be a USB Hard Drive, so you can simply browse the disk and copy off any data that you want.
Unless the laptop is an old one, the HDD is likely to be a 2.5" SATA - but the safest thing to do is to pull the disk out and check first. The difference is quite easy to spot:
Plenty of caddys on ebay/Amazon, but PC World sells them cheaply enough:
If it is a 2.5" SATA then this will do nicely:
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/components-upgrades/...
If it's a 2.5" IDE then you'd need one like this:
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/components-upgrades/...
You can also get one that can do either:
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/components-upgrades/...
Given the OP has said they have no technical ability, don't recommend technical solutions
Local computer shop, data only transfer to new device or rebuilt old device. Look at two factor I.e. password plus sms code for Gmail or hotmail.
If the OPs sister is bored, honeytrap the various things like a holiday on email, a child's achievement on Facebook and see which one the ex picks up on.
Local computer shop, data only transfer to new device or rebuilt old device. Look at two factor I.e. password plus sms code for Gmail or hotmail.
If the OPs sister is bored, honeytrap the various things like a holiday on email, a child's achievement on Facebook and see which one the ex picks up on.
Blown2CV said:
If he's installed a key logger then changing passwords won't help. Either blat the machine or install security software and do a scan. I'd be tempted to the former though, and password changes.
Set up two factor authentication if it's available (is is on Google, Apple and Outlook.com email accounts). It will send a code to her mobile that must be entered before login is allowed.It can also be set up to alert her to logins from other devices.
As others have said though, a new laptop or new hard disk and re-install prior to this is probably a sensible idea.l
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